Pedagogy: a strategy or style of instruction.
           example: constructivism

Method: a group of techniques or activities used to support a pedagogical belief.
           example: questioning

Technique/Activity: a single teaching event.
           example: post question on a discussion board

 

For example, there are many different pedagogies, many of which are based on learning theory, such as constructivism or cognitivism. All pedagogies have methods (or some say methodologies) which are based on the premises of the pedagogy.

Regardless, all methods should be based on some theoretical framework, whether that is a learning theory or another theory such as Knowles' Androgogy. This means that as a teacher, you should have a reason for doing what you do in the classroom, and ideally be able to articulate that reason.

Online learning and teaching is no different. There are online pedagogies and online methodologies just like in the face-to-face (F2F) classroom. Online pedagogies are really no different than F2F pedagogies, but the real difference is in the methodology. Online learning involves different, and sometimes quiet alien, methodologies than currently used in F2F classes.

Almost even more importantly, online teaching sometimes requires a change in pedagogy. The online environment needs to be an active, constructivist one. This may require a shift in how one views the teaching and learning process. This change in thinking can be quite difficult. To help, let's examine how the online environment differs from the F2F classroom.