I am considering development of on-line coursework for a book I have written. I am interested gaining vendor contact information. My course content would involve a mix of video conferencing, review/response segments, and on-line testing. Anyone have suggestions for a promising vendor?
Pamela:
Curriculum Design and Devellopment is indeed an intensive task especially when one has to consider factors that influence online delivery. How do you think you would benefit by adopting a Course Design Specification in the Design Phase?
Satrohan
I too will be working with a team to design an on-line curriculum. This course has really helped me understand the basics. There is a tremendous amount of work involved in putting the program together but this has helped me to see the whole picture. And although it is by no means crystal clear, it sure has given me a sense of direction.
George:
Let's classify the Course Design Specifications as the blueprint of the course. Let's further assume that you are the content expert. You have defined the learning outcomes and have created a content outline that reflects adequate content to support the learning outcomes. Moreover you have specified assessment measures that are adequate measures of the competencies being measured. In addition, you have specified the media and interactive strategies to support the instructional content. Finally, your blueprint specifies the order in which the instructional transactions will take place.
As the person outsourcing the development of the course, how would you benefit from providing such a blueprint to the vendor? How would the vendor benefit from the blueprint?
That's easy, all should benefit economically. Design has to be separated from implantation of the course. Two or more minds working toward the same goal is always a better alterative.
By following the Course Design Specifications, the vendor would have a clear blueprint to work from. they would know what objectives you were wanted to teach and be able to devlopment the course to meet those objectives.
Thank you for all the ideas and information. Developing an on-line course does not seem so overwhelming. I have a starting point--CDS. As we progress through the course devevelopment we can use the CDS as a checklist. Prototypes without A "blueprint" have been frustrating, inefficient, time-costly, and money-costly to our company. Perhaps the CDS will helps us with a more reliable and less-costly prototype. Any suggests?
It would offer an organized plan of action so that your developer and you would have an overview of what needed to be done to create your course. It would make the communication between you easier because it could be the skeleton each of you develop from to create the "finished" product (though a good online course can be dynamic, adapting according to the feedback and needs of the students enrolled).
The course design specification is sort of like an out of focus or pixellated image: Here will be figures accompanied by narration; Here will be mouse-over strategies; Here will be a glossary. Gradually, as the course materializes, each component will crystallize into the finished product.
Online course design specification serves as a blueprint.
It contains a set of precise requirements that can be used by the web design team.
I think when designing courses it is important that the quality and quanity be a high priority, however individuality also needs to be considered. Not all courses are alike therefore each one needs to have an individual design to it. Such as medical terminology and anatomy and physiology. Since medical terms deals with word parts, prefixes and suffixes, these are not all that interesting so time needs to be put into finding ways to design an interesting course. Whereas A&P deals with parts of the body, there are tons of picures and animation that could be used.
Jan O'Donnell
Anthony,
The Design Specification document would certainly do all that you outlined. It would be a very valuable tool for any course designer.
Unfortunately, the preparation of this document is very time consuming. As an alternative, many designers start with a prototype, which they upgrade after evaluation. Their improvements are reflected in versions. (isn't this how Bill Gates got rich?)
Do you think the benefits of the design specification outweigh the costs of the time invested?
:)
Jane
A thoroughly thought-out Design Specification would provide a list of requirements and expectations for the vendor. It would also provide all text, media, instructions and presentation strategies for the developer to follow as they prepare the platform.
The Design Specification would also serve as a checklist for me to compare the new course materials to the original vision of the program. Any deviations or problems with the original Spec versus what was developed could be assessed and remedied in the Evaluation phase.
Hi Anne,
In what way would this document be beneficial to the developer? to the instructor?
Thanks :)
Jane
This would be of enormous benefit to us in creating an original online program while utilizing already established guidelines that have proven successful to others.
Lewis,
As an instructor, you have a very strong sense of what an online course should be. You have developed many tools and methodologies to assist students and ensure their success in your courses.
From a developer's point of view... before the instructor becomes involved... there is a design specification document that serves as your roadmap for developing the course. Do you see this document as a useful tool? Or, do you feel that the time and effort required for creating this document could be better spent in developing a prototype for the course management software, which would be improved through iterations?
:)
Jane
Supporting Objectives and Learning Processes
The developer must be certain that all assignments, activities and conference topics support the achievement of the objectives specific to that course. Once the developer crafts a model, within the model the student should be given opportunities to practice and develop the desired skills to attain the desired outcomes.
Once the developer passes on the course to the instructor, the instructor must make the class their own. Instructors should spend considerable time:
1. Clarifying outcomes, expectations,
2. Delivering rubrics to indicate:
a. Poorly communicated work products and
b. Objective systems to reward desired behavior.
Note: This information should be in one location, so that all students can access the link or files. There should be no doubt as to whether their effort has satisfied the requirements of any assignment.
I emphasize to students that they should be able to recognize their academic growth. Any learning outcomes should be measurable and apparent to them.
One of the promises that I extend and / or challenge during the initial contact is that "they" will be better in x-amount of weeks in this subject than they are today. "Students, you should be able to know that your level of understanding and performance has progressed beyond your own expectations."
I believe this statement comforts the student. I believe that I have instilled confidence in their ability to learn the material. I have stated my belief that they are competent and will succeed in this venue.
Teya,
Good point about creating all courses to an equal standard. I am interpreting this to mean that all courses must meet a certain level of quality. Did I get that right?
One think you want to avoid; however, is having courses be carbon copies of each other. What works for one course may or may not work for another. Each course must be evaluated and designed in a manner that is appropriate to the subject matter and interesting to the students.
Can a course design specification document be helpful in meeting these criteria?
:)
Jane
Clear cut requirements and fundamentals of a course are very important. I also liked your comment about whether or not the vendor could meet your needs. That is an important consideration. Good point.
It is very important to have a course design. It sets out a logical course creation and benefits the student. It also creates a specification for each course. It is important that all courses are created to an equal standard.
As an adjunct Prof. for more than 5 years, evaluating and analyzing feed back from students is a great paradigm to improve course. This is one methodology I constantly used to enhance curriculum deveelopment because it gives me first insight to what students needs, but at the same time there is a cut-off-point for students imputs.
Testing might be an excellent criteria for analyzing/evaluating course but, not every likes test. However, class participation/feedback is an excellent criteria for such concepts.
Jai
