Great points - thanks for sharing! - Jon
Rebecca,
I agree, everything helps, but a good team can reduce any inadequacies.
Jon
Leslie - good points on the importance of the IT team! - Jon
I agree as long as you have the support of someone who does have these skills. The instructor should put the emphasis on designing the course and checking with the tech people to see what is possible. Most of the interaction that takes place once the course has been launched is primarily procedural and not highly technical in nature. That's not to say that an anomaly might not pop up from time to time, but this should not be a problem as long as you have someone who can provide the technical support.
I agree that not all the developers of online courses need to be technological wizards, but you do need a few wizards to create the multimedia content and program the online environment. The majority of the work for an online course involves developing the content. Subject matter experts need to provide course content and learning activities, and these members of the development team wouldn’t require a high level of technical knowledge. The development of an online course requires a development team, with each member of the team contributing their area of expertise. Developing a course for a traditional classroom is more of a solitary pursuit and typically would involve less technical expertise.
Point well made. I agree and in my reply I noted there should be a team of people that would bring expertise in the specific areas, including a person that could be representative of the student population being served.
Developers do not have to be technological wizards but they do need to understand how the technology works.
When developing a course there needs to be a team of people who can bring various levels of expertise to the process.
For example, there needs to be a subject-matter expert, a technology expert, a person who can collaborate with the other members of team on analysis and design and a product tester.
Jon:
I do think that some technological expertise is needed when developing Online Courses.
I also think that knowledge of the course material is essential as well and/or assistance from the "experts" when courses are developed.
I think having some level of technological expertise is important especially with the ever-changing Course Management Systems and the ways in which our students our currently communicating should be taken into consideration when designing a course.
Kim
Jon
I would agree that online course developers do not have to be technological wizards; however, they do need some knowledge of technology. This is important for understanding how the technology will work in the course and in for the developer to be able to integrate technological aspects into the course. As others have stated, some of this can be implemented by a team if one is available.
Rebecca
I think a strong understanding of technology is a requirement; otherwise, how is the designer going to resolve problems? Designers need to think in terms of all those people who will be connected to the course: students, techies, teachers, administrators.
Betty - great explanation, I agree! - Jon
I feel the developer of an online course should be someone with very good technology skills in order to create an online course which includes all the features discussed in this class. They must work hand in hand with the Subject Matter Expert to produce a quality class.
The Subject Matter Expert knows the material and has the background and resources to know what and how to teach. And the person who will make that vision a reality in the online environment must be well qualified to utilize every feature and aspect of an online Learning Management System to produce a quality learning experience for the students.
Betty Taylor
I believe that a good understanding of the subject is a must for what is being discussed. How would a non automotive person explain how a car operates if they don't know or understand? How would an accountant explain how to keep books if he had never done it? How would an English instructor teach Science if he didn't have the basic knowledge of the subject matter. I believe a good starting time for Technological Expectize would begin with 5 years.
John,
Well thought-out post - thanks!
Jon
Vicki,
Great question! It varies by institution, but with most of the classes I've been involved with, it is a "work for hire," and the institution keeps the rights to the course and its content.
A good thing to ask going into it!
Jon
Belinda,
I agree - it depends on the support from your team or other prep work that has been done.
Jon
Its critical to have a good support team! - Jon
Michael,
Good point - its not always just "converting" what you did in the past.
Jon
Russell,
Great points on the differences between synchronous and asynchronous methods!
Jon
Tanya,
That's right - it really helps if you've taught or at least taken online classes before so you know the "lay of the land."
Jon
