I agree! Thanks for sharing. - Jon
I would have to agree with the statement. If the online course does not look or feel good most people would think that the information in it must not be that important.
Mary - good point and parallel to classroom teaching. - Jon
Jon,
If a student is not enticed to delve into a course due to the look and feel of the platform or the layout; the student will not be engaged into the course which in turn prevents the student from learning. The look and feel of an online course is equivalent to an instructor in an on ground situation – if the instructor is not dynamic, the student may not be as engaged in the course.
Mary
I completely agree that the look and feel is just as important as the knowledge and skills it is designed to impart. I would even go as far as saying that the look and feel of the course is more important than the knowledge and skills. If a learner is not at ease with the set up it will hinder their learning. If food doesn’t look appealing, you don’t eat it. I think the same is true for online courses – if they do not look interesting or it’s hard to navigate the system, students will often give up. We need to draw them into the course with the right look and feel.
Great points - thanks for sharing! - Jon
Beth,
I agree - it can really set the stage for the rest of the learning!
Best,
Jon
The answer to this question can not be stated in simple generalities. While I may agree that the look and feel of an online course are important, they may or may not be as important as the knowledge and skills. I have completed several advanced degrees in an online format, and as a result have taken many online courses. Some courses had well designed screens and were easy to navigate, while other courses were so difficult to use that the process interfered with the learning activities.
I have worked for a large software company as a lead developer and consultant for many years and have extensive knowledge and experience developing screen designs and user interfaces. Effective interaction with the user of an application is essential to the exchange of information and the user’s overall satisfaction. This increases the likelihood that the user will use your product instead of a competitor’s product.
In an educational setting, such as taking an online course, the student does not have a choice of software application or design. The student’s job is to learn the knowledge and skills of the course, regardless of the learning environment. For example, if a research paper must have citations in APA format, the research paper may be rejected, even if it contains impeccable research and style, because of errors in the citation format. If the course only emphasizes the research material and does not explain APA format, then the look and feel of the paper is an obstacle that has to be overcome. The student must master the learning environment in addition to the knowledge and skills of the course. A well designed online course should have a look and feel that allows the user to feel comfortable and allows for navigational simplicity. The course design should assist the learner in being successful.
Bill Lembke 03/12/10
I don't think we need to compare the two in terms of importance; it shouldn't be an either/or situation. I think we'd all agree the knowledge/skills are paramount and the course's raison d'etre, but in any type of learning situation, not just online, you need simple and clear instructions, expectations, access to resources, etc. Otherwise the interface becomes a barrier to learning.
Steve
I think the look is very important to help student stay active. Even in my regular classes it is like you are an actor. If it is not fun and engaging the class is lost. I also think with online courses the ablity to question the information is helpful and having all the links and activities there is so helpful.
Just like a classroom, it should be welcoming and pleasing to the eye. Instructors should take care as to the layout of the courseroom and to not to include too many visually distracting details. Posts should be clear and concise and free of any "cutsie" clipart. While some personalization of the class is great, learners may not want to have to fight all the visual "noise" to get to the content.
Good points - thanks for sharing! - Jon
Good points - thanks for sharing! - Jon
Good points - thanks for sharing! - Jon
Juliette,
Good points - I agree that a poorly designed course is harder on both the student and faculty.
Thanks,
Jon
I feel that on-line education is only going to gain market share over the next several years. The courses are going to be more interactive and the knowledge and skills the students will have will allow them to compete in a new workforce.
Strange to receive a message to place a response here because I know I did.
Agree!
The interface of the course is of primary importance. If a student cannot navigate the interface, she/he will become frustrated and quit. The instructor bears some responsibility for the look and feel of the course, but the designer is the first one who created the environment, intuitive navigational features, and thoughtful design elements.
I agree, I feel that the easier it is to navigate, the less frustrated the student is. This directly effects the overall outcome of the students performance.
The interface is of primary importance. If the students do not have ease of navigation and feel comfortable, if the platform is not intuitive, then students may become frustrated and discontinue to participation.
As with so many of the other responders, I agree that the look & feel of the online is important for many of the same reasons that the other give. Not only does it make the learner more engaged with the learning process, but when the look & feel are not there, the student may be actively looking for other obstacles that not only hinder learning but may be the excuse to give up & discontinue learning.
