Agree. The look/feel is a requirement. The course must look/be professional in all aspects, i.e. grammar, content, scope, delivery, etc. It also must feel or flow, i.e. logical manner of content, all links must work, everything must tie together in a coherent manner. The course must at the highest level of academic and professional quality in order to 1)be taken seriously by the students, and 2) be an effective alternative to face-to-face courses.
Yes, I agree that using multimedia components such as animation and audio can enhance the learning experience of the online learners. However, much emphasis on multimedia components can distract the learners. Thus, moderate usage of multimedia components is recommended.
Nicole,
I like how you use "speaks to them" as that is exactly what a course needs to do....virtually speak!
Shelly Crider
laura,
Thank you for mentioning "makes sense". I have been in a few classes when nothing really made sense! The classes were very unorganized and left me wondering what I was doing!
Shelly Crider
Yes, powerpoint is wonderful - - just time consuming ot create, but once it is created it is a wonderful teaching tool!
Sincerely,
Marjorie Thrall Moller
es, the look and feel needs to be inviting, informative, and make the student feel welcome. The student also need to feel that he or she understands what is expcted of the student to be successful in the course.
Marjorie Thrall Moller
I agree that the look and feel of an online course are very important. This is the learner's first introduction to the content and the classroom. If the course looks or feels overwhelming, it may be discouraging to them and create a negative first impression. If it is the opposite, to sparse or dull, then they may get the impression that there is nothing of value there.
Part of the look and feel also involves navigation and a logical structure. The learner needs to be able to navigate easily and be able to find the content so they can engage in the course. They won't get to the knowledge or skills of the course if is not set up in a way that speaks to them as independent learners.
I agree that the look and feel of an online courses is as important as the knowledge and skills it is designed to impart.
An online course needs to be designed in a way that is easy to navigate and "makes sense." I have been in online courses that have not been easy to navigate or locate materials. Such an environment discourages the student, who may already feel overwhelmed.
Now, here is what I mean by "makes sense." Course content needs to be organized and easily found. The layout needs to clear.
Shelly:
Thanks for the great feedback.
I fully agree with you.
Looking forward to more exciting interaction in this fine course.
Best wishes,
John
Steven,
We all like a good road map. So many of us do not like to stop and ask questions! (Love this analogy!!
Shelly Crider
John,
It really goes without saying. A class needs to be well-prepared (I love how you stated that) whether it is online or traditional. When my money is on the line, I want a good class!
Shelly Crider
I agree that the look and feel of an online course in as important as the instructional material. The course should be well organized and an outline (syllabus) should be provided to offer a roadmap of sort for the students to follow. The less time the student have to work on the mechanics of the courseroom, the more time they can devote to actual learning.
I agree because the course needs to be well-prepared and attractive in design in order to attract the online student who is either not familiar with this type of instruction or not sufficiently motivated. Well-design online courses precipitate interest on the part of the students. External appearance is of high importance in our life.
Best Wishes,
John Theodore
Nancy ,
We as instructors appreciate user-friendly courses for our students as well I believe.
Shelly Crider
William,
So true....interaction with a student who is distracted is very hard to overcome. Their focus is not on the content.
Shelly Crider
Each is important because each contributes, in different ways, of course. Intuition tells me that the younger the student, the more appreciation for look and feel; perhaps not. All students appreciate a user-friendly, intuitive screen.
Nancy ,
Good point.....if the class does not look interesting...how could the content be?
Shelly Crider
The look and feel of an online course is very important. I find that the student will be distracted by a poorly presented course and may not involve themselves as much as they would with a well designed course. Furthermore, interactions with students in an online environment further their learning and retention.
James,
If there are so many links or not enough directions, the students will give up quickly.
Shelly Crider
Carla,
lol...this is the best post!!! It is indeed compared to a pair of shoes!! With your permission, I am going to use this analogy!!
Shelly Crider
