It can sometimes be a very hard challenge to overcome. It is also something that I really need to be aware of with an online class, as the students will have many more “things†which could draw away their attention.
Crystal,
You are so correct! Today's student wants to be entertained while learning!
Shelly Crider
I feel it is extremely important that the look, feel, and as well as the ease of use are just as important as the knowledge and skill impart. If something does not catch a person’s eye, they will be less likely to use or want to spend the time with it. In addition, if a teacher is not right there looking a person to make sure they have their attention, the media that is used must keep their attention. If we lose that, the student will not gain the necessary knowledge. Unfortunately, today’s society feels the need to constantly entertain and this has flowed into the classroom. If we do not keep someone engaged online, we will lose them.
manuel,
I like how you say transfer to the student....that is exactly what online learning is.....a transfer of knowledge.
Shelly Crider
The look and feel of an online course is as important as the knowledge to be imparted because when the online courses are organized, the knowledge are well understood and transfer to students easier.
adarian,
Clear instructions are a must in an online course or a face to face course. Good job.
Shelly Crider
Sari,
There is nothing worse than feeling lost in a class.
Shelly Crider
Easy to navigate and clear instructions on assigmnets. The look is not as important to me as the aove two issues.
I agree completely. In the classroom or online, the look and feel of the course is as important as the knowledge and skills because without a good presentation, the information being presented can be lost. The look and feel of an online course sets the tone for the class as a whole. If the course doesn't have the right look and feel from day one, some students may not be engaged or take the course seriously.
Neidra,
I like how you said stressful! Yes, we can navigate through most everything, but we get stressed when we have too many things to do.
Shelly Crider
I believe the layout of an online course is very important. It should be easy to navigate through. It could be very stressful for the user if they have difficulty finding the information that they need. This would then discourage them from taking more courses in the future.
Thank you!
Yes, I personally believe that Ebooks are great and I do believe that students like Ebooks for various reasons. For example, Ebooks are small, easy to navigate, cost efficient, they can save lots of time and have a lot of memory to hold and store data.
In addition, students no longer have to purchase or carry those heavy text books around anymore but could benefit from upgrading and advancing with modern technology by investing in a Ebook. Also, Ebooks are very affordable and could be a lot cheaper than buying the textbooks that are required for different courses. There are a variety of resources that offer free Ebooks online. There are also different Ebook resources and memberships were students can join for less than $39.99 for unlimited access. One textbook alone can cost more than that.
Students may also like the fact that Ebooks can save lots of time. While some students may travel to bookstores and libraries to get books, most students are downloading Ebooks to their computers from the comfort of their own homes.
Ebooks are great and while many students may like all of these benefits, some students still may not be as interested. It really depends on the student. Some students dread reading and may never want to invest in having an Ebook. Although, I do believe that Ebooks are here to stay and that we will be hearing a lot more about them in the near future; especially within the educational system.
LATOYA,
Nice post....do you think that students like EBooks?
Shelly Crider
The look and feel of an online course is definitely just as important as the knowledge and skills it is designed to impart. For instance, when it is easy to navigate through an online course it is easier for the student to understand the knowledge that it presents. If an online course is not easily accessible or is difficult to navigate with simplicity, in most cases, it would discourage or disinterest the online student.
Also, adding interactive and engaging assignments allows for students to see the online course through many different views and perspectives. A community of online learners can contribute so much more to the online course by sharing experiences, thoughts and ideas with others.
In addition, audio, visuals and animations adds an upbeat feel to online courses as well. Using these different methods reach a variety of learners at the same time. For example, some students are visual learners while others are auditory. Using these different approaches for teaching online courses fosters a effective learning outcomes for all.
delmera,
Many students think all sites are trustworthy. We as instructors need to give good examples of where to look for pertinent information.
Shelly Crider
delmera,
They can be too daunting if the class is not organized.
Shelly Crider
That is true. The information is everywhere and you have to go to a site that is in the up and up.
I feel online courses are excellent. I have taken a few and feel very good about them. It opens your in a whole different way than in class.
Having taught on various platforms—eCollege, Blackboard, Izio, Moodle, Angel, and a few proprietary systems—I can attest to the high importance of a virtual classroom’s “look and feel.†Asking students to take an online course in a classroom that is unwieldy, unappealing, and uninspiring is roughly akin to asking them to take a class in a physical classroom—a brick-and-mortar classroom—that has neither seats nor blackboards and is undergoing major renovations. They could probably do it, but they certainly wouldn’t enjoy it and would get far less from the experience than they should. Nonetheless, the platform is still simply the vehicle, the means by which knowledge flows. It is exceedingly important, but not so important as knowledge and skill themselves.
Mark A. Coppelli
Andre,
You are so correct on the voice-over...students love that!
Shelly Crider
