The three most important things to consider when authoring my own online course are:
1. Know the audience and/or students that I'm dealing with. Additionally, be familiar with their experience in this modality of learning so that I can tailor my instruction to meet their needs.
2. Be proficent in my subject and content area. This is where it is important to be a subject expert in my area so that I'm able to transfer that knowledge to the students.
3. Be clear and concise about the expectations of the course. Students must be able to understand exactly what is expected of them as they complete each discussion board question and written assignment. Leave no room for misinterpretation!
I've authored courses and taught courses I've authored. I learned early on that assuming the facilitator will know what you know can be a pitfall. You have to provide enough that others besides yourself or the foremost expert on the topic can teach it.
Keeping the target audience in mind is an important aspect, but the target audience's prior courses (know where your course fits in the overall program schedule) can be more important.
Realize that not everyone may be as intimately involved with the subject as you are. Every specific, minute detail may be great if you live and breathe for the topic, but it can be confusing, overwhelming and boring to the intended audience. Keep it on topic, to the point, with enough detail to move forward with, but not an all exhaustive dissertation and history of the topic.
Trip Bauer
Robert,
Great list. Instructors need the technical expertise and know how to teach effectively as the try to reach all students. Thanks.
Denise,
Yes, students should be our main thought. Providing content to them in a variety of ways is important. Nice job.
Jerry,
Authoring and delivering are different and many have the luxury of someone else authoring the course. I have not been so lucky. Thanks for your input.
1)Technical expertise
2) Commitment
3)Teaching fundamentals
I believe that three important considerations are the students, what I want them to learn and how they will be able to learn.
The question is specific to authoring an online course, which differs from delivering an online course. When delivering an online course, such things as learning styles of students and experience of the instructor play a prominent role. When authoring an online course, I focus on:
• What do the students need to learn?
• How will the students learn the material?
• Did the students learn the material?
What do the students need to learn? All aspects of the course must support the students in meeting the learning objectives established for the course. Requiring students to engage in activities that do not support the learning objectives is a waste of time and money.
How will the students learn the material? The selection and use of course materials, particularly the textbook, are critical to enhancing the learning experience of the students. While students must learn to think critically about the course material, they must first have a foundation upon which to build. Other materials such as audio and video can augment the textbook to accommodate different learning styles.
Did the students learn the material? Learning should be the ultimate reward of the course, not a grade. The course should give the students the opportunity to learn as much as they can about the material. Formative assessment throughout the course provides reinforcement for students who understand the material and an opportunity to correct the course of students who do not. Since some form of summative assessment is usually required, the formative assessments should provide the foundation for the summative assessment.
Donald,
Ah - inspiration. It's great, but how do we inspire our students?
Donald,
Right on. It's hard to learn something new and teach it at the same time. Preparation beforehand is best. Thanks.
Donald,
Excellent. And, thanks for forming them as questions. This is helpful to others. You ask good questions.
I have gone over the material in this first module rather carefully, and I do believe that indeed the three most important questions to consider are:
1. How will the content be delivered?
2. How will the students receive the content?
3. How will the students be assessed regarding their knowledge of the content?
The only other thing that I can think of is that the content should attempt to inspire the student to apply the information learned to do great things in the future.
Donald L. Buresh
Can a teacher learn the material and still teach it? I think so. The problem with this behavior is that the teacher may not be giving the student all of the insight that one could give if he or she knew the material cold. On the other hand, by learning the material with the students, or slightly ahead of the student, the teacher just may do a better job than if they approached the material as old hat. This has been my experience.
Donald L. Buresh
I think that one thing that is missing is that the course should inspire the student to achieve great things with what they have learned. Without inspiration, all the learning is is mechanical. Without inspiration, we are training good workers, and not critical thinkers. What I think is needed in this world today are more critical thinkers.
Donald L. Buresh
Jerry,
Understanding your audience, your students, are essential to the learning process. The better you understand them, the better you can provide content to them and communicate more effectively. Thank you.
I think the 3 most important things to consider would be:
1. The audience. I would want to know who is going to be taking the course and the experience or resources they will bring with them to the course. For example, it will be a waste of time to disign a cource to students who do not know how to write a report and expect them to do so in the class.... You have to make sure that is the course is an advanced course, that the sudents have taken the prerequisite course.
2. Resource Availability. It is important to make sure that the students have all the necessary resources they need to successfully complete the course. From haveing the necessary cource materials, to making sure that the students have adequate technical support.
3. Communication. The style and mode of communication that is used in the course has to be apropriate for the course.
Jerry.
Kelley and William,
Thanks for continuing the conversation. Good addition too. Thanks so much.
Darakshan,
Knowing what the students know is very important. With that information you can determine how quickly or slowly you may need to cover the material. Thanks for your input.
Steven,
Yes, the differing modes helps you providing learning to all students. Thanks for your input.
Excellent three. These are key factors. Thanks for your input.
