Sherrilyn,
Thanks for your input. Knowing the subject matter and providing the course outcomes/expectations to students is essential. Knowing the student population helps you better determine how to deliver the content.
Thanks again.
The three most important things to consider are:
-Understanding the subject matter
-Understanding the targeted classroom population
-Understanding the delivery format
Hima,
Thanks for your input. Helping students learn and have access to appropriate content is an essential design element. Communication should also be consistent and timely along with the assessment. Thank you.
When authoring an online course, it has to be designed so that the students can understand and retain the course content. The course content delivered should be consistent through the entire course. We should be able to assess students about the knowledge they gained through the course.
Jason,
Knowing your course content and audience are certaing key factors. And, providing information to students in a variety of ways helps all students learn.
Thanks!
I would say that the three most important things to consider are:
1. What is the Course material to be taught. That is, what is the starting content and how does it lead to the final material at the end of the term.
2. Who is your audience. Knowing as much about the goals and even personalities of your audience will help you fine tune any lesson plan to target their potentials.
3. Have a game plan that encompasses multiple delivery systems for the same information. This way, you ensure that every type of learner will have the best opportunity to retain this information.
Claireann,
Providing a detailed syllabus with clear expectations and learning outcomes is essential. Providing projects and assignments in a variety of ways to help those who learn in different ways is also important.
Thanks again.
1. Dynamic syllabus that accessible to students with time estimates so they can plan.
2. Formative assessments throughout and summative at the end of the course.
3. Student and Peer evaluation to keep the course on target.
I am in agreement as I teach adult learners whose needs vary widely.
1. Learning Style is important because this directly affects what information will be absorbed and understood.
2. Creating a course outline from the syllabus is necessary. It needs to be chunked appropriately.
3. Time management is always an issue and I would probably include estimates of how much time should be spent on each module.
Melissa,
You bring up very good points. Students must know.what is expected of them and must have good communication in the online course. As you noted, learning where students are coming from is also important.
Thanks for your input on this forum.
The first thing to consider is to create your course objectives and material so that message will be clear and understandable to the students.
The second thing to consider is your students, their educational backround,and learning styles.
Creating a method of communication for the students to ask questions or gain clarity of whats expected from them with each assignment.
The third thing to consider creating your test template so that the information is comparable to the test questions.
Melissa
Three important things for me to consider is:
1) My students and the generations that they fall within. My Gen X & Y students will be much more tech savvy than my Baby Boomers. So, this will affect learning preferences.
2) What will my workload be and how can I explain those expectations clearly to my students. One of the biggest complaints I receive is how much “work†the student is expected to do on top of their other courses. So, being fair yet ensuring the objectives are being met can be tricky at times.
3) What is my knowledge level when authoring the course? I can’t put something into a course I am not fully comfortable with. Yes, I understand tech support is available; however, if I expect something from my students, I should know how to complete the task or use the resource also.
Andy,
You do need to do some diagnostics to see what your students already know. That helps establish the amount of information you can cover in a course and how quickly you can cover the information. Also, providing information in a variety of ways to connect with all students is important.
BTW - be careful with your spelling. . .the students will call you out on it or they will use texting language. If you don't care if they use texting language. . .that's up to you.
Thanks for your input.
Wht does my syudent want, what does my student need, How will my student best learn this
Charles,
Correct. And, this relates back to your question about centering around the student.
Thank you.
The student needs, learning content, and the assessment techniques.
Each online and traditional course should be centered around these three components.
Steven,
Thanks for your input in this forum. You bring up three great points. It is important to determine the objectives of the course and communicate them to students. It's also important to let them know what is expected of them, but yet identify how they learn best.
Time and workloads are always an issue, but they need to know your class is important and it's worth taking time for. Thanks again.
The three most important things are:
1) Identifying the learning styles for students.
2) Identifying what I need them to learn.
3) Being aware of the time and workloads of the students as thier teacher
William,
You bring up very good points and tie them all together with communication - the essential component!
For me, the three most important things to consider are:
1 Know the target audience. The material must be on their level. If the material is over their head, they may feel inferior and quit. If the material is beneath them, they may feel insulted and quit.
2 Know the subject you are teaching. If the on-line instructor is not a subject matter expert there is a risk of appearing incompetent. This leads the student to not only distrust the instructor, but the institution.
3 Communicate clear precise directions for course completion. If the student interface to the LMS is complicated or instructions vague, the student may become disillusioned or frustrated.
