Christine,
It is true that some classes are extra hard to create and then there are some that can be easier. I have found that math classes are a bit touchy only due to the math signs and making sure they show up correctly in a variety of programs. Just my experience!!
Shelly Crider
Daron,
After you create a class or two.....you will become a wizard!!! You will know what works and what doesn't.
Shelly Crider
Anne,
Comfort zone certainly plays a huge part, but we should always be expanding out comfort zone!
Shelly Crider
In my opinion, when I first started teaching online I did not have the skills, but gradually I gained those skills through practice and experience. It is a learning process for all including the instructors, course developers and the students.
I agree that developers of online courses do not have to be technological wizards. As long as sources are cited, previously tested graphics, photos, videos and audio samples can be used.
Shelly,
I agree with your statement. Not all online content has to be complicated in order to be effective. Having said that,however, the more a developer of online courses knows about technology, potentially the more interesting/effective a course or lesson could be. If I know three chords on a guitar I can play a song....if I know five chords, I can make it more interesting.
The answer is definitely NO for two reasons. One because knowing the modalities/functionalities used in an on-line course does not mean one has to build them..., there are plenty of well packaged generic platforms in the market. The second(ary) reason is that in our days tech-wizard is a very high qualification...
I think this will depend on the course that you are trying to develop but in general, I agree that you do not have to be a technological wizard in order to develop an online course. When designing a course, what you need is the expertise on the subject and how to help the students learn the content.
-Christine
I think being a wizard can definitely help. I suppose you can be a little less than the wizard but your attention to detail needs to be in hyper gear to keep the course up to standard. I am grateful our lessons are planned and the course is written ahead of time.
They do not need to be, but the higher the comfort zone with technology the more effectively it will be used.
Jeremy,
Understanding is the bottom line. We want our students to understand the content so we as instructors need to relay that to the student.
Shelly Crider
dwight,
We all need technology skills no matter what career choice we go into. This is helpful for instructors as well as students. Good post.
Shelly Crider
I agree that developers of online courses do not have to be tech wizards but they do need to be tech savvy. There are html editors built in to most, if not all, modern interfaces. The developer will still need to know tech basics such as how to upload files, download files, add links, file management etiquette as well as basic typing skills without falling back on the "hunt and peck" method.
I have experienced this both as a student with an instructor who did not have the proper technical training, and as an instructor myself who is a technological wiz. I believe that you do not have to have or be a technological wizard, but understanding tech will give you an advantage. In the online classroom we need to rely on tech and the more you know and understand the better advantage I believe you have!
I agree they don't have to be wizards,but having some technological skills would be very helpful.
Dwight Colston
I believe that a course developer with advanced knowledge of technology can create more comprehensive courses than a developer with little technological knowledge. A developer with technological knowledge can leverage the technologies that are best suited for different courses and students.
Ron's comment is right on.. I do think a good layperson's knowledge of technology and resources that are available can make the difference between a boring chore of a course and an interesting, engaging one.
For example, I use Slideshare for powerpoints where you can embed a YouTube video, or create an audio track to accompany a powerpoint, which beats giving people a written copy of a guest lecture.
Kelly,
There must be a nice balance of knowledge so that the instructor can also help students.
Shelly Crider
I feel the developers must have some technological skills. However, I would not say they must be a "wizard."
Most learning institutions have some sort of "IT" or "tech support" position. Or a specific person for the development/maintenance of the site.
Therefore, (if this position exists) the instructor, or developer, can type up the whole layout of the class (the Course Design Specification) and have assistance with the online placement.
I also believe these online learning websites should be just as easy for an instructor to navigate as it is for the students. Example: the ability to copy and paste assignments/quizzes/etc. from one course to another. I have this ability and each time I start the course over with new students, I only have to change a few things such as dates. Rather than re-inputting all of the assignments, quizzes etc. (Of course, I do update content when necessary.)
Anthony,
Good point. There are some classes that can be created very quickly without too much technology.
Shelly Crider
