I agree that course developers do not have to be technological wizards. The design and planning of a course are far more important skills. The foundation of a building is more important than the interior walls. A poorly designed course cannot be helped with technology. There are tools and technologies to help as needed.
Jeff
I agree to some extent. The developers have to have some level of technical knowledge to be able to evaluated the course design from a student's perspective. But there may also be a team all working on this project. In this case each member can bring different skill sets to the development process to make it more efficient.
Hi,
I believe that while developers may not have to be wizards, they definitely need to be somewhat technically proficient. They are developing a course, so they should at a minimum have an understanding of technology. If the developer is not technically proficient, the course may be missing some key components that may benefit the students.
Mike,
I have experience this as well and then the very next time I open the class, I get a class full of techies!
Shelly Crider
Mike,
True enough!! Love the analogy of the cake!!
Shelly Crider
John,
Striving and learning what is out there for us to work with. Keeps instructors life long learners!
Shelly Crider
Erin,
Our students can tell how familiar we are with technology.
Shelly Crider
Jerrod,
Some people think all platforms are alike until they start working on them.
Shelly Crider
I agree. Being that I am technically-challenged to a point, developers be subject wizards. Like designing a website; you create the information you to want to present on the website but, you might want a professional web designer to develop the look of the site that will make it appealing and easy to use.
In my classes I find that there are many students that have very little technical skill. They take online courses then seem surprised that SOME technical skill is needed. Their computers are covered in viruses, they demonstrate poor folder / file management and get hopelessly lost. I spend a lot of personal time getting students caught up because they have little technical skill.
Well, true anyone can make an online class but, anyone can make a cake too. The difference is the quality of the class (or cake). Having a strong technical background helps an instructor choose the proper recording software, expertly edit content and troubleshoot student issues.
I agree with this statement. An online course developers need to be knowledgeable about the content and on how best to deliver it to the learners. The technological part although will be an add on, especially to allow ease of navigation through the system, it should not be necessary.
Technological Expertise is not a requirement and is not necessary to design and develop online courses. Some knowledge of technology is required similar to a web designer. This person has to be giving instruction by an experience educator or course developer.
I agree and disagree. While you do not have to be a tech wiz to be abel to develop and effective online course. You should be striving to become very familiar with the technology that your students are so much a part of. If you can develop content that interacts with tech side of things, it will appeal to the students you are trying to reach. This will make your course more interesting and the student will delve deeper into the material. The end result will produce a better understanding of the lesson.
I agree, a developer for an online course does not really need to be anymore technologically savvy than traditional course developers. There is nothing inherently technologically advanced that has to be done rather its presenting similar content in slightly different ways.
I agree, developers of online courses do not need to be tech wizards; however, they do need to have a certain level of familiarity about how online education works and the resources available.
There needs to be a basic understanding of online methodology and the platform that is being used. Many schools have a curriculum development team that builds the material and they work directly with the platform team to blend the material.
Sarrah,
You do have to watch how you define "wizard"!
Shelly Crider
Kevin,
Anytime we discuss technology advances, it makes me wonder what we have to look forward to in the next five to ten years!!
Shelly Crider
I disagree. While the term "wizard" is a bit erroneous, instructors must have full knowledge of the technology they are using to run the class. I have personally encountered instructors that misunderstand and misuse the technology within the classroom. This not only wastes their time, it is also a disservice to their students.
