I agree - I've done a lot of design for the course I teach, and I am certainly NOT a technical wizard. Many students taking online classes are also not technical wizards, so you want the course to be accessible to all learners. I can see how my own technical limitations keep me from spicing up the course material with more videos, animations, and lectures with audio. A collaborative process would allow for utilizing of a variety of strengths.
I think they need to know the basics, but more importantly, be willing to learn and try new things. Since these courses and the resources available are ever-evolving, we have to be open to change and to learning new technology.
So....do you think that too much technology takes away from the class content? Will students want to "play" with their avatar too much?
I wonder about this as well. I'm pretty savvy with computers, but I struggle with the animation and audio links.
After seeing the Pearson program with the avatar, I'll never be satisfied with text only, or amateur efforts.
It was amazing. There was a slightly patronizing attitude in the group of professionals viewing it that this sort of platform was for lower functioning students. I disagree. I find dry texts and presentations to be torturous.
I think it would really depend on the technological abilities of the developer of the online courses. Maybe they do not need to be a wizard but they definitely need to feel comfortable with the things they need to do, or at the very least, have someone who is available to help.
I believe that to set up an online learning environment one would need some technical expertise. However, to teach in an already established online environment would not require but limited technical knowledge.
I tend to agree to disagree. Since an Online course is web based content you need to know hyper text markup language for proper placement for each web page designed for the online course. But if you have the the proper learning management system in place then all you would do is copy and paste where the content needs to be placed.
Michael Haws
I absolutely agree with this statement. However, I would include a stipulation. If you develop an online course you need to be able to breakdown the technology and explain it in terms easy enough for students to understand and complete. I just started to use YouTube videos to help explain accounting terms and procedures for those that are not visual learners. For me to be able to successfully incorporate those into my class I needed to be able to send my students the links.
Another aspect that my students have had issues with this quarter is not being able to open the assignment files completely. I have had a couple students that I have had to explain how to make sure that the files open and one was able to grasp it while the other still cannot and we have just reached the midpoint of the course. I needed to be able to explain the technology to them. Therefore, it is important that I know about the programs my students will work with.
I guess I was thinking of a 'developer' of an online course being one who teaches that certain course. This is the way I have seen on-site programs transformed into onl-line courses, so that's all I know.
I think they have to have the basic understanding of what kind of technology is available to use. The majority of their course relies on the curriculum of the course. The curriculum of the course is then enhanced by the functionality of the technology they have available to them.
It may take some expertise but online course developers are mostly working with pre-existing templates and supplying information not writing html code for web pages so that makes it a lot easier.
Good point. A student may ask you about a particular technology.
This is a great point. We are always continuing to learn.
This will depend on the development of the course. For example, where I teach the courses are already developed so I do not have to know the technical aspects. But, I do think you are at an advantage if you have an understanding of the latest and greatest technology available.
Developers of online courses do not have to be technological wizards. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your answer.
They do have to have some degree of knowledge to be able to design the course, so I do agree because they have to be able to at least do what they are asking the learners to do.
I have to disagree with this statement also. Online developers need to wear two hats. First and foremost, they must have the technical skills to implement the technology. They also must have a certain level of understanding of the subject matter and they way students interact with it to be successful.
I don't think you have to be an expert but just be aware of what can be done. I think you can do the designing and the tech experts can make it happen.
Do you think that the students know a complicated system as well?
A techy is needed for the computer input but the class comes from someone with the material knowledge and not necessarily the computer knowledge---my husband is a case in point---
