Jerome,
This is a great way to really get them ready for a job of their choice.
Shelly Crider
Michael,
"Pleasing" keeps us coming back for more, no matter what the situation!
Shelly Crider
Daniel,
It would be like reading a child a book with no pictures!
Shelly Crider
Patrick.
Yes, student orientation is the key and first stop to helping students learn about the environment before they have the stress of actually being in class. However, there will still be students who come in and forget what they learned or they might be so green to navigating online that they become easily frustrated. I like to keep a running FAQ list going as student issues come in so they can stop in to check there first for possible solutions. I have found over the years the #1 reason students have tech issues in class is because they have a full clipboard and they need to clear their cache or reboot their computer. All kinds of things go wrong with the LMS when this happens. I think the FAQ is nice because students run into an issue and want an answer NOW - lol. It also keeps me from having to repeat ideas over and over again as the same issues come in. I have my FAQ/Cheat Sheet and can cut and past the solution which may or may not be lengthy. If I can help the student I want to be there to do it instead of pointing them elsewhere first. The only tricky part is getting through the first few classes when you are still learning what you need to add to your FAQ. :)
Best,
Tanya
Jon,
Yes! When it comes to format and mistakes I think the most frustrating is when format disrupts the clarity of lesson instructions. If instructions are not designed properly students can miss information that could cost them dearly. They must be as simple and clear as possible using a format that places emphasis on the most important details.
Best,
Tanya
Daniel,
I totally agree. The color scheme, the structure, the graphics or lack of graphics all play a role in the "vibe" a virtual classroom sends out to the student population. I have been in a fair number of online classrooms and I am easily distracted by font changes or the same graphic being used over and over again. These seem like small errors but no one wants to feel like the course designers didn't proof their work or try their best to make the platform as appealing as possible.
Best,
Tanya
I completely agree. We live in a world where appearance means a lot. Signing on to the virtual classroom can be compared to walking into a brick and mortar classroom. If a physical room is disorganized and chaotic it reflects on the school and the instructor. This is the same online. If students sign in and the LMS is disorganized, chaotic, or partially down due to technical errors this will also reflect on the school and the instructor and it will almost always frustrate the student. Students often think the instructors create the virtual classroom from scratch and will connect classroom shortcomings with the instructor's performance. Students should be able to find materials easily without issues with broken links or missing data. Again, if a student walks into a class and the teacher is late or disheveled it is the same as showing up for a live chat and the instructor is late or he or she is fumbling with the technical tools instead of being prepared to present. The same rings true with the presentation of material and the demeanor of the instructor. Online students have to process a lot of written material. They should feel welcomed and encouraged by the instructor so the virtual classroom feels like an interactive classroom and not just reading material. The instructors might be at home interacting in their pajamas but they must be professional in all arenas. If the students don't feel like the instructor is available, helpful,and encouraging than even the best material and classroom layout can fail.
I agree. The online class room should have a look and feel that parallels what the student would face in the real world. This will hopefully get them as best prepared as possible to apply there knowledge and new skillset.
I agree. The online course should have an ease of accessibility and pleasing to the eyes. Students should have a variety of ways to engage content and should also have an instructor that engages the student. The look and feel should also have a consistency. Consistency will provide students with the same experience and will depend on how the students choose to engage the course.
I come from a graphic design background - so content is only half of the project. while content is important - because it validates the course in terms of the subject matter, the rest of it rests in the design. The best content accomplishes nothing if the course isn't designed with a visual style. Consistency in the visual presentation, a simplicity of the presentation and a pleasing design style all contribute to the success of the content.
Jay,
I have found that each term is a bit different. As an instructor you have to be able to change a little to the class or add something to the class to connect to your students.
Shelly Crider
Rakisha,
Really not much different than if you sat in a dirty classroom....you would be distracted by the dirt and not concentrate on the content.
Shelly Crider
In order for learners to be successful in an online format, they must feel comfortable with the layout of the platform. Otherwise, the learners will not be successful in acquiring the knowledge and skills from the course which will defeat the purpose of taking an online course. How can an institution ensure for the best layout or design to meet the needs of their learners?
Jay Familant
The look and feel of an online course is just as important as the instructional content. If the course is not easy to navigate and locate content, the student is likely to be discouraged and less engaged in the course.
Theresa,
Good statement "Provide clear information on how students can find help." This is important as many students can work ahead and not have to wait for help from an instructor if there is self-help info.
Shelly Crider
Catherine Affiong ,
There are many distractions when a student is not quite ready for the information.
Shelly Crider
Eric,
yes yes yes!! I think online students want to feel they have a live human instructor. So be active!
Shelly Crider
Zachary,
Excellent point.....not just to be able to look easy, but it must be useful as well.
Shelly Crider
Greg,
It is funny how quickly a student will give up and they do not connect with the class immediately.
Shelly Crider
I think the look and feel of the online course are important. If the student does not feel like it is easy to navigate the course they are not likely to perform to their highest potential. I do not think that the feel of the online class is not as important as the instructors involvement in the class. If the instructors present is felt in the online class it shows they are in control and care about the students success. I believe the student will work herder to achieve the goals outlined in the class. Do you think instructor involvement is equal or more important that the feel of the class?
