Frank,
I would think that we have all sat through that oh so boring class in college! We do not want that for our students online!
Shelly Crider
Jenny ,
This is so true. We do have a lot of students who are not familiar with how different programs work.
Shelly Crider
Bhamini,
Thank you for mentioning interaction as students love an active instructor!
Shelly Crider
This can't be over emphasized. Failure to attract and hold a students interest makes it no more interesting than reading a dry subject in a text with no illustration.
From what I have experienced, some on line instructors do not have the capability of designing courses that grab and pull in the student. I believe that every instructor that produces a course should have a peer with experience run through the course and provide feedback.
Students today are presented with high quality graphic presentations on everything from TV to
IPhones. When we as instructors present anything that is "flat" in its dimension, the students are less likely to connect.
The feel of an online course is important particularly if you are dealing with students that are not familiar with on-line instruction. Many of our students are older with limited computer skills. They are very anxious about being successful in the course. If the course and lessons are simpily layed out the student has more confidence in their ability to be successful. Their confidence in there own abilities is a driving force in their success.
Thomas,
I agree with your last statement but I have often wondered why schools do not make a mandatory requirement for students to learn the basic of the online forum? Which would take away the initial anxiety and time spent not to mention frustration figuring things out and not able to devote this precious time on the course content!
Shelly,
I feel that this should be simple and able to navigate with ease without having to read pages of directions. Learning to navigate the forum the students are going to be using is vital to their success. This is the key foundation they should master and the rest will be plain sailing!
I also feel interaction is the key. Whether it be questions about the course or just conversing with other students in the lounge. The most important aspect is for students to know where everything is located in their new learning environment.
Eugene,
I like how you state this! People do feel with their heart....nice job!
Shelly Crider
Donald,
If a student cannot access the content easily....no need for content!
Shelly Crider
Henry,
This is a post many others could post as well. My college present fought going online but now very happy!!!
Shelly Crider
Donald,
I love when there is a mock trial or mock interviews. This is "seeing is believing" in action.
Shelly Crider
Absolutely important! People argue with their mind, but feel with their heart. If something is ugly or repulsive, we will naturally try to avoid it. This has been documented in numerous research. Online course materials need to be easy on the eyes, and challenging to the mind. If a student likes the experience of navigating through the course, they will more likely have a positive experience with the rest of the materials. In other words, cannot have one without the other.
I agree.
The reason is obvious. Contrary to popular opinion, form is just as important, if not more important, as content. The problem is that most people tend to emphasize content at the expense of form. Ease of use is essential if efficiency is desired. Effectiveness is all about content, and that is also important, but getting the information is critical.
For many years, I thought that "online" education was a prostitution of our profession. However, GOD has a sense of humor and I am now Program Director in an online institution.....I love it. I have been given free reign to alter courses and make them far more user friendly and educationally sound. Along with a team of designers, we have done some incredible things with courses and our attrition rate has dropped significantly.
ANY educational course, on-ground or online, must be cheerful and inviting. I tell teachers all the time, "Give them a reason to come back tomorrow." The class must encourage students to think for themselves using their critical thinking skills to solve problems, participate in scenarios, and interact in discussions. Teachers must be enthusiastic and impart to students a desire to be a life-long learner. To that end, the online course must be well organized; have lots of graphics, and lots of activities to engage every level of learner.
Shelly,
I agree that online courses should offer an experience as close to the physical classroom or brick and mortar sessions as possible but with a tad bit more flare since technology is so easily assessable for the instructor/professor/facilitator. The caveat is that without knowledge or experience then the credibility of the instruction is not valid in either environment (classroom or online). As for the skills required, well these are things which possibly could be learned as education-instruction for teaching moves forward, however, educators must possess; adaptability, flexibility and the ability to communicate the instruction effectively. These are the skills (besides keeping informed on changes in your field of study) are very important and should help you to succeed in any scholastic environment.
Michael Stone
I agree that online courses should offer an experience as close to the physical classroom or brick and mortar sessions as possible but with a tad bit more flare since technology is so easily assessable for the instructor/professor/facilitator. The caveat is that without knowledge or experience then the credibility of the instruction is not valid in either environment (classroom or online). As for the skills required, well these are things which possibly could be learned as education-instruction for teaching moves forward, however, educators must possess; adaptability, flexibility and the ability to communicate the instruction effectively. These are the skills (besides keeping informed on changes in your field of study) are very important and should help you to succeed in any scholastic environment.
I really do agree with this assessment. I really believe that look and feel of an online course makes the course easier difficult.
Currently, to enhance my legal knowledge. I am taking a paralegal certificate. In this course on litigation which was in blackboard, the instructor had one link for every single week. What made this course difficulty is that there were multiple links into the assignments. It was almost impossible to find a particular assignment.
Finally, the instructor had a mock trial assignment that had six parts in three different due dates all of which were never specified on the virtual campus. In my opinion, this course was a poster child for everything that could be wrong with an online course. I will not tell you the name of the instructor to protect the guilty.
Randy,
Oh yes....enthusiasm is very contagious. When students see and involved instructor who loves his/her subject....retention goes up!
Shelly Crider
Randy,
Good point! "Draw the student to the lessons" is exactly what you want to do. If the course's first page is bleak and boring, what is the WIIFM for the student?
Shelly Crider
Stephen,
Content and transfer of knowledge is very important to each and every student as you do not know how many students will pass the information along to others!
Shelly Crider
