The look and feel is certainly as important as the actual knowledge. To get to the meat of the material, you must navigate to it first.
The course must look neat, organized, and somewhat visually pleasing. A messy, hard-to-read online course will not be effective. That will only frustrate students, taking away from the learning process. I like adding bright colors and graphics. Anything you can do to make the learning process more fun and interesting to look at, the better!
You make some good points here, Tom. I believe the courses do need to have the same structure for consistency purposes. Example: the courses for my department include a new video, assignment, quiz, and forum question every week. However, the set-up/layout is the same for every course. The students visit the assignments area first to view the video and read the assignment instructions and forum question. After that, they can complete the assignment, quiz, and forum discussion. Everything for every course is due at the same time, same night. This makes it easy for all students in the school to understand what is expected of them for each online class. The content is always changing, but they know they must complete the same tasks every week by that designated time.
Technology updates are certainly important, as fast as the world is moving in that area! In 2013, it shouldn't be too difficult to keep the technology updated.
I am also a fan of the interactivity in courses. I very much enjoy reading the students' discussions, and participating in them myself. I like how discussions encourage them to sort of play off of one another, to learn from each other.
We should also consider the variety of ways people learn. If the look and feel of the course is overwhelming, then those that are adverse to sensory overload will be hindered.
Of course, some will be more stimulated than others. We need to seek balance.
Yes, I agree. The look and feel need to be just as stimulating. Just as the look and feel of a guitar will stimulate the learner to play the guitar. It's not enough to pick up any guitar and be stimulated to play it.
Nashid,
This is a very good point. If a student starts off in a great class, they will more than likely look forward to their next class....but.....if the first class is not so good or frustrating, look out for the next class!
Shelly Crider
Lilia,
I do not see social media going away, so we need to make the most of what students utilize.
Shelly Crider
Anthony,
Good point, we need to continue to update classes and use new technology.
Shelly Crider
I also see frustration in one class can lead to poor perceptions and assumptions in another class. I have encountered students that bring notions to my class on expectations that takes time for me to correct. This is time that can be better spent on task. This means what I do in class can have an impact on another Instructor's efficiency.
I think the look and feel of an online course is important, not simply because of the mediums that are available -- but specifically -- and possibly primarily because of ease of access to content and navigation. Online education has had a stigma of insufficient delivery in the past. Some had said that students are not getting a full experience. Online portals are a tool. If the student can easily access the elements of the course, and the course content is rich, then there is no deprivation. We erase the bad stigma, because the student is fully engaged.
I agree. We live in an entertainment society where most students are used to social media, videos, and short pieces of information given at one time.
I agree, but often times a school will utilize the same basic visual format for every course. I teach in an Art program, and my my online environment is virtually the same as one of our English copurses. I think this maybe more or less due to keeping the environment standardized so students are familiar with navigation system. I just wished there was some way we could customize it some to help stimulate my predominantly visual learners.
Ron,
Good point, not just confusion will occur, but poor performance and in the end failure and we do not want to see that as an instructor.
Shelly Crider
Robin,
If our course is not organized, how do we really teach professionalism on top of that??
Shelly Crider
Kenya,
True, whether their working environment is an online class, McDonalds, or wherever they might be at that very moment.
Shelly Crider
Kenya,
Visual is golden for most online students, but knowing what to put in and what seems too juvenile is a balancing act.
Shelly Crider
Terry,
We can find most of the qualities in our students, but finding them all in one student will need some looking. Today's generation is a bit different in what they are looking for in a career than a few years ago.....but.....anyone in the medical field better be paying attention to detail!!
Shelly Crider
I agree completely...are as important, if not more important than the content. The look and feel, a'la presentation and the ease of navigation, is absolutely paramount in allowing students to successfully view and comprehend the subject matter being delivered. Lack of look and feel will prevent the students from accessing the content, which defeats the purpose of the course in the first place. Without good look and feel, the students will become lost and frustrated leading to poor performance, failure, and loosing the student as a customer.
Ron Carlson
Hi Shelly,
I agree. End users must feel comfortable with the layout and navigation of an online course to maximize learning. A course that is not organized in a logical manner or is lacking navigation, leads to frustration and poor participation/attendance.
Robin
It is important for students to feel comfortable in their working environment.
I agree Muriel. I think visual nature plays a big role in the way human beings respond.
