Yes, the look and feel of an online course are as equally important as the knowledge and skills it is designed to impart. If the look and feel isn't engaging, the learner is likely to pay less attention to the material. Furthermore, if the learner doesn't find the material engaging, they may assume that the content isn't very good either.
Yes, there is nothing worse than a course that even looks "difficult", and i dont mean academically, just structurally. If it is not easy to follow students will not be engaged, or if they are, you are going to be answering a lot of questions because they will become confused by the structure of the course.
Yes, I do that for one of the school I teach for, students really seem to like it.
Jon,
That is awesome!! Students love videos whether in class or in their own living room (or wherever they chose to watch!!)
Shelly Crider
Absolutely agree. The look and feel of a course can be compared to the look and feel of a great pair of shoes. They may look great and be horribly uncomfortable. They may be super comfortable and look like your great grandmother's.
Best to have both and this an only be accomplished with creatibe and inspired instructional designers.
Shelly:
I teach on-ground and online. I attempt to incorporate as much as possible online as I do onground. I teach forensic science so demonstrations are important. I will videotape a demonstration and embed for students to view and discuss during a live chat. I incorporate real life pictures and PPT presentations. I have seen my attendance increasing as my live chats become more dynamic. JMH
Charles,
Good point on motivation. A course that is simple to move around in and yet gives great content is very motivating to continue.
Shelly Crider
Phyllis,
We instructors will have to give the course personality! Make your own course by really being involved.
Shelly Crider
Ron,
Students are in our classes to learn content and if they spend too much time learning the platform, they get frustrated...good job!
Shelly Crider
i learned from experience that the look of a online course depends on the software that you use. Most of them already have structure.
The look and feel of an online course is vital to student's success and motivation. Since online course lacks face-to-face interaction between Instructor and students, the virtual courseroom must provide the neccessary course technology to enhnce students success.
I agree with you Shelly! I have taught online on two different online school programs and I think that I like blackboard program the best! The only thing that I am not so crazy about with online teaching is that it lacks "personality". The one to one dynamic that you get from teaching onsite vs. online is a lot harder to get online when you are just emailing or having chat sessions with students. I think that the more detail the programs have the better interaction you can get with the students. I just added live labs with a webcast to my online teaching and it added a new dynamic for me. I was able to better connect with my students with this new addition.
By look and feel I assume we discuss the structure of the course and the elements incorporated. The interface should be intuitive and easy to follow. There should be no more elements than needed to spur the student to learn. It is easy to put too much in. Yes, I agree.
Daniel,
Good point. A positive attitude can make or break not just a course, but a whole school experience.
Shelly Crider
I agree with this statement. If the student does not have a positive attitude of the course, it is one more challenge that they must overcome. That attitude is a result of the Look and Feel of the Course. A part of our role is to help each student succeed.
Agree; Having taken a few "online" course the presentation & organization (look & feel)of a well constructed course vs. one not so much is sometimes frustrating, more time consuming for the student. Those negative "feelings" can demotivate and become the focus of student attention rather then the process of learning and may be the root cause of not being successful in the class.
Thomas,
I like how you state that and you are exactly right!!
Shelly Crider
Richard,
Just like in a face to face class....each term is different. You may have a perfect class one term and might need to make little changes the very next quarter!
Shelly Crider
Andrea,
You will end up with a win win situation!
Shelly Crider
I agree. The knowledge and skills help students develop additional skills that can be used in other courses.
