In order for students to be able to navigate through the program is must be appealing. Strutural integrity is important it aiding in the look and feel. If navigational simplicity is missing students may get frustrated and drop the course. In order to provide stimulating active learning look and appeal are absolutely important to keep interest and foster learning.
Kelly,
You are right....too many messages and the students will stop reading them!
Shelly Crider
Yes, the look and feel of an online course is important because if the course has much information on the page causing website clutter, the students may feel overwhelmed and they may drop out of the course.
If a course page is overcomplicated with too many messages, the student may not know what to read first or where to go after reading the messages.
Using images to optimize your course is essential; however, there has to be a balance to not using too many or irrelevant images.
Robyn,
Nice comment on the facilitator. Even if the class is poorly designed, a good facilitator can involve the students through discussion.
Shelly Crider
Kendra,
Not just students, but instructors may become frustrated as well if the site is not organized.
Shelly Crider
I agree that the look and feel of an online course is as important as the content it contains. The web design should be easy to navigate so learners do not become frustrated looking for tools or resources. The design needs to be visually appealing as well. In my opinion, the feel refers to how the facilitator conducts the classroom. For example, are the students respectful of each other's opinions? Does the facilitator provide constructive feedback? Are classroom rules adhered to? The facilitator should be able to direct the class discussion away from negativity, toward positive interactions when necessary.
I think the look and feel is important. If the site is poorly designed, students may get frustrated and decide that the course is to diffacult and just give up.
Also, well designed courses are more accessible to students and students can see where they are in the learning process while they take the course. Adult learners want to know what they are learning, why they are learning it, and how this knowledge will either expand or enchance the skills they may already have.
I think the look and feel is important. If the site is poorly designed, students may get frustrated and decide that the course is to diffacult and just give up.
Also, well designed courses are more accessible to students and students can see where they are in the learning process while they take the course. Adult learners want to know what they are learning, why they are learning it, and how this knowledge will either expand or enchance the skills they may already have.
STEVE,
Great point!! Every platform is a bit different. It is like going from Hotmail to Yahoo email.
Shelly Crider
Sheryl,
Good point.....every demographic is a bit different. You cannot create a course in Microsoft Word for students fres out of school and retirees who just need refresher course.
Shelly Crider
FARZANA,
That is a very good point. Students have to feel like they are in a class, but yet feel comfortable with the technology at the same time.
Shelly Crider
Yes – for example the look and feel of a Moodle designed course compared to a Blackboard is quite different. The Moodle course normally has more space and is easier to navigate where the Blackboard design is more congested and better suited for higher level learning. Moodle design is more simplistic and Blackboard is more complex. Therefore, depending on the specific level of the learning, the appropriate e-learning platform must be selected.
Absolutely! Having worked in several colleges with a variety of online learning platforms/software, I found two things critical for the students: ease of navigation and the overall appeal. I've received more complaints on courses whose look and feel was not designed for the specific student demographic (regardless of course content and functionality!) than on those platforms that had less features but a user-friendly look and feel. It increases credibility of the teacher and school, increases retention, and adds to an enriched online learning experience.
I agree. The look and feel of an online course is very important. Some students are afraid of taking any online course because they think that it will not be the same as an in class course.
Amie,
Good point, not only does it have to look good but it must look up to date!
Shelly Crider
I agree. If the course is confusing, looks out of date, or does not promote student engagement then students will be less likely to complete the course. It is no different than showing up to a face-to-face course and having the instructor pull out an overhead projector - I would not trust what this instructor had to say because he/she has obviously not kept up with what is current.
Dr. Felicia,
Inviting is a key word. You "want" the students to log back into your class!
Shelly Crider
Althea,
Nicely stated!!! Ensuring that learners do indeed understand the content is what learning is all about!
Shelly Crider
An ideal online course should have an inviting feel and so students can easily navigate through the classroom. The syllabus, assignments and due dates, what is expected etc must be easily accessible and organized. The use of technology like videos, powerpoints, etc are great addition in the online classroom.
Bobby,
Great post. I also agree that standardization in an institution is important. Not only will this make navigation easier but will also make transition from one class to the next easier since the learners are familiar with the platform.
