Course terminal objectives, module level objectives, and course level objectives should be the grafted first. I need a road map to use a template before I can author my course outline. A course framework will assist in designing course content. Before authoring any course content I should answer the following question that was highlighted in course Module 1. " What do I want students to know and do?". Once I have answered this question can now move to next step regarding the delivery of my content. Evert step requires test and revising. The delivery leads to next step of how to make the content available to students. The next step is develop an assessment instrument for measuring content to ensure that learning has taken place. The last part is re-evaluate and revise according by incorporating updates or new content.
Thanks, Tom
Katie,
You bring up some very good points. The audience, depending on the level of the course, can be very different. That certainly is a top consideration. Thanks.
When authoring my own online course I consider my audience, the content and technology to be the three most important things to consider. With my audience I would consider the student level...undergraduate, graduate, program, etc. The content would be the information listed in the modules and syllabus. The technology would be considering what type of platform is being used. For example, BlackBoard, Moodle, etc.
Cynthia,
Goal, audience and presentation and relating everything to the learning objective is right on target. Thanks for your input.
I believe when authoring your own online course the three most important things are:
1) considering your goal, what you want your students to learn
2) consider your audience - their level of knowledge or lack thereof, learning styles, vested interest in course
3) presentation - how the class appeals visually to the learners.
Cynthia,
One if the key words you used in your post is "master." When students master the content, they can apply it elsewhere. Great point.
Thanks.
Pennie,
Right on. Not only what are the course objectives but what's the best way to help the students get there. Thanks!
Three of the most important things I consider are:
Ensure Course objectives lead to course goals
Make frequent connections to field of study/career and/or course goals
Include tools that not only help student learn content but mastering concepts
What do learners need to be able to do as a result of the course?
How will I assess their ability to be able to do it?
What is the best way for the learners to learn it?
Michael,
Excellent. We do want the learning objectives to be tied to everything and make sure the students can apply what they are learning to the real world. Nice job.
When creating my own online course there are a few things which I think will make it easier for the students to follow, so I would try to put myself in their shows and think:
What do I want to know and why?
How do I learn the content and information provided to me (delivery-learning style)?
Is the information easy to recall (learn) when I need to evoke / repeat it in the real world?
Though there are probably a few more topics to consider, I would think as an adult student these things are important.
James,
I like the term you used "status of the audience." Many times we think about an audience analysis, but I like the term "status." It makes use think differently about the audience - the students. Thanks!
The first one is the status of the audience at the time. What has the audience done before? What do they know? How well do they know it? What do they not know?
The second one is the situation in the organization. How important is the proposed course? Who owns the project? Who will own the product? What resources, including technology, will be available for design and development?
The third consideration is the "body of knowledge," that is, the content. Is there agreement on the performance problems to be solved? How thoroughly has the content analysis integrated other related organizational systems? What potential problems must be learner be able to solve at the end of the training, as well as learning a straightline ability to follow a set of steps?
Henry,
Thanks for your input. There are so many posts, I may have missed one. So sorry to confuse you. Take care.
Chanel,
The syllabus is many times the first point of communication. Being clear, concise, yet thorough is essential. Thanks for your input.
Janet,
Right on. We want to avoid the boring environment and get those students engaged. The LMS plays an important part in the ease of navigation. Thanks!
Dr. Crews,
I am confused. I answered this question as one of my posts when I took your class last night. However, in response to your question, when authoring my own online course I would need to consider: my audiance, the skills being taught and the technology needed to impart the curriculum.
When considering my audiance, I need to consider their knowledge level, their reading level, and their sophistication with learning styles. When considering the skills to be taught, I would need to be sure that the language used and the construction of the curriculum do not excced student understanding. Finally, I need to consider the technology needed to produce the course. It is loads of fun to write detailed mazes and scenarios for students. However, animating those exercises require huge amounts of time and money.
Dr. Henry Johnson
The three most important to me would be the details listed in the syllabus, clear and concise communication throughout the syllabi and the within class activities, and consistency within the course.
I want students to be well informed and without confusion. So in order to accomplish this, all info that is presented must be given in way that any "unseen eye" can catch on to what's required in the lesson.
Chanel
Hello,
I think the three most important things are making the course comfortable for the student. The overall design should be attractive (rather than dull and boring looking), so that the student enjoys working on the site. It needs to be easy to understand and navigate, so that the student does not become frustrated trying to figure out how everything works. It needs to have features, such as the ability for students to take their quizzes on the site, and to upload papers or other coursework to the site easily.
Janet
Karen,
My pleasure. I hope you are enjoying the MaxKnowledge course you are taking.
Take care.
