I consider the three most important things to consider when authoring a class:
(1) the course objectives – what skills must student leave the course with?
(2) the audience – what skills do the students currently posses? Where are they in their academic careers? How do they learn?
(3) content delivery – what is the most optimal form to deliver content. (This is influenced by the audience’s learning style).
First and foremost, the author needs to know her or his students. This can be done in a number of ways but the most effective is to offer an opportunity for introductions. This will allow the instructor to gain an appreciation for the students' level of experience with online learning, their overall attitude, and any potential concerns. Second, the instructor must make sure that the modules effectively support the delivery of the course content - this requires that the instructor have strong content knowledge and a good grasp of pedagogy. Last, the instructor must be well versed in the information and the most effective means of delivering the material.
Les
Nicholas,
An audience analysis is so important. This provides essential information to the instructor. Thanks for your input.
Tena,
Hello. It’s important for the course to be 1) factually accurate, 2) interesting, and 3) somewhat challenging. It’s important for the course to not contain any content errors. The students may be taking the course to get a better understanding of the concept; thus, it’s important for any outdated research to be replaced with the more recent research. It’s also important for the course to be interesting. Students are unlikely to want to take a course that is boring. Thus, graphs should be added to the course. The course also shouldn’t be too easy. The students should actually learn something from the course.
Regards,
John Halstead
The three important considerations for me are
1) Who is the audience? Age, gender, race, education level, etc.
2) Making the course material as clear and precise as possible?
3) How to increase student-student and student-instructor interaction.
Jeanne,
Knowing your audience is important in any setting, but when they are your students, it is even more essential. Thanks for sharing your ideas.
In my opinion, the first element is:
1. to know your target audience. This can be the most difficult of all tasks because there can be such a wide range of learning styles and abilities. I am currently facing this issue with my f2f class and it challenges me there as well!
The second most valuable component is:
2. to teach to the objectives of the module. Well-written course objectives are like a lighthouse in a storm! They can guide you safely to your desired end, even though the waters may be tricky and you have gotten "off course".
And lastly,
3. Listen to your student's feedback. It always amazes me when a student asks a question about something that I thought was perfectly obvious, and a light-bulb goes off in my head. I see their point from a totally different perspective, and I learn.
Student background
Student experience with school
Student with research
ANN,
The target group is your audience and knowing your audience is essential. Thanks for your input.
Melissa,
Right on. Meeting the students where they are and hitting on all learning styles is essential. Nice job.
The three most important things to consider when authoring an online course is the target group, the material presented and grading the students knowledge of the subject matter presented.
The target group would have to be considered in determining if the course would be beginer, intermediate or expert. In otherwords, how educated is the group to accept the material and pass the course.
The materials presented would have to be interesting in topic and presented in a way to be both factual and promote critical thinking skills in the student. This would promote a platform for discussion.
Quizes, homework and testing would need to be incorporated into the course to allow the student to master the course and be able to track their knowledge of the subject matter as well as the instructor.
I believe the three most important things to consider when authoring an online course are:
1. Appeal to different learning styles
2. Know the material that you are teaching to avoid confusion
3. Communicate directions clearly so all can understand. If someone has a question, make sure to reply as soon as possible to avoid frustration and confusion on the students part.
Lindsey,
It is OK to repeat! Some redundancy is good - even in the classroom. You are on track with your comments. Thanks.
Lindsey and William,
We learn from each other including our students. It is good to be open to learning from everyone. Thanks for your input.
Frank,
Right on. Knowing your audience, your students, is of utmost importance. Thanks for sharing.
Frank and Kristin,
It's great that we can learn from each other through this forum. Thanks.
Frank,
Thanks for adding to the conversation. You are right on track with your comments. Thanks.
I am coming into this thread a little late, so I fear I will be repeating some of what has already been said. All of my colleagues who wrote before me made excellent points!
The three things I believe are most important when authoring a course are:
1) Understanding the level of my students. This includes what knowledge I can assume they have as well as what ability they have in terms of assessments. Will a research paper be above their heads? Will answering lists of questions bore them with its simplicity? It needs to be an equal balance of challenging and accessible.
2) How to best utilize the tools available to me to present information for multiple learning types. This includes understanding what my framework allows and using it to best combine experiential learning, individual work, group work, visuals, readings and lectures to teach to a variety of learners. (One of the most exciting things I find about online teaching is how easy it is to please multiple learner styles - as opposed to lecturing in a 200+ lecture hall at a university!)
3) Knowing what my learning objectives are for the course and making sure all are incorporated in my plan.
Thank you!
William,
I completely agree that you should know the subject you are teaching. However, it is entirely possible that within that subject there are parts with which you are less familiar, or a student may ask a question to which you don't know the answer. I teach environmental science and my students ask me all the time obscure things, like technical details about nuclear plants or energy policies in Cambodia - things that I may not know off the top of my head. It is always important, I think, to keep ourselves as knowledgeable as possible and to always admit when we don't know something. The students understand us not being encyclopedias and appreciate when we go out of our way to look something up for them, but it is hard to gain back trust if you are caught making up information!
Lindsey
Hi Yvette,
I like what you said about considering the learning styles of the students in the class. I believe this is a very important concept especially when developing an online course.
