Considerations for authoring an online course:
1. Learning goals and objectives for the course.
2. Student level of knowledge and skill set
3. Integrating the first two items into a course that is user friendly, motivational, and consistent throughout each module and lesson.
Julie,
Thanks for your input through this forum. You are right and bring up some good points. Thinking through what the course outcomes should be is the first step. And, yes, presenting information in a variety of ways so that students can learn in the way they learn best.
The course revision is a continuous process. Asking students for feedback in formative and summative ways helps you do that.
Thanks again.
When developing my own course, I think there are three things to keep in mind:
- The goal of the course; what do I want students to take away?
- The way the information is presented; what can I do to make the information appeal to a wide variety of students with different learning strengths?
- The course can be revised; how can I improve the course over time?
Luis, I like the idea of instructors being able to insert their own components into the course. Does this mean that they can provide assignments/tests that they want the students to complete or the ability to provide additional information about the assignments that are already presented?
Cindy,
Thanks for your input. First and foremost you do have to think about the learning objectives/course outcomes. Connecting them to assignments/projects/rubrics, etc. is essential.
As you offer course content in a variety of ways, you'll be connecting with the many ways students take in and interpret information.
And, yes, a well-designed course facilitate the learning. Nice job.
I believe that as instructors we have to keep in mind:
-the Learning Objectives of the course
-the different learning styles of the students
-the Design of the course to facilitate the other two
Donna,
I like the way you provide an answer and a question. These are good questions to ask yourself when you begin thinking about teaching in an online environment.
It's important to not that the instructor must feel comfortable with the technology and figure out which technology will help students achieve the course objectives/outcomes, etc.
Nice job.
It is important to consider the following--
The objectives of the course--what do you want the student to know and/or do at the end of the training?
The audience--what is their purpose for acquiring the knowledge and what is their knowledge base at the begining of the course?
The best media or methods--what should be utilized to present the content and to assess that knowledge and skill have been achieved?
Brenda,
You bring up some good points. Thanks for adding to the conversation. It is very miportant to establish the course outcomes and communicate those outcomes to the students.
Thanks!
When authoring an on-line course we must understand what we want the students to get out of the material. We need to know how to get this information in a good readable format that is appealing to the student. Finally, the online course must be refreshed and updated to keep relevance.
Christine,
Thanks for your input. Can you explain further about how the syllabus structure, size of the class and methods are important considerations?
Thanks!
Thomas,
Thanks for the information. It is a good idea to do a little diagnostic assessment of what your students know before beginning any class. This helps you get to know your students more and get a feel for their needs.
Providing your content in a variety of ways is essential as well. Thanks again.
I believe that the three most important things to consider are:
The syllabus structor
The size of the class
The methods of delivery I choose
John,
You bring up some good questions and I liked that you worded your answers as questions. It gives us something to ask ourselves and something to think about.
Being prepared as an online instructor is very important. It's essential to know what you are capable of and where you need additional training. Your note about the course being well prepared goes along with your information about the instructor being prepared as well.
The mentor can many times help you in this process. Excellent.
I believe the three most important things to take into consideration when authoring a course is the intended audience, what I intend to teach, and how I intend to measure the students understanding. All three of these elements when combined will allow the creation of a course that provides a platform for different learning styles, Measurable metrics to determine the students understanding, and a means to ensure I am providing the material the students need for the objective of the lesson I am presenting.
First step in authoring an online course is to determine what knowledge I am trying to impress on the class. This will provide the means to build a structure for the order of material to be presented inorder to first lay the foundation and then build upon it as we work through the course. I must take in account the experience and needs of the intended audience. Provide material to basic for the student they will loose interest, to advance and the student will be frustrated or confused and will not be able to process the information properly. Creating multiple means of presenting the information allows multiple learning styles to be addressed in the lessons. Measurable means to determine the students understanding of the material being presented allows the instructor to modify lessons to ensure the objective of the class is reached.
The three most important things to consider are:
1. Does the course meet the requirements of the institution for the similar in classroom course?
2. Is the course well prepared to meet the needs of the online learner in terms of content, delivery method, instructor and fellow student interaction and technical support? Does it follow a course framework and has it been tested?
3.How prepared am I as an instructor to teach an online course? How much training on online chat tools have I had? How much training in creating an online course? Do I have a mentor at the institution?
I believe the three most important things to consider when authoring an online course are:
1- What do I want the students to learn? Without the answer to this question, it would just be a hodge podge of information. Answer this question allows you to create a more focused outline to ensure that each of the topics are accurately addressed.
2- What is the level of the student? It's important to know if you are creating a course for high school students who are taking supplemental online courses or for students working on their doctorates. Knowing your students' level will allow you to present the information at the appropriate level without overwhelming or boring them.
3- How will the success of the course be assessed? There must be a way to determine if the students have gained the information that you sought to provide. If they aren't being assessed via discussion board posts, tests, papers, presentations, etc. you won't be able to determine if they comprehended the information that you provided.
Gretchen,
Nice job. Thanks for your input. Taking into consideration the fact that you need to provide content in a variety of way for a variety of learning styles is important. Assessing their learning is also important to verify that the learning outcomes are achieved.
To make all of this happen, the students need to be engaged. Thanks again.
I think the most important things are:
1) How do I want the students to learn the information; what is their learning style.
2) How do I want to assess what the student has learned-what determines "learning."
3) How can I engage the students-since it is more difficult to "connect" with students asynchronously, I need to plan a pedagogy that works.
1. Identifying the objectives of the course based on what students need to learn during the course and what they should have accomplished at the end of the course.
2. Creating the course framework by analyzing the students knowlege base, learning needs,and learning styles. The course must be in an easy-to-use format that is consistent in layout and design.
3. Developing an assessment plan that will provide information regarding if students gained knowledge and can use the knowledge learned. Certain areas of the course may need to be revised in order to achieve the desired learning outcomes.
