The following are important questions to consider when setting up
an online learning experience.
What is the significance of
knowing the technology available to you?
Technology in the online learning environment sets
the foundation for the course. As the
instruction of an online course you must be aware of the resources available to
you. You must also be aware that some
students have limits related to technology.
One of the initial steps in
course development is determining which tools will be used in the course. Once the instructor determines the course
requirements, the skill level of the students needs to be determined ( Conrad &
Donaldson, 2011). If you a new to the online learning environment the best
advice is to Keep It Simple(KIT)
Why is it essential to
communicate clear expectations to learners?
Communication is the foundation for any online
course. Giving clear expectations at the
start of the online will eliminate confusing and problems later. The
syllabus to me sets the foundation for the course expectations. The syllabus for an online course performs
the same functions as for a face-to-face class, but even more so. Providing a bird’s-eye picture of the whole
course so that learners can plan their lives is essential to learners’ having a
sense of control and optimism (Boettcher & Conrad, 2010) It is important to remind students from the
beginning that communication in an online course is very different from a
traditional face-to-face course. In face – to-face environments, the instructor
is in front of the students, and most of the questions are directed to him/her,
so communication patterns flow predominantly between faculty and students. In
the online course site content, questions are posted in the question forum and
not in a private email to the instructor (Boettcher & Conrad, 2010).
What additional considerations should the instructor take into account
when setting up an online learning experience?
Setting-up and conducting your online course
can be a daunting task. If you are new
to this process like I am, it can seem downright over whelming. I would recommend the ten core principles that
can guide the design of your online course and the delivery of your course (Boettcher
& Conrad, 2010)
1. Every
structured learning experience has four elements with the leaner at the center.
2. Learners bring their own personalized and
customized knowledge, skills and attitudes to the experience.
3. Faculty mentors are the directors of learning experience.
4. All learners do not need to learn all course
content, all learners do need to learn
the core concepts.
5. Every learning experience includes the environment
or content in which the learner interacts.
6. Every learner has a zone of proximal development
that defines the space that a learner is ready to develop into useful
knowledge.
7. Concepts are not words but organized and
interconnected knowledge clusters.
8. Different instruction is required for
different learning outcomes.
9. Everything else being equal, more time on task
equals more learning.
10. We shape our tools, and our tools shape us.
What other questions/considerations
would you add to this list?
References
Boettcher, J. V., & Conrad, R. (2010). The online teaching survival guide: Simple and practical
pedagogical tips. San Francisco,
CA: Jossey-Bass.
Conrad, R., & Donaldson, J. A. (2011). Engaging the online learner: Activities and resources for
creative instruction (Updated ed.). San Francisco, CA:
Jossey-Bass.
Barbara, great post. As a visual learner, the graphic helps me to visualize the concepts you are providing. Reiteration of the 10 core principals is helpful in your discussion. Also, we can never be too clear on expectations - that's key.
ReplyDeleteBarbara,
ReplyDeleteThis is a well-written post, and the inclusion of framework model is useful. There are some additional important points that I would like to add to the ten core principles. A course is described as a set of learning experiences designed to guide learners and their assessment of a specific set of knowledge, skills, and attitudes (Conrad & Donaldson, 2011). The set of experiences and the processes for assessing learners have to be effectively designed, and a thorough examination of the course elements are essential to be designed and developed prior to launching a course. A major goal for the beginning of the course is establishing the course community. This requires implementing course activities and instructions (via syllabus, course announcements, discussion forums) to ensure that students are fully engaging in the core concepts of the course.
References:
Conrad, R., & Donaldson, J. A. (2011). Engaging the online learner: Activities and resources for creative instruction (Updated ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Thanks for your post, Barbara. I agree with your observation that students need to be reminded about the differences in communication between an online learning environment and face to face environment. While the facilitator plays the critical role of providing guidance, every member of the online learning community has a shared responsibility of contributing to the learning process and ensuring that the learning community is a success (Palloff & Pratt, n.d.).
ReplyDeleteReferences
Palloff, R. & Pratt, K. (Walden University). (n.d.). Online learning communities. [DVD].