Monday, November 17, 2008
Course Design
When course designers take into consideration the elements that are important to adult learners, the students have a greater chance for course completion and success as eLearners. According to Restauri (2004), there are a few key variables related to success of students enrolled in an online course: administration must evaluate their target audience to understand the needs of the students; assess the students for learning styles and behavioral tendencies that would facilitate success in an online class; and incorporate student training modules relating to software and hardware needs. Restauri (2004) goes on to say that obtaining feedback from faculty members relating to needs they may have in the creation of high quality “courserooms” will provide administrators with the most insightful information. Those who design online courses must be aware of the needs and expectations of adult learners. Mason (2006) surmises that online learning is particularly appropriate for adult learners: it is more flexible than face-to-face classes, it supports a self-directed approach to learning, and it facilitates choice and the use of a wide range of resources. Online courses appear to be growing in popularity for working adults who are interested in post-secondary studies and for those who are seeking options for professional development related to their career choices. In your experience with online courses, have you experienced a course design that was more user friendly that others? Have you experienced any that were extremely challenging to use? What element made one design better than others?
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5 comments:
I know this is an unpopular opinion, but I took Dr. A's class through blackboard this summer. I liked how everything was integrated and easy to use. It kept track of when I turned things in and also of my grades and teacher comments. It felt and looked seamless.
However, I know that many of us -- myself included -- do not have access to integrated courseware options. And using the non-integrated options (class web site plus wiki plus blog) gives us all a stronger opportunity for development.
I have never taken a class through blackboard.
If you take Dr. A's "Needs Assessment, Planning and Evaluation" I think, it's sometimes given via blackboard. Don't be intimidated -- it was really excellent.
As a student participating in online courses I have experienced course design that was more user friendly that others; this program has been the most flexible (University of Alabama HES - Interactive Technology).
I have experienced an undergraduate accounting class that was extremely challenging to use. The biggest element of the difficult classs was the prioritzation of the reading materials into a task oriented outline. The element that was missing, in my opinion was the lecture. A written lecture, or an audio lecture would have been a great asset for the class.
I actually blended the online/traditional class; I attended the traditional course for the lectures, and submitted the assignments for the course on-line, as required.
I thought Blackboard was easy to use, as KellyAnn comments. I have had it for an associates program, and the graduate program. It is a very easy tool to use.
BTW: I [mega] enjoyed Dr. A's Needs Assessment, Planning and Evaluation, too!
I am taking Dr. A's Needs Assessment class this semester and really enjoying it. I feel like I have learned a lot in this class. The class is not on Blackboard this semester, so I still haven't had that experience.
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