Online Course Design - What I know now and what I expect to learn next

I am looking forward to thinking about online teaching from the designer’s perspective!

During the first course in this series, I experienced what it is like to be on the receiving end of a well-designed course. I realized that the layout of the course was important so that I could easily find what I was looking for. The lesson modules addressed the appropriate subject matter. The links were (well, usually!) active, though I learned that the instructor must always double check resources when relying on online support for learning.

I enjoyed the discussions and found the questions stimulating and purposeful. Most of the responses from my peers were meaningful, but I did find that the responses became less constructive as the week went on. I found that I became more discerning in what I read and how I responded as the class continued. I learned that the facilitator has to be active in stimulating new questions so that the discussions stay lively.

I learned that a student must be self-disciplined and committed to doing well if he/she wants to be successful in an online class. While not all online classes are rigorous, those that are well-designed can take more time and work than a face-to-face course. There is no “hiding” online!

In the second course I learned about facilitation. It was great fun to create and deliver the live session via Wimba technology. I was excited to be presented with information about assessment and creating rubrics for evaluation. As a university lecturer, I have become more and more aware of the importance of having specific criteria in place for evaluation. It saves a lot of argument when it comes time for grading.

As I begin the design course, I am optimistic that I can take what I learn in it and apply the practices to my face-to-face courses. I consider myself to be a constructivist teacher, and I enjoy drawing learning from my students rather than pumping it in through lectures. I think I will be able to adapt well to creating an online class. I anticipate some difficulty in finding the right amount of information to put in a learning module, though. I will have to identify what the important concepts are in the lesson and learn to eliminate some of the peripheral information. I will also want to focus on creating good, open questions to stimulate discussion.

I think I have good instincts about teaching and design. However, in this class I want to be sure I consider learning styles and theory when I create my learning module. My university colleagues are skeptical about online learning. When I show them my design, I want to be able to give a rationale for my choices based on solid theory and knowledge of best practices in education.

Finally, I am looking forward to meeting new classmates and re-connecting with friends from previous classes. It is the interaction with others that truly makes the class satisfying.

PS: If you click onto the graphics, you will be linked to more resources on online teaching and learning!

Graphics sources:

Online learning model: http://www.ion.illinois.edu/resources/tutorials/overview/nutshell.asp

Constructivist teacher:http://www.krauseinnovationcenter.org/ewyl/modules/module3-6.html

Four stage design model: http://teach.ucf.edu/nowwhat/pedagogy_id.html