Designing your online course

First steps The key to a good design of an online course is understanding the key elements and combining these elements effectively for a successful course It is important to have a short plan which will guide your design process You must in built a system of evaluation and feedback in order improve your design

The key to a good design of an online course is understanding the key elements and combining these elements effectively for a successful course

It is important to have a short plan which will guide your design process

You must in built a system of evaluation and feedback in order improve your design

Elements of an online course Set objective(s) Online course design principles People – participants, instructors and administrative staff Process Technology – software, hardware and connectivity Administration – registration, certificates etc

Set objective(s)

Online course design principles

People – participants, instructors and administrative staff

Process

Technology – software, hardware and connectivity

Administration – registration, certificates etc

Setting your course objective In Robert Mager (1962) Preparing Objectives for Programmed Instruction book, he spoke of a central concept in the design of instructional materials, that is training needs must be analyzed and learning goals determined. This learning goal should be broken into a subset of smaller tasks or learning objectives namely : behavior, condition and standard. Behavioral Objectives are types of objective indicate the specific behaviors students must demonstrate to indicate that learning has occurred.

In Robert Mager (1962) Preparing Objectives for Programmed Instruction book, he spoke of a central concept in the design of instructional materials, that is training needs must be analyzed and learning goals determined.

This learning goal should be broken into a subset of smaller tasks or learning objectives namely : behavior, condition and standard.

Behavioral Objectives are types of objective indicate the specific behaviors students must demonstrate to indicate that learning has occurred.

Mager's Theory of Behavioral Objectives Behavior . The behavior should be specific and observable. Condition. The conditions under which the behavior is to be completed should be stated, including what tools or assistance is to be provided. Standard. The level of performance that is desirable should be stated, including an acceptable range of answers that are allowable as correct.

Behavior . The behavior should be specific and observable.

Condition. The conditions under which the behavior is to be completed should be stated, including what tools or assistance is to be provided.

Standard. The level of performance that is desirable should be stated, including an acceptable range of answers that are allowable as correct.

Setting your course objectives Based on this principle of objective, we can state an example here about a course on sending emails which uses observable behavior. After completing this course you will be able to: Compose an email use your address book Blind copy to a number of addresses Send an email TASK 1. Write out an objective for your online course using Mager's Theory of Behavioral Objectives 2. Read : http://www.e-learningguru.com/articles/art3_4.htm for more info on Mager’s theory of behavioral objectives

Based on this principle of objective, we can state an example here about a course on sending emails which uses observable behavior.

After completing this course you will be able to:

Compose an email

use your address book

Blind copy to a number of addresses

Send an email

Principles of Online course Instructional & Audience Analysis -Formal or informal instructional and audience analyses should be conducted prior to the onset of a course design. Instructional analysis should determine the suitability of a course for online delivery with present technology capability. Credit : http://www.fgcu.edu/onlinedesign/designDev.html

Instructional & Audience Analysis -Formal or informal instructional and audience analyses should be conducted prior to the onset of a course design.

Instructional analysis should determine the suitability of a course for online delivery with present technology capability.

Principles of Online course Instructional analysis should determine areas of knowledge and skills involved in achieving instructional goals. Audience analysis should determine the learner's personal characteristics, intellectual skills, subject knowledge level, and the purpose of taking the course. Audience analysis should also include the learner's technology skills and previous experiences with online courses. Credit : http://www.fgcu.edu/onlinedesign/designDev.html

Instructional analysis should determine areas of knowledge and skills involved in achieving instructional goals.

Audience analysis should determine the learner's personal characteristics, intellectual skills, subject knowledge level, and the purpose of taking the course.

Audience analysis should also include the learner's technology skills and previous experiences with online courses.

PEOPLE The success of your online course is people People should be at the centre of your design from step one to implementation Identify everybody involved in your online course – instructors, students, admin, technical support Based on your list of persons involved, design the course with their input from day one

The success of your online course is people

People should be at the centre of your design from step one to implementation

Identify everybody involved in your online course – instructors, students, admin, technical support

Based on your list of persons involved, design the course with their input from day one

Online course Process The key processes in a typical online course design are the following : 1. Creating – performed by the producer in the process of building the course 2. Offering – performed by the host/platform 3. facilitation – the role of the instructor in running the course 4. Accessing – the learners’ process of undertaking the course

The key processes in a typical online course design are the following :

1. Creating – performed by the producer in the process of building the course

2. Offering – performed by the host/platform

3. facilitation – the role of the instructor in running the course

4. Accessing – the learners’ process of undertaking the course

Technology Online course by its nature uses technology Therefore the place of technology in your online course design is very critical You have two options Build your platform from scratch Make use of existing platforms such as blackboard, elluminate, moodle etc TASK – Discuss the merits and demerits of building your own course platform or making use of existing platforms

Online course by its nature uses technology

Therefore the place of technology in your online course design is very critical

You have two options

Build your platform from scratch

Make use of existing platforms such as blackboard, elluminate, moodle etc

Administration Do not forget administrative issues such course registrations, administration of tests, assignments and also certificates etc You should be connected with your administration staff at each stage of the way to ensure the successful online course

Do not forget administrative issues such course registrations, administration of tests, assignments and also certificates etc

You should be connected with your administration staff at each stage of the way to ensure the successful online course

Conclusion In conclusion the key to a successful online course design and delivery is to understand and blend all elements of the online course in order to achieve synergy

In conclusion the key to a successful online course design and delivery is to understand and blend all elements of the online course in order to achieve synergy