E learning blunders under the radar

Designing online learning courses can be a rewarding and
challenging endeavour. On one hand, it is rewarding because
the course development process can result in a cost-efficient,
results-effective and learner-responsive educational program. On
the other hand, it is challenging because of the wide range of
mistakes that can happen during the course development process.
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Fortunately, these mistakes can be prevented with careful analysis
of the online learning course from its formulation to its
implementation and evaluation. Keep in mind that e-learning
blunders can happen in all of these phases, thus, emphasizing the
importance of consistent dedication to excellent quality.

Here are a few common mistakes that can be made during
the development of online courses. Be aware of these mistakes so
that you can prevent these from occurring in your own online
learning course.

Using Traditional Training Methods
Online

While many of the principles and practices of traditional classroom-
based learning can be applied to Internet-based learning, most
cannot be interchanged between the two media of instruction for
obvious reasons. It cannot be overstated that e-learning students
have unique instructional needs and wants, thus, the teaching
methods and means are different as well.

Converting traditional learning programs to online learning can be
easier with these useful tips:
• Identify the best course format. A face-to-face course can be
successfully converted into one of the following e-learning
formats, namely:
• Asynchronous learning wherein students directly interact with
the course content via a technology system, such as Q&A
mentoring, emails, and online discussion groups.

• Synchronous learning wherein student-teacher interactions are
in real time (i.e., all participants simultaneously log in).
• Hybrid learning wherein learning events combines both
asynchronous and synchronous learning as well as face-to-face
instruction.
• Choose the best instructional design model for your online
learning course. Your choices may include Nine Events of
Instruction and ADDIE.
• Use interaction methods, which should include learner to
content, learner to instructor, and learner to learner instruction.
• Select the best educational technology.

If necessary, hire an expert in converting a classroom-based material
to an online learning course.

Creating without Clear Goals and
Objectives

Yet another mistake in designing Internet-based educational
programs is the absence of clear goals and objectives. It must be
emphasized that setting clear goals and objectives is the foundation
of success for online learning courses for several reasons, such as
defining the target audience and determining the desired outcomes
upon course completion.

Setting clear goals and objectives can be easier with the following
tips:

• Use specific terms particularly on action-oriented objectives.
Avoid using general terms and vague words
• Know your target audience. Ask yourself who your audience is,
what they want in an online learning course, and why they want
to achieve these goals.
• Create goals and objectives that are mutually beneficial for
everybody concerned, such as the students and teachers.

Read your goals and objectives from the prospective students’ point
of view – if you are satisfied about them, then your target audience
will likely feel the same way, too.

Skipping on Good Website Design and
Development

Always remember that your online learning website has multiple
purposes. These purposes include being your marketing tool to
attract prospective students; instruction medium to teach your
present students; and evaluation tool to determine the
achievement of the desired outcomes, among others.

The bottom line: When your website has poor design and
development aspects, your e-learning course will suffer in so many
ways. You are less likely to attract prospective students because the
website looks ugly and feels ungainly (i.e., poor navigation). Your
students will be unsatisfied with their lessons because of poor
layout, text and images, and navigation tools, among others.

The most common mistakes in the design and development of an
online learning website include:

• Menu items in inappropriate order
• Colour scheme including use of contrast results in eye fatigue
• Issues with timing, such as characters and images simultaneously
appearing onscreen with eye-jarring results
• Failure to reuse relevant design elements (e.g., titles)

Most important, be sure to check the content of your online
learning course for, indeed, content is king when it comes to
education. Avoid poorly structured content from the introduction to
the conclusion as your prospective students will be turned off from
enrolling in the course.

E learning blunders under the radar

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