Get Your Students Hired
I agree with that the look and feel of an online course is as important as the knowledge and skills it is designed to impart due to the fact that I tend to get frustrated when I can't find information. As a student I would not want to see a crowded page of information. I would prefer a structured outline or roadmap of the coursework I have to complete such as, a course module.
I agree that the look and navigational feel are key components to a successful online course. If there is navigational difficulties such as unclear syllabi then chances are the structural integrity such as the follow along lesson plans will be hard to navigate. Things should be set out as to exact times adn dates for assignments adn point values for each. A week by week approach is helpful and not as overwhelming for newer students to this type of platform.
I took some classes at a college, (I won't say who but the letters are FSU) and the navigation was so poor and content so uninspired I left and went somewhere else.
I have conducted many online courses over the last 5 years. Just like many of you probably have. I have taken online classes too. I know for a fact that when a student first views a course it is crucial they are able to navigate and find the needed tools for the class easily. If for no other reason than to reduce the number of emails an instructor gets in the first week of class. The less confusion, the more students can focus on learning.
I couldn't agree any more. Any tech issue that came to me, I would look into it and got back to my students....and it never stopped. Even at times I will remotely connect to their system and solve their issues. I then realized that I am not really letting them learn on their own and also I want them to develop the habit of contacting IT support for their technical issues.
This is so true, I have many students that haven't used computers and most of the them are not the traditional students. So they are not just learning the material on hand but also how to deal with the technology. The simpler the lesson plans are put together with an easy way to navigate, the better we engage most students.
Absro
I do agree that the look and feel of an online course are very important mainly because is reflects the teaching style of the moderator. If the look is not engaging and is put in a way that is not easy to navigate, students will be lost in the process of finding a simple assignment or learning. They can very well be frustrated and drop out. Therefore, in order to create a great learning environment that maintains student engagement, online courses has to be carefully designed to facilitate ease of use, planned lesson, and good structures.
The look and feel of an online course is imperative as the students are remote, so the interactions are somewhat different than a ground campus. Since there is no "face-to-face" interaction other than live chats, the online environment should be appealing to students so that they will stay focused and subject-oriented.
I agree, this is the first step and grabbing the students attention. Attracting them to the online site and keeping them there throughout the entire lesson is the first steps.
I would agree with this assessment because, if the student is not stimulated from the beginning they will lose interest. When the look and feel are properly designed with color and overall layout. The student is more likely to become relaxed, which causes the student to become engaged.
I have taken courses online in many different ways, on many differant platforms. Some I have loved, some have been functional and some I abhor. Personally I enjoyed the Capella platform, found the CEC Legacy platform very managable and Blackboard to be a pain. Therefore I agree that the look and feel of the platform is essential to student performance and feelings of ease.
I agree with that. Many of my students are from all "walks of life" and all ages. Some haven't been in school a long time and are working on getting their degrees as adult learners. Many came from the "brick and mortar" generation. They may not be as tech savvy as the younger students so it is important that they can navigate through the course comfortably. This is a new experience for them, but I find that they do enjoy the challenge!
Aisling,
If a student does not have to learn how to navigate the lms, they have more time to learn the material.
Shelly Crider
Sandra,
There are times when I am working with Access that I feel the same way!!
Shelly Crider
Yes, I agree that the look and feel of an online course is as important as the knowlege and skills it is designed. As with any web site, a well designed and engaging site tends to have visitors stay at the web site and that is what online courses need to do: Get the attention of the student and keep them there. I also feel it would be great to use the Virtual Campus as an example of good design.
I completely agree that the look and feel of an online course is as important as the knowledge and skills to impart. I believe that navigational simplicity is one of the key starting points as well