Anthony,
Good point, we need to continue to update classes and use new technology.
Shelly Crider
Lilia,
I do not see social media going away, so we need to make the most of what students utilize.
Shelly Crider
Nashid,
This is a very good point. If a student starts off in a great class, they will more than likely look forward to their next class....but.....if the first class is not so good or frustrating, look out for the next class!
Shelly Crider
Yes, I agree. The look and feel need to be just as stimulating. Just as the look and feel of a guitar will stimulate the learner to play the guitar. It's not enough to pick up any guitar and be stimulated to play it.
We should also consider the variety of ways people learn. If the look and feel of the course is overwhelming, then those that are adverse to sensory overload will be hindered.
Of course, some will be more stimulated than others. We need to seek balance.
You make some good points here, Tom. I believe the courses do need to have the same structure for consistency purposes. Example: the courses for my department include a new video, assignment, quiz, and forum question every week. However, the set-up/layout is the same for every course. The students visit the assignments area first to view the video and read the assignment instructions and forum question. After that, they can complete the assignment, quiz, and forum discussion. Everything for every course is due at the same time, same night. This makes it easy for all students in the school to understand what is expected of them for each online class. The content is always changing, but they know they must complete the same tasks every week by that designated time.
Technology updates are certainly important, as fast as the world is moving in that area! In 2013, it shouldn't be too difficult to keep the technology updated.
I am also a fan of the interactivity in courses. I very much enjoy reading the students' discussions, and participating in them myself. I like how discussions encourage them to sort of play off of one another, to learn from each other.
The look and feel is certainly as important as the actual knowledge. To get to the meat of the material, you must navigate to it first.
The course must look neat, organized, and somewhat visually pleasing. A messy, hard-to-read online course will not be effective. That will only frustrate students, taking away from the learning process. I like adding bright colors and graphics. Anything you can do to make the learning process more fun and interesting to look at, the better!
I totally agree with Anthony Summey. I teach studio art and also Art History. The layout for Art History is key because we need good visuals when analyzing and learning about artworks. Embedded videos are really important as well, especially when looking at sculptures or architecture.
I am looking for ways to allow teachers to have some control over the look and feel of the online course.
I would agree a that the look of an online course is as important as the content. For a student the more current it is the more a student can relate to it and accept the content as current. I did some online work and took a course on a less current looking subject matter. I felt like is this really what is happening now or this is the way things were 20 years ago. I think that if I felt that way others did too. So you have to stay current to maintain a students attention.
The look and feel of an online course impacts students' education in many ways. Most importantly, the course must be designed as to provide easy access to all course content. If a student has to search for information or instructions they can become frustrated and give up on the assignment. Additionally, the course's look and feel must be professional and contemporary. Many students are internet savvy and know a good website when they see one. An online course which is set up as an attractive website adds credibility to the institution and provides more student enjoyment.
I agree with you about adding colors and graphics. Some students need those visual elements to make the content more attractive, where as some are ok with simply reading text. It's all about crafting it so the information is accessible to students of all learning styles.
The best online courses will combine simple, clean designs which are visually balanced and pleasing, with simplified interfaces. The more visual the better, in my opinion; for example, Pinterest is a good example of a highly visual site.
Art History is the subject I will be teaching online. It is highly visual so the look and feel are really important in making the content engaging for the students.
I posted a very similar comment earlier and got a message that it was deleted? I'm not sure why but anyway I'm trying again.
Nashid,
The need for balance is indeed an aspect that we as instructors do need to address.
Shelly Crider
Kelly,
Exactly, the course should not be any different than if we were in a professional work place.
Shelly Crider
Elie,
I do love content that is the most current. This is a good way to get students into discussion.....current events.
Shelly Crider
The "transition" from face-to-face interaction with a student to an online interaction has been a significant challenge for me. I'm just used to being able to find a student and talk to them between classes if I needed to. Now, I need to rely on the student checking their email...which doesn't always happen.
The look and feel of an online course is extremely important. If you miss on that basic level the material rarely gets a chance.
It's become even more difficult to design something engaging because today's technology is so advanced. A good portion of online students know more about modern technology than some of the instructors do. It can be a confusing balancing act.
Matthew,
This is so very well stated!!
Shelly Crider
Matthew,
We do have to watch what colors are used. Some colors will cause issues with some people.
Shelly Crider
Andrea,
A simple relaxed site will lead to a laid back atomsphere for students to learn in.
Shelly Crider
