Online learning (or elearning) is constantly growing, with courses on a wide variety of topics available at many websites. Some universities provide free courses on academic subjects. Check the list on the Smart Skills page and more at this Pinterest board.
Courses can vary widely in the content presented and the media they are presented in. So what defines a course?
Course:
- program of study: a program of study or training, especially one that leads to a degree or certificate from an educational institution
- class taught at educational institution: a session or series of sessions that students attend to learn a subject, often as part of a school curriculum that leads to a degree or certificate
Whether you are consuming or creating online learning, consider the meat and the sizzle!
The meat…WHAT will be learned? What are the measurable learning objectives? Course design choices for methods, media, and learner experience are based on the cognitive domain revealed by the measurable verbs in the objectives.
Content: what information is included? Is it logically organized with a beginning, middle & end and presented in small chunks? Does the Introduction explain the benefits of learning, and immediately grab attention? Does it appeal to different Learning Styles (Visual, Auditory, Tactile/kinesthetic)
The sizzle…HOW will it be learned?
In course design, the goal of all choices for methods, media, and engagement is to add clarity and interest:
- Methods– Lecture, reading, demonstration, activities, exercises, projects, assignments
- Media– Handouts, text, presentation, visuals, audio, video
Micro learning presents information in short, engaging, self-paced segments. Examples of micro learning:
• Videos: James Wedmore, Big Think, TED talks
• Explainer videos: like the ones from learnfree.org
• Presentation style video: Khan Academy combines audio with blackboard drawings captured on video
• Text + graphics: Infographics like the one at the simple way to create a compelling talk
• Courses: BBC Learning English
• Gamification: Duolingo (points/scores, leaderboards, badges, challenges/quests/missions, immediate feedback) Pinterest Board | Learn about Gamification with a course at Coursera.org
• Games: Phonics Pow online games for reading
The best courses provide an engaging learner experience with relevant quotes, examples, stories, humor, discussion, questions, interaction, practice, feedback, role playing, case studies, scenarios, simulations…
Take a look at these highly interactive learning activities:
- Interactives at Discovery Education
- National Geographic – choose Interactive
- UFO sightings at History.com
- Examples of outstanding elearning from Cathy Moore
WHAT will be the outcomes? How will results be measured? How many learners actually complete the course, and did the course really teach what it set out to? Tests, surveys…
Resources
- [Bloom’s Taxonomy Wheels] provide examples of choices based on cognitive domains revealed by objectives.
- the Rapid Elearning blog (where I first became fascinated by instructional design)
Courses on Course Design
- Basic Instructional Design Principles slideshare
- Elearning at How Stuff Works
- Instructional Design Models at instructionaldesigncentral.com
- Case Studies from Kineo.com
Free Downloads:
Course Outline Template (doc)
Methods, Media, Engagement and Tools Card (pdf)
I seek to create order from the chaos of complex information. Join me at the Daily PlanIt to gain insights, inspiration, and information to increase skills for a better life. I unlock the power of teaching reading with phonics in the pursuit of literacy at www.phonicspow.com. In my spare time I explore books and movies, often choosing titles available on both screen and page.
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