What is Good Online Course
Design?
Kim N Stevenson
&
Loretta B. Powers
What is the process you go through to design a
face-to-face course?
Instructional Systems Design Models
• ADDIE
• ASSURE
ADDIE
• Analyze
• Design
• Develop
• Implement
Evaluate
The ASSURE Model - Basic Instructional Design Model for Online Instruction:
• Analyze Learners
• State Learning Objectives (or Outcomes)
• Select Methods, Media and Materials
• Utilize Method, Media and Materials
• Required Learner Participation
• Evaluation and Revise
Analyze Learners• Good instructors prepare course
materials with their learners in mind.
• Identify learners and the contexts/environments in which they will be learning.
• Analyze your audience based on the following:– General characteristics.– Specific entry competencies –
knowledge, skills, and attitudes about the topic at hand.
– Learning style. In online learning situations, self-direction on the part of the learner is especially critical.
Nine Patterns
OfThinking
Verbal-LinguisticFocus thinking on language: speaking,
writing, reading, listening
NaturalistLoves the outdoors, appreciates flora and fauna species, nature
InterpersonalOriented toward social or
group relationship
Visual-SpatialOrganizes things spatially; thinks in
images; imaginative
IntrapersonalIntuitive & introspective: self-
knowledge (not introverted but reserved)
Musical Responds to acoustic patterns, sounds, rhythms, and tempo
Logical-MathematicalReasoning & thinking: inductive and deductive logic, numeration, abstract
patterns
Bodily-KinestheticInvolves physical movement and knowledge of the body; usually
large muscle activity;
(Howard Gardner – Harvard University -1983 & Rev 2004)
ExistentialistLearn in the context of where humankind stands in the “big Picture” of existence
Multiple Intelligence Resources
• There are 9 Multiple Intelligences now. Read more about it here: http://surfaquarium.com/MI/nine_intelligences.pdf
http://surfaquarium.com/MI/mi_domains.htm
• Determine your Learning Style by taking this Learning Style Inventory:
Print Out Survey: http://surfaquarium.com/MI/inventory.htm
Online Survey: http://www.berghuis.co.nz/abiator/lsi/lsitest1.html
Analyze Learners
True or False
Students who enroll in an online course will be comfortable with the technology they need to use.
Analyze Learners
True or False
Students will enter the course with an appropriate degree of literacy.
Analyze Learners
True or False
Student access to technology will vary.
Analyze Learners
True or False
Students know how to find resources on the World Wide Web.
Analyze Context
• Performance setting
• Transfer
• Don’t be limited by being online
Analyze Technology
• Ask your students
• Ask the Help Desk
• Don’t get carried away by “zippies”
• Explore alternatives
State Learning Objectives
• State in terms of what the learner will be able to think, do, or feel as a result of the instruction.
• Outcomes guide all subsequent teaching activities.
• Measurable, succinct, and use specific action verbs and simple (not compound) sentences.
• Include conditions of “performance” and the minimum degree of acceptable performance
• Focus on what the learner needs to know, not the instructor!
• We will be using the ABCD Model to write objectives.
ABCD Objectives Format
• Audience– Audience, Who are your Students?
• Behavior– Behavior to be demonstrated
• Condition– Conditions under which the behavior will be observed
• Degree– Degree to which the learned skills are to be mastered
Examples of ABCD Format
• Given all the basic shapes - cone, cylinder, cube, and sphere (condition), each second-semester geometry student (audience) will identify (behavior) orally each shape (degree).
• Using tape recorded readings of the tryout sessions for the school play (condition), students in the drama class (audience) will select (behavior) the proper voice for each character as indicated in the drama text (degree).
Writing Objectives Activity
1. Increase the student's ability to visually identify and note white cells on a differential.
2. Know what effects symbolism has in the short story "Young Goodman Brown".
3. Students will type text using home key methods. (Keyboarding class)
4. Find articles on the Internet to use in methods research paper.
5. Student will enjoy working in groups.
#1 Increase the student's ability to visually identify and note white cells on a
differential. • Poor: Increase the student's ability to visually
identify and note white cells on a differential.
• Better: By the conclusion of this lesson, the student will identify and label correctly all white cells on differentials using a microscope and photographs of white cells found on the CD ROM that accompanied the assigned text book.
#2 Know what effects symbolism has in
the short story "Young Goodman Brown".
• Poor: Know what effects symbolism has in the short story "Young Goodman Brown".
• Better: The student will identify and discuss the effects of symbolism in the short story “Young Goodman Brown” using their text, and PC with word processing software in one hour.
#3 Students will type text using home key
methods. (Keyboarding class)
• Poor: Students will type text using home key methods. ( Keyboarding class)
• Better: After four weeks of keyboard instruction, students will type four paragraphs of text in five minutes using the home key method. Three errors or less will be considered as meeting the objective.
#4. Find articles on the Internet to use in
methods research paper.
• Poor: Find articles on the Internet to use in methods research paper.
• Better: Given the criteria of what research articles are, the student will use the Internet and a search engine to locate and select three articles for a research paper.
#5. Student will enjoy working in groups.
• Poor: Student will enjoy working in groups.
• Better: Given the opportunity to work in
groups during several sessions of the class, the students will demonstrate an increase in positive attitude towards working in groups, as measured by an attitudinal survey given by the end of the class.
Select Methods, Media & Materials
• Crucial!• First, choose the best instructional methods.
(Lecture, Group work, Field Trip)• Then select available media and materials,
modify existing media and materials, or design new ones. (images, photos, multimedia, video, audio.)
MERLOT
• MERLOT is a free and open resource designed primarily for faculty and students of higher education. Links to online learning materials are collected here along with annotations such as peer reviews and assignments.
Utilize Methods, Media & Materials
• Plan how to use materials.
• Media and materials always need to be previewed and tested ahead of time.
• Especially in new courses and when new technologies are used.
Helpful Tips• When using Blackboard course management system, post a
welcome announcement with descriptions of all navigation buttons and encourage exploration.
• Make sure all hyperlinks are current and working. Post Discussion Board questions ahead of time.
• Check to be sure Chat Room is working properly and you are familiar with the controls.
• Post Discussion Board questions ahead of time.
• Check all posted/added multimedia files to be sure they are loading and working appropriately.
• Update your faculty information (i.e., office hours)
Tips Continued• Make sure Syllabus is updated (i.e., new grading scale,
etc.)• Prepare test and quizzes ahead of time. • Be sure you have blocked off time on your daily
calendar to provide timely feedback to student email, discussion board postings, and grading of assignments. You are their guide and facilitator and your presence should be felt.
• Save email text and announcement text in a word processing document so that you can reuse and revise this information from semester to semester rather than composing from scratch. This is a time saver!
Require Learner Participation• There are three major types of
interaction in distance learning and the best online instruction facilitates all three types (Moore & Kearsley, 1996) :
– Learner-to-Instructor– Learner-to-Learner– Learner-to-Content
• Prompt feedback is a must!• Collaborative learning can be helpful in
creating the feeling of a virtual learning community.
Guidelines for Discussion• I will "listen" to others respectfully.
• Online learning is devoid of physical cues that often support communication. I will strive to utilize language that is thoughtful, respectful, and collegial when communicating with my fellow students.
• When I disagree with someone, I will critique his or her ideas in a respectful and constructive manner.
• I will direct my comments to my fellow students, rather than to the professor.
• I will try to understand other people's behavior and perspectives rather than simply criticizing them.
• I will avoid stereotypes and humor that are disparaging of others.
• I will intervene politely if I notice people are being disrespectful or unfair to others.
Tip #32 Expect learners to contribute
to class discussions.
• Make your expectations clear
• Encourage divergent opinions
• Watch out for the pitfall of judging quantity not quality of postings
Hannah, D. E. , Glowachki-Dudka, M. and Conceicao-Runlee, S. (2000) 147 Practical Tips for Teachng Online Groups- Essentials of Web-Based Education
Tip #33Expect learners to teach others
and facilitate the experience.
•Student as leaders•Ask students to bring in personal/professional experiences
Tip #36 Expect learners to provide
timely, meaningful feedback to you and their fellow learners.
• Beginning online learners need structure to keep them on task.
• Don’t be afraid to set due dates.
Tip #38 Expect learners to “listen” to
others.
•Make sure all are participating in the conversation and not just one person up there on a soap box.
Tip #39 Expect learners to
communicate by addressing each other, not just you.
•Don’t try to control the conversation.
•Don’t need to respond to every posting, in fact, your absolutely shouldn’t.
Lead by Example
Model the behavior you want to see
• Introduction
• Respond to student introductions
• When responding, include a student’s relevant remarks in quotes
Provide space for social interaction
• Unrelated to course topic
• Let students “socialize” before class
• Examples: Tea Room, Coffee Shop, After Hours
Online Conflict
• Wait
• View it as a positive development
• May want to suggest students wait 24 hours before responding to a post they perceive as negative
• Extreme problems should be dealt with outside the public forum
Chat
• Assessment
• Virtual office hours
• Be aware of time differences
Evaluate and Revise
• All instruction, no matter how well designed, should be evaluated in terms of its effectiveness and quality.
• Ask question like:– Did the learner meet the objectives?– Did the instructional strategies and media assist the
learners in meeting intended outcomes?– If not, why not.
• Formative and summative evaluations can both be helpful in revising instruction for the next time around.
Evaluate and Revise Continued
• How will you determine whether or not your students met the lessons objectives?
• How will you determine the media effectiveness?
• How will you determine whether or not your own performance as instructor/facilitator was effective?
• http://www.getfast.ca
What is Good Online Course Design?
Kim N. Stevenson
Elizabeth City State University
Loretta B. Powers
Elizabeth City State University