how to design development of an online course

by Justen Adams 6 min read

An effectively designed online course or program must take into account multiple factors – the characteristics of targeted learners, the nature of the content, the role of the community in shaping learning, and integration of ongoing feedback and assessment; ample opportunities for practice and expert feedback to guide the development of knowledge in action.

Full Answer

How to build an effective online course?

  • Choose a robust LMS. You want an LMS that can handle multiple file types, is capable of m-Learning when you are ready for it and is SCORM-compliant. ...
  • Get employee feedback. An online training program isn’t effective if employees don’t like the format or find it hard to use.
  • Keep tabs on the training. ...

How to create and launch an online course?

Some of the other ways that I test the sellability of an online course idea include:

  • online discussion forums
  • pay-per-click testing
  • surveys
  • analyzing popular blog posts (on your own blog and other expert blogs in your niche)
  • posting the right questions on social media

How to start creating an online course?

Step 2: Develop Your First Online Course

  • Creating a course outline. In order to create a course outline, you will need to divide the course curriculum into main topics and sub-topics.
  • Choosing your learning method. Decide on a learning method or a blended approach you want to follow and stick with it. ...
  • Uploading your first course. ...
  • Adding the learning material. ...

How to create best online courses?

In order to design an awesome online course, you need to focus on:

  • Choosing the types of online course content you’ll be using
  • Writing, recording and editing your content
  • Establishing grading & assessment methods

How to make a course interactive?

Plan for interaction! Make sure your course is rich in opportunities for students to engage with the content, with you and with each other. This means creating diverse activities like discussions, group work, case studies and collaborative problem-solving. Also, be sure to select resources that are relevant and present a variety of viewpoints and meet different learning styles. Consider multimedia, periodicals, web resources, etc.

How many students have taken online courses?

According to a 10 year study conducted by the Online Learning Consortium, 6.7 million students have taken at least one online course and roughly thirty-two percent of all higher-education students now take at least one online course during their educational career. And these numbers continue to rise.

How to import rubrics into Canvas?

Step 2: Go to the course you want to import the rubrics into and access the settings from the course navigation . Step 3: Select the “Import Content into this Course” option from the right-side menu. Step 4: From the Content Type menu select “Canvas Course Export Package”.

What is the ABCD method?

ABCD Method – An easy framework for creating learning objectives is the A.B.C.D. method. This stands for Audience, Behavior, Condition and Degree. Learning objectives that contain each of these elements will clearly outline the learning that is to be achieved after completing each module.

What is Canvas MCCCD?

Canvas is our Learning Management System (LMS) for MCCCD. View courses from a variety of colleges that use our LMS Canvas in the Canvas Catalog . For even more course samples using Canvas explore by feature.

What is the purpose of learning objectives?

Creating Learning Objectives. It is essential to build measurable and clear objectives that outline what is expected of the learner. These objectives will make it easy to align the rest of your course and will serve to communicate learning expectations to students.

Is online learning an alternative to traditional learning?

Online education is not an “alternative” to traditional classroom learning.

What is online course?

In an online course, the role of the instructor, and the activities of students all need to be built into the course— they will not necessarily emerge in some spontaneous fashion once the course begins. A course might be comprised of more than one approach and vary with the desired learning outcomes.

What is thinking in terms of student learning experience and desired learning outcomes?

Thinking in terms of the student learning experience and desired learning outcomes. Realizing that there is more than one way to fulfill learning outcomes. A basis in a particular teaching and learning model. While it is probably the case that most experienced instructors possess an inherent sense of design, when teaching and learning online, ...

How do students organize knowledge?

How students organize knowledge influences how they learn and apply what they know. To develop mastery, students must acquire component skills, practice integrating them, and know when to apply what they have learned. Goal-directed practice coupled with targeted feedback enhances the quality of students’ learning.

What is learning theory?

A learning theory is basically a set of principles that describe how people learn, which in turn shapes how one designs instruction and conducts teaching.

What is an effective online course?

Effective online courses are well designed so that teaching and learning is organized in the most effective and engaging manner possible. In an online learning situation, the student’s learning experience is almost entirely mediated through some form of technology; therefore, the design of the teaching and learning experience is especially critical.

What is flexible course design?

Flexibly designed courses favor “ill structured” activities over well-structured ones; interactivity over passivity; inductive over deductive instruction; and activity over text and lecture. Such course design supports both the individual and group’s learning and promotes applied approaches to learning.

What is instructional design?

Instructional Design is a broad term that encompasses the selection, organization, sequencing, and assessment of content, tools, and experiences to help learners attain a certain set of goals. Poorly designed technology-based courses can confound learning, frustrate learners and instructors, and result in high attrition rates.

What is the purpose of learning interaction?

Learner interaction with an object or person in a way that allows learners to improve their knowledge and skills in a particular domain. Multiple communications between learners around an object of study, a tool, or an experience. Learner control and program adaptation based on learner input.

What is adult learning?

Research on adult learning demonstrates that adult learners share common characteristics and beliefs that can be integrated into any learning experience. Adult learners: Need to be treated with respect and recognition and their professional experiences integrated into workshops and discussions.

Why is a mix of media more effective than reliance on one type of media?

A mix of media is more effective than the reliance on one type of media because it satisfies the many types of learning preferences that one person may embody or that a class embodies. Particularly in print- and web-based professional development courses which are primarily text heavy, the use of still and moving visual media can help learners who are poor readers better understand content.

What is cognitive model?

Cognitive models or “frames of mind” shape the way learners perceive and process information and suggest that an individual’s ability to learn is influenced by the manner in which information is presented. Course designers should create an array of assignments, activities, and assessments that allow learners to interact and practice with content in multiple ways, on multiple cognitive levels and using multiple measures and methods to assess learning.

What is online course creation?

Online course creation is an inalienable part of online learning implementation and development. It takes a lot of time and effort so mistakes are really expensive. However, novices, as well as seasoned online course developers, still make a lot of mistakes during the process. In this post, we are going to share with you an online course creation ...

Why is it important to evaluate your online course outcomes?

Evaluating your online course outcomes can give you a powerful impulse for further development. You can make your content better, you can engage better, you can improve in a lot of ways to become more attractive, effective, and profitable.

What is instructional strategy?

An instructional strategy is a long-term, high-level plan of how to accomplish course goal (s) through the use of available learning resources (the methods, techniques, and devices used to instruct learners).

What is a TD in eLearning?

Media Creator is responsible for the creation of media content for the eLearning course. Technical Developer (TD) is responsible for the technical implementation of the online course content (or online course media) delivery. Therefore, TD is expected to work in close liaison with media creators. Translator (optional).

How much of what students know is learned through hands-on experience, daily tasks, and challenges?

A massive 70% of what students know is learned through hands-on experience, daily tasks, and challenges. You should think about how to create the best learning practices to improve your students’ skills in the real world. Virtual Reality and work simulation are great tools for the modern learning and custom eLearning development. Using such tools you can bring an amazing learning experience in a safe virtual learning environment

What are learning objectives?

Learning Objectives must be student-centered. Learning Objectives must be both observable and measurable. Learning objectives should be formulated in a way that helps the learner understand how it will help him/her reach their Learning Goal. Such learning objectives will motivate learners to move towards this Goal.

What is the role of instructor in blended learning?

The instructor is a trainer for the course. In the case of blended learning, they play an important role in the course support. Whereas in the case of self-paced learning, the role is more oriented towards providing answers to the learners through the communication channels (email exchange, discussion forum, etc).

Designing and Developing an Online Course

This course will prepare administrators and educators with an understanding of course and program design and development.

About this course

This course will prepare administrators and educators with an understanding of course and program design and development.

What you'll learn

Developing content for online learning/ transferring a lecture into a dynamic online learning environment

The Initiation Stage

In this stage, you formulate a broad course plan and prepare proposals to support the project.

The Design Stage

This phase starts with a kickoff meeting with McGraw’s online team. We discuss all aspects of your course design, including learning goals and course activities. You will meet with the video producers to plan the video production process. Using the course design template, we agree on a course design plan and on a project schedule.

The Development Stage

During this stage, we create the course content. You might spend the most time on slide presentations and recording videos, but creating assignments and putting together readings and other course resources can also be time-consuming. If you are teaching an open course (MOOC), we also create a course trailer.

The Implementation Stage

During this stage, we build the course site and launch the course. If the course is a MOOC, we create the course announcement page so learners can start to enroll. We also publicize the course through our social media networks and other channels such as the McGraw Center home page and the Office of Communications.

The Evaluation Stage

Evaluation is a continuous part of the course development and delivery process. Fundamentally it involves knowing what you want students to learn and using clear criteria to assess and evaluate their work toward these learning goals. Another form of evaluation consists in reviewing and analyzing your students’ work.

image

Defining Course Design and Development

Image
What is online course design and development and what does it involve? It includes 1. Purposeful planning 2. Organizing, sequencing, and pacing course content 3. Thinking in terms of the student learning experience and desired learning outcomes 4. Realizing that there is more than one way to fulfill learning outcome
See more on spscoursedesign.commons.gc.cuny.edu

Learning Theories, Teaching Theories

  • Theories about learning may be overt or implicit when faculty design a course or lesson. A learning theory is basically a set of principles that describe how people learn, which in turn shapes how one designs instruction and conducts teaching. For example, if you believe that memorization and recall are essential to learning a particular subject, you will want to find ways …
See more on spscoursedesign.commons.gc.cuny.edu

Designing with The Teaching and Learning Model in Mind

  • While there currently exist many different models for teaching and learning online—everything from self-paced independent study to small, instructor-led classes to MOOCs featuring video lectures and thousands of students—the teaching and learning model for online courses at CUNY School of Professional Studies may be characterized as relatively small (average of no more tha…
See more on spscoursedesign.commons.gc.cuny.edu

References

  • Ally, Mohamed. (2008). “Foundations of Educational Theory for Online Learning” in Anderson, Terry. (Ed.) The Theory and Practice of Online Learning (2nd edition), pp.15-44. Athabasca: Athabasca University Press. Open textbook version at http://www.aupress.ca/books/120146/ebook/01_Anderson_2008-Theory_and_Practice_of_Onlin…
See more on spscoursedesign.commons.gc.cuny.edu