how to structure your online course

by Pansy Hettinger 5 min read

10 Tips for Structuring Great Online Courses (+ Bonus Tip)
  • 1. Design It Backward: Begin With the End in Mind. One of the best approaches to designing an effective online class is to start with the desired ...
  • 2. Choose the Best Way to Present Your Content.
  • 3. Group Similar Tips Into Modules.
  • 4. Order and Outline Your Lessons.
  • 5. Create Specific Learning Outcomes.

Part of a video titled How to Structure an Online Course - YouTube
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Once you determine the starting and ending points organize your curriculum to take the student fromMoreOnce you determine the starting and ending points organize your curriculum to take the student from point a to point b in a logical sequence. Let them know when they hit milestones.

Full Answer

How do I create an online course structure?

An interactive guide to structuring your online course and creating content that keeps your students engaged. In this free , you will learn: How to plan and set up the introduction of your online course. What kind of lessons you should be including in each chapter. The best practices of concluding your online course. Ensuring you have an ...

What is the best module structure for online teaching?

10 Tips for Structuring Great Online Courses (+ Bonus Tip) 1. Design It Backward: Begin With the End in Mind. One of the best approaches to designing an effective online class is... 2. Choose the Best Way to Present Your Content. Once you’ve outlined …

Do you structure your course the right way?

Jul 27, 2021 · Structure In many ways, the structure of online courses closely resembles the structure of in-person courses. Each week, students generally must complete a set of required readings, watch one or more lectures, participate in a discussion with their classmates, and finish an assignment. The difference lies in how you complete these activities.

What are the rules for creating a course outline?

Jul 23, 2021 · The main structure of your outline will consist of modules, lessons, and topics since these are the basic building blocks of your online course. You can use these as your basic building blocks and expand beneath them to dig deeper into each topic. This course outline is also where you start to develop your framework for success.

What is course outline?

A course outline is one of the most crucial elements you can create for your online class. It’s the blueprint showing the foundational structure and design for ...

Why is it important to divide an online course into parts?

Designing an online course can be an overwhelming process, which is why it’s helpful to divide it up into parts. Your students will also be able to follow your course more easily if it’s broken down into a few digestible components.

Why do we need an outline?

An outline helps you keep your ideas organized when you are designing a course. It enables you to group together related topics, not to mention see the order in which topics need to be addressed. Starting with an outline helps you create the course more efficiently.

How many lessons are in a module?

While modules should have the same basic structure, they don’t need to have the same number of lessons. One module may have only three lessons, while another module may have ten —and that’s perfectly fine! 4.

What is the best format for online courses?

Video. This format is becoming increasingly popular with online course creators, as it allows the instructor to communicate directly to students in a personable, relatable way. Video is best for demonstrating skills and giving easily-digestible presentations.

Who is Asaf Regpack?

Asaf, Founder and CEO of Regpack, has extensive experience as an entrepreneur and investor. Asaf has built 3 successful companies to date, all with an exit plan or that have stayed in profitability and are still functional. Asaf specializes in product development for the web, team building and in bringing a company from concept to an actualized unit that is profitable.

What are the challenges of online courses?

One of the inherent challenges of an online course, when compared to an in-person course, is the lack of easy collaboration and sharing among students. Still, there are plenty of ways to foster and encourage collaboration and communication among your students.

How to keep students motivated to continue a course?

A great way to keep students motivated to continue through a course is to set small and manageable goals throughout. Ultimately, your students should be working towards a larger outcome (i.e. they should be able to walk away from your course able to do something new that they couldn’t do before they took your course). However, since we live in a society that values instant gratification, it’s easy for students to become disheartened if they don’t feel like they’re picking up any new skills early on.

What is the structure of online classes?

Structure. In many ways, the structure of online courses closely resembles the structure of in-person courses. Each week, students generally must complete a set of required readings, watch one or more lectures, participate in a discussion with their classmates, and finish an assignment.

What is asynchronous online course?

Asynchronous courses, also known as flexible online courses , allow you to complete all of your coursework on your own schedule, making them ideal for working professionals.

Why is online learning important?

Online learning offers exceptional flexibility and convenience, especially for students who need to balance their studies with a full-time job or family responsibilities. However, it is important to carefully consider whether distance education suits your unique learning style before enrolling in an online program.

What is hybrid online course?

Hybrid online courses incorporate both online elements and classroom learning and generally benefit students who can commute to campus from time to time. Synchronous online courses require you to participate in lectures or discussions at specific times each week.

What is an online learning platform?

Online students typically access all of their readings, lectures, discussion boards, and assignments through a single web-based portal, commonly known as a learning platform. Some of the most common learning management systems include Blackboard, Canvas, and Docebo.

What is learning outcome?

Learning outcomes refer to the knowledge and skills you should develop in the course. For example, if you are taking an introductory English composition class, learning outcomes may include a clear understanding of the rules of grammar and syntax and the ability to both outline and write a five-paragraph essay.

What is distance learning?

Generally speaking, distance education best serves students who learn visually, verbally, and auditorily, as most of the information in your online class will be presented through readings, writing assignments, lectures, and discussions.

How long does it take to create an eLearning course?

The idea behind rapid eLearning is where you use every tool and strategy you can to potentially create a course in 2 to 3 weeks instead of taking several months. So within your lessons, outline the exact content you will cover.

Why is it important to have an outline?

Having an outline allows you to organize these topics in a way that will make sense to your students. In addition, it prevents you from forgetting to add critical information that is relevant to the topic. Writing out what you plan to cover will also help you generate ideas.

What is assessment plan?

Assessment plans fall in line with learning objectives. While your learning objectives identify what the student will learn, the assessment allows you and the student to have a clear picture of how well they have mastered the objectives. Your outline will identify the types and frequency of assessments.

How long should a microlearning lesson be?

Depending on how far down the path of microlearning you are going, lessons might only need to be a couple of minutes up to 10 to 15 minutes in length. There's not too much content in a 2-minute lesson so you really need to get at the heart of the topic and do so quickly if you're going that route.

Can you use a pen and paper for outline?

Like with everything, there are tools you can use to help you outline your course. You can definitely use a pen and paper for this exercise, but it's really nice if your outline is already on a device where you can work with it later. That way you can expand on it when you go from outline to your actual content.

Step 2 : Order Your Lessons Within Each Module

Now that you have got your modules together, and then put your modules in order; the next step is to put the TIPS in an order.

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What is a course shell?

A course shell reduces cognitive load, but there are specific steps that are required to implement it successfully.

What is cognitive load theory?

Cognitive load theory states that the creation of structures, or schemas, allows learners to treat multiple components as a single chunk. Over time, these schemas are internalized, freeing up our memory to take in new information.

What is the completion rate of online courses?

A study in the December 8 issue of Educause Review Online (ERO) by Harvard University researcher, Justin Reich, reveals that completion rates of online courses range, between 2 and 10 percent.

Why would someone buy a course?

The only reason someone would purchase a course is to solve a problem they are currently facing or if they believe it will improve their life in some way. Therefore, your first step is to identify their current pain-points.

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