why the organization of an online course should be easy to understand

What makes a great online course?

Easy course navigation is a critical component of a great online course. According to Quality Matters

What makes for effective online learning?

For effective online learning—and to keep students motivated and achieving—communication of content, feedback, and progress are necessary.

Are online courses fulfilling their promise?

[1] Are online courses fulfilling their promise? In a June 2017 Evidence Speaks post, Eric Bettinger and Susanna Loeb of Stanford University showed that in a large, for-profit college, online courses are a poor option for the least prepared students. [2]

What makes students satisfied with online courses?

It requires facilitation and direct instruction, which is present in the online courses of students surveyed. Efficiency in design and organization is a key component of students’ satisfaction with teaching presence and success in online courses.

Why is organization important in online learning?

Organization is an important skill for students to be successful in post-secondary. When taking online courses this can be difficult because you are not attending class in person, so you may not have a lot of structure or routine. It is up to you to create this structure and it starts with being organized.

How do I organize my online courses?

These organizational tips for online learning will help make sure you stay on top of everything and successfully balance your work, family and online classes.Find a Quiet Space for Attending Class. ... Create an Effective Work Space for Studying. ... Make sure your space is comfortable. ... Organize Your Files. ... Schedule Your Time.More items...

What is the purpose of the course organizer?

Well-organized courses encourage student motivation, performance, and persistence. Instructors can design their courses in many rich ways to cultivate student motivation and enhance opportunities for more effective learning.

Why is it important to organize content?

Organizing content so it has a logical flow just makes sense. Using chapters, headings, and sub-headings to organize a resource allows students to clearly see how the main concepts are related. In addition, headings are one of the main ways that students using a screen reader navigate through a chapter.

What is course organization?

1. The administrative tasks that are part of educational processes. These tasks include student information, organization of group work, scheduling of activities, and collecting assignments for grading.

How can educational experiences be effectively organized?

Increasing breadth of application. Increasing range of activities included. Use of description followed by analysis. Development of specific illustrations followed by broader and broader principles to explain these illustrations.

How can the advance organizer help the students better understand the lesson?

Advance organizers remind students of what they already know and help them organize the new information they're about to take in. This can help kids understand what they're being taught and remember it later on.

How important are titles and advance organizers in understanding new learning?

An advance organizer helps teachers present information so that students will better understand and remember it. It can be defined as a tool used to introduce the lesson topic and illustrate the relationship between what the students are about to learn and the information they have already learned.

How can you organize your own learning?

5 Steps to Creating a Personal Learning PlanIdentify a Learning Objective. Before creating a personal learning plan, you need to identify your objective. ... Break Your Objective into Smaller Goals. ... Develop Your Plan. ... Take Advantage of Available Resources. ... Hold Yourself Accountable.

Why is it important to select and organize information for you as a student and in your daily life?

Being organized makes everything else easier. It helps you get to work faster without wasting time looking for stuff. Keep your assignments and class information organized by subject. Put them in binders, notebooks, or folders.

How should I structure my course?

How to Structure Your Online Course?Group Similar Ideas into Modules.A progressive flow that depends on the order.A collection of tips – not dependent on order.Select Type of Content.Organize Online Course by Choosing a Format.Providing Supportive Content to Students.Consistency is Important.Add a Link for Discussions.More items...•

How should I organize my desk for online school?

3:169:59ORGANIZING MY DESK FOR ONLINE SCHOOL | Desk Organization 2020YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo what i do is that i have all my syllabuses printed out so then i can have it in hand whenever iMoreSo what i do is that i have all my syllabuses printed out so then i can have it in hand whenever i need it i don't have to like go through the files.

What is the structure of your course?

The course structure refers to the choice of topics and the organization and sequencing of course content. Remember that the choice of topics and their organization should always support the learning objectives for the course.

How do you organize your study space?

Consider these tips when creating a study space for your online learning success.Select a Dedicated Space. ... Avoid Interruptions and Remove Distractions. ... Stay Focused Online. ... Keep it Clean and Organized. ... Pick the Right Lighting. ... Make it Comfortable and Efficient.

How many folders are there in Kent State Online?

The Kent State Online Template is pre-populated with an example course folder structure comprised of five content folders, each of which contains an Introduction and Overview content item. You can edit the title and text of each folder, create additional copies or delete unnecessary folders depending on your course structure.

How to edit folder name and description?

To edit the name and description text of the folder, click on the Item Option icon then select Edit.

Why is it important to have a clear and consistent structure in a course?

Creating a clear and consistent organizational structure for your course improves your student’s learning experience. Lacking the immediacy of the face-to-face classroom, online students become anxious and panicked when they are unable to find content materials. A well-structured course provides students with a consistent navigation scheme and increased findability of content materials, assignments and assessments.

Can you hide a template folder in a 16 week course?

This can be especially useful if you use a weekly organizing folder structure for a 16 week course in which each weekly folder contains similar or the same sub folder structure. You can hide the template folder from students or simply delete it once all the folders have been created. Step 3.

What is teaching strategy?

Teaching Strategies. Teaching and Learning. Communicating to students in a way that leads to student satisfaction and success in online courses requires teaching presence. The main instrument of learning is communication and the success of students’ learning depends on the faculty member’s preparedness to engage them in the learning process ...

Why should student satisfaction with faculty communication be measured and evaluated?

Because of its importance to their success, student satisfaction with faculty communication, in the form of teaching presence, should be measured and evaluated to determine if online students are happy with the availability of their instructors.

How to use rubrics in LMS?

Use rubrics for all assignments. Rubrics include criteria for grading and help students to understand what items should be included in the assignment and how each of these items is weighted and graded. Set weighted or current average in the LMS the first week of class.

How does efficiency affect online learning?

Students taking an online course for the first time can become overwhelmed with poor course design and organization. The more organized a course is, the more easily they can find all the content and assignments. For students who have difficulty focusing and maintaining attention (Bálint et al., 2009), course design and organization play a key role in success or failure. A well-designed course can provide students with a platform to concentrate. Being able to spend the majority of their time completing work rather than looking for what to do is vital to students’ success.

How to support teaching presence?

To support teaching presence, faculty members must be available to online students and respond to them in a timely manner. When students are assured that the faculty member will respond to them when needed, they can focus on completing work. Because of its importance to their success, student satisfaction with faculty communication, in the form of teaching presence, should be measured and evaluated to determine if online students are happy with the availability of their instructors.

How to notify students of a delay in grading?

List faculty office hours, standard response timelines to student emails, and grading turnaround times. Notify students via email the reason for any delay, such as attending a conference or being out sick.

Why is engaging content important in online courses?

This improves confidence in the online course experience, as they meet expectations and are successful with learning course content.

Why is online training important?

Without a shadow of a doubt, one of the most significant advantages of using online training is allowing your employees to follow personal online training paths. Every member of your staff has different needs, goals, and areas of improvement. So, why would you offer them a “one-size-fits-all” program when online training allows for complete personalization? Customer service associates are able to participate in online scenarios that improve their communication skills, while your management team can access simulations that focus on conflict resolution. Online training can cater to specific training needs and preferences.

How does online training compare to traditional training?

Online training, on the other hand, offers you the power to track virtually every aspect of your online training strategy. Many Learning Management Systems are equipped with analytics and reporting features, which allow you to closely monitor employee progress, identify their strengths and weaknesses, and offer support when the need arises. You can even customize the reports based on the needs of your organization, meaning that you can maximize your online training ROI on a regular basis.

Why do organizations not use online training?

Many organizations do not use online training because they believe it requires a sizable investment. In reality, it is typically more affordable than traditional classroom training. This is attributed to the fact that you no longer have to foot the bill for instructor travel expenses, such as airfare and accommodations, printed training materials, and site rental fees. The only budget you’ll have to consider is the up-front online training course design and development expenses and regular maintenance costs. No matter where your employees are located or what skills and tasks they need to know, you can provide them with the online training they require quickly at a fraction of the cost.

Can online training be repurposed?

Online Training Courses Can Be Repurposed, Reused, And Revamped. All of your online training content is in digital form if you opt for using online training. As a result, your materials can be repurposed time and again, or even modified based on the evolving needs of your organization.

How to organize course materials?

When organizing your course materials, consider the ideal chronological order in which students should approach each lecture/reading/assignment and place them into this sequence for each learning module, rather than grouping them by category. In addition to guiding students through an effective and logical sequence of materials, this will minimize the amount of searching, scrolling, and clicking needed to work through the course.

What is easy course navigation?

Easy course navigation is a critical component of a great online course. According to Quality Matters#N#26#N#(QM), an organization dedicated to improving online course quality, one of the requirements for a QM certified course is that the, “Course navigation facilitates ease of use” (QM Standard 8.1), adding, “Navigation throughout the course [should be] consistent, logical, and efficient.” Reducing the amount of scrolling, clicking, and searching means your students can spend more time learning the content and they’ll miss fewer critical details like assignment requirements and due dates, resulting in a better overall experience for both students and instructors. Here are nine ways to improve your students’ ability to get where they need to go.

How to improve your students' ability to get where they need to go?

Here are nine ways to improve your students’ ability to get where they need to go. 1. Create a course tour video. , the first characteristic listed for a quality online course is: “Instructions make clear how to get started and where to find various course components” (QM Standard 1.1). One of the best things an instructor can do to ensure ...

What is a course welcome?

One important consideration is the expected longevity of the video. A course welcome often covers the main topics and projects in a course which typically don’t change very often, while the layout and specifics of a course shell are often edited from term to term.

Why is consistency important in a course?

Consistency between modules in a course will help students become familiar with the course design. Quality Matters recommends that a, “Consistent layout and design are employed throughout, making content, instructional materials, tools, and media easy to locate from anywhere in the course. Design elements are used repetitively, increasing predictability and intuitiveness” (QM Standard 8.1). Use a similar sequence and visual appearance with your content items from week to week to help the students develop expectations and a routine that will set them up for success.

How to help a course designer?

Getting the feedback of a family member, friend, or colleague can help reveal the “blind spots” that a course designer may develop as he or she subconsciously assumes that the students possess a similar familiarity with course elements. The best candidates for advice are those with no experience with online courses since you may have first-time online students and this group is more likely to have problems with course navigation. Ask them to attempt tasks like “Find out how to complete and submit the first assignment or quiz” or “Find out which readings should be done this week and how to access them” and observe to see if or where they have any trouble.

Can you link assignments to assignments due this week?

In an announcement, if you mention the assignments due this week, you can link directly to them.

How does online learning help students?

Online learning can also reduce costs for students. And, as institutions look into how to engage students in online learning, data offers invaluable information. Analysts can use this to learn how to optimize curriculums for greater engagement.

Why is online learning so popular?

Online learning continues to surge in popularity, not just because of us all staying at home more. Several factors play a part. Notably, how distance learning better fits modern life. Especially given the average American now spends 24 hours a week online. Online learning can also reduce costs for students.

How to motivate yourself to learn online?

With an increasing move to teaching online, professors, too are up-skilling. They’re continually looking into how to make online learning fun and more engaging. Reminding yourself why you’re doing the learning can be useful. Taking a walk ’round the block for air can often restore your motivation too. It’s about discovering what works for you.

What is distance learning?

It’s an alternative way to study at university, and instead of going to classrooms, you study at home, or wherever you choose, via the internet. Classes, teaching materials, support, and assessments are all delivered online.

What is module based learning?

Pharmaceutical and fin-tech companies often use module-based online learning as core training. The sort of training required by their regulatory bodies, and necessary for staff to complete as part of their onboarding. As for how to do a job, getting trained on this is no longer commonplace—learning on the job is.

Can you learn online to do a job?

Also, no longer are we taught how to do a job, it’s usually a case of figuring it out for yourself—and that’s where online learning can amplify your skills. In the same spirit, gone are the days when you pick one industry or role and stick to it for the rest of your life. It’s much more common—and accepted—to move from company to company, or even industry to industry. Keeping your skills up to date is essential if that’s the path you take.

Is change constant in online learning?

You must move with it. The true beauty of online learning is that it lends itself perfectly to your lifestyle. By its very nature, it can fit around you.

Learning in Isolation

During this time, governments are recommending that we learn online and stay away from large groups. It is what is best for the health and safety of all of us.

Easy to Use

Online platforms make it quite easy for you to put your content online and make it accessible for students. Even if you are new to technology or are not strong with it, you will find the tools that the website provides will make everything easy for you.

Flexibility

If your students have already graduated from university or college, there is a strong chance that they are currently working full time or have some sort of job to sustain themselves. They also might want to go back to school to acquire skills to further their career, however, that might be difficult with the current job that they work.

You Can Teach Anything

If you plan on teaching online, you are able to teach a much wider variety of material to your students. Often at educational institutions, courses are based upon projected enrolment numbers and the amount of funding the school can receive.

What is LMS in training?

They are often going to be familiar, to at least some extent, with the corporate learning management system (LMS) market and, as a result, will typically have higher expectations for what an online course platform should be capable of doing – particularly when it comes to managing learners and tracking/reporting.

What is a desire to build their courses easily in the platform?

A desire to build their courses easily in the platform – usually with a heavy emphasis on video – rather than in an external authoring tool. An emphasis on self-paced, one demand course – the ability to add social learning elements or to deliver facilitated online courses is a “nice to have” that often goes unused.

Is online education a business?

Online education has become big business in higher education and one of the places it is having a major impact is in the departments and divisions of continuing education at many schools. In some cases, these divisions have become real “cash cows” by, for example, offering online certificate programs that align with employer needs.

What happened to students who failed algebra in Chicago?

In seventeen Chicago high schools, students who had failed algebra were enrolled in a summer recovery course. Once they had showed up for a few classes, they were randomly assigned to an online or face-to-face format. In this case, students in the online courses did substantially worse in end-of-course tests, scoring 0.2 standard deviations lower than students in the face-to-face classes. The online students were substantially less likely to pass the course: 66 percent vs. 78 percent.

Why are online courses important?

Adaptive online courses can allow students to learn at their own pace, with material adjusting to fit the needs of both advanced and remedial learners. Online courses can also open up more curricular offerings in schools that lack specialists, such as those in rural areas.

What grade do you take algebra 1?

In the evaluation, eighth graders whose academic performance made them eligible for Algebra I and who were attending schools that did not offer an eighth-grade algebra course were randomly selected and given that course in an online format. The students in the control group took their schools’ standard, face-to-face general math course in eighth-grade.

What is online learning?

Online learning comes in two broad categories: purely online courses, in which a student is never in the same room as an instructor, and “blended courses,” in which students spend time in a physical classroom with an instructor, and, also, time online with instructional videos and digital content. Overall, the body of research suggests ...

Is algebra available in Maine?

The first paper evaluated a program to expand access to algebra courses among middle-school students in Maine and Vermont. [5] In small, rural schools, there are relatively few specialized courses for students who are working ahead of their grade. The economics of a small schools simply cannot support the range of specialized teachers that a large, urban middle school can. The online format can therefore open up curricular options that otherwise would be denied to students.

Do students do worse in online classes than face to face classes?

But in combination with the postsecondary studies, a clear pattern emerges: academically challenged students do worse in online than in face-to-face courses. The existing evidence suggests that online coursework should be focused on expanding course options or providing acceleration for students who are academically prepared, rather than shoring up the performance of those who are lagging.

Does online algebra help in eighth grade?

The students taking the course online did substantially better on assessments of algebra knowledge at the end of eighth grade, scoring 0.4 standard deviations higher than students in the control group. This is a substantial effect, especially for a one-year intervention. The treated students were also twice as likely to complete advanced math courses in high school, competing at least Algebra II by tenth grade (26 percent in the control group vs. 51 percent in the treatment group).

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