Session 6: Course Activity
Thinking Activity
What are the critical factors that make an online course engaging?
What are the critical factors that make an online course engaging?
1. Intersting and attractive
2. Interaction
3. Support from the teacher
4. Adequate content and resources
5. Clear structure and pace
6. Enough assignments and assessments
7. Give autonomy to students
8. Relate to real life
In my opinion,the first feature is too abstract so that it may indicates a wide range of coverage.
回覆刪除I agree with you. Actually not only the first one, but almost all of the other features we all have mentioned. Because for different kinds of learners, we will need different strategies to engage them. For exmaple of course animation and cartoon is attractive to kids, but how about adult learners? So we can see the definition of these factors vary when we have different target learners.
刪除I suppose you can explain each point in a more specific way just like with some examples and others!
回覆刪除The color collation is very comfortable and looks like of high-quality.
回覆刪除Many thanks for your sharing, but would be grateful if you could elaborate more on the eighth factor, "Relate to real life". As it seems to me that every topic that could be covered in an online course should be related to real life?
回覆刪除I am also not totally agree with the "relate to real life". I think it depends on the content. For example, the e-learning course about dinosaur, which you Matthew have recommended, could not connect to the real life, but the content is interesting and related to natural science. This is a engaging course which is not related to real life.
刪除" Give autonomy to students" is an interesting convey. I know you mean student can choose what they want to learn and hold their learning pace. Right? It is really important!
回覆刪除I totally with your view and I think the eighth one "relate to the real life" is the most important factor!
回覆刪除I agree with most of your points. However, I think the 7th point, which is about giving autonomy to learners is rather vague, as quite a few online courses have a pre-designed sequence of tasks that need to be completed within a given time frame. Therefore, giving a detailed explanation of this point would be better.
回覆刪除I do agree with your most of views of it, but I think the "support from teacher" is abstract. And if you can give some specific examples or explanations to it, it would be better for me to understand.
回覆刪除I do agree with most of the points suggested by your group but I am a bit confused by Point 6. 'Enough assignments and assessments', and Point 8. 'Relate to real life'.
回覆刪除For point 6, is it referring to some quizzes/tests after each topic so that learners can practice right away (formative assessment)? Perhaps it would be better to revise the wording or put some elaboration for this point. For point 8, does it mean situated learning? It would be easier for us to understand if there is an example/elaboration in 1-2 sentences. Thanks for sharing!
I highly agree that providing clear structure and pace can help learners to understand the knowledge better! Because students may not make clear goals without clear learning structure, and then they don't know what they really need to learn.
回覆刪除Your group mentioned the point “Enough assignments and assessments”. I guess it should be some kind of formative assessments. Actually, how offen we designing the assessment should be enough and appropriate? Besides some online MC type questions for checking learning progress, should you think of some other type of assignments?
回覆刪除Of course, I always prefer to think about the knowledge transfer between the course contents and the real life application as you mentioned here “relate to real life”. But “relate to real life” means only the contents which is related to the real life, but how about how to apply to the real life? On the other hand, you provide the point that “give autonomy to students” which I absolutely agree.
回覆刪除I agree with your answer. Especially the last two, give autonomy to students and relate to real life. As a student, I will participate in the class more if teacher gives me chances. And students will pay attention to teacher when what teacher says is close to their real life.
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回覆刪除I agree with most of the factors you have listed. I think that interaction is the most important in making the online course more engaging. I feel that number 7 is not a critical factor in making an online course engaging. Students can still learn whether they have the autonomy to choose the topic or not. Some content might be needed to be taught in sequence in order to scaffold students to better understand the information. If students were given autonomy over the elearning course, they may neglect the sequence and choose what interests them the most and miss the fundamental information. A younger target audience may need more structure and direction as to how they should cover the learning content in order to ensure learning occurs. In comparison, an older target audience would have a better understanding on their strengths and limitations and be able to manoeuvre around the various topics according to their needs.
回覆刪除Totally agree with you. Especially the last four ones. I think teachers should give enough space for students to practice with appropriate support. But activities taken in classes should focus on students perspectives. And assessments are neccessary. Moreover, I personally think that teahcers can also ask for students reflections and feedbacks to let students have a sense of ownership, so that they may be more willing to engage the class.
回覆刪除I agree with some of your points, however, could you interpret the last point - "Relate to real life" in more details? Suppose that most curriculums of on-line courses are designed in accordance with the needs or demands in the current marketing which should be related to real life! Maybe, can you explain in more details or give us some examples so as to let us have a concrete idea of it?
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