Designing and Delivering Online Learning

Creating effective online learning courses and simulations can be a challenge. There are tools and techniques, as well as best practices, that can help those designing and creating online learning content for organizations and institutions of higher education. This course offers instruction on the major models, tools, and techniques in creating and delivering online learning. It reviews the fundamentals of general learning theory and how it can be applied, in practice, to online design and instruction. Further, the course provides a brief survey of the technology employed in online learning, best practices for teaching online, strategies for integrating narrative learning into an educational curriculum, and the basics of developing accessible online learning.

Module 1: Introduction to Online Learning • Trends in online learning • The constructivist and transmission models of learning • Techniques for active learning • Steps common to course development processes • The condition, performance, and qualification components of measurable learning objectives • Bloom's Taxonomy • Use of blended learning • Whole-Part-Whole learning techniques • The 5E Learning Model Module 2: Narrative Learning • Narrative learning definition • Types of narrative activities • Stages of the narrative arc • Best practices • Designing a scenario, case study, and simulation Module 3: Online Learning Accessibility • Define accessibility • Online learning accessibility levels • Terms in accessibility • WCAG and ISO standards Module 4: Teaching Online • Benefits of online learning • Online versus face-to-face teaching • Role of an online instructor • Effective ways to lead online discussion • Key challenges • Methods of evaluation and assessment Module 5: The Technology of Online Learning • Significance of technology • Basic IT terms and concepts • LMS functions • Key software tools • Key issues • Integrating formats

All required reference materials are provided with this program. Technical requirements: Internet Connection • Broadband or High-Speed (DSL, Cable, Wireless) Hardware Requirements • Processor - 2GHz Processor or Higher • Memory - 1 GB RAM Minimum Recommended Software Requirements • Operating Systems - Windows 7, 8 or 10; Mac OS x 10 or higher • Microsoft Office 2007, 2010 or 2013 or a Word Processing application to save and open Microsoft Office formats (.doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .ppt, .pptx) • Internet Browsers - Google Chrome is highly recommended • Cookies MUST be enabled • Pop-ups MUST be allowed (Pop-up Blocker disabled) • Adobe PDF Reader

This class is an independent-study course. Students will have all the resources needed to successfully complete the course within the online material. A student helpdesk is available for technical support during the course enrollment.