Comments on: Design and Development http://durandus.com/phaedrus/2006/09/25/design-and-development/ Technology is neither the problem nor the solution. Wed, 7 Jan 2009 12:13:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Amy Howard http://durandus.com/phaedrus/2006/09/25/design-and-development/#comment-11115 Amy Howard Wed, 24 Sep 2008 17:31:19 +0000 http://durandus.com/phaedrus/?p=41#comment-11115 I find the one of the differences in this online class that I did not have in the others is the connection with other students. I find that channel has helped me connect with other students in the class. The other courses I didn't feel like I knew any other students existed. There was discussion board but it isn't the same as the live chats and Instant Messageing. I find the one of the differences in this online class that I did not have in the others is the connection with other students. I find that channel has helped me connect with other students in the class. The other courses I didn’t feel like I knew any other students existed. There was discussion board but it isn’t the same as the live chats and Instant Messageing.

]]> By: Elizabeth Freeman http://durandus.com/phaedrus/2006/09/25/design-and-development/#comment-11092 Elizabeth Freeman Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:54:09 +0000 http://durandus.com/phaedrus/?p=41#comment-11092 I do not think that any class should be a cookie cutter class. Every group of students is different and the ways that information is presented should be different. In this class we have gotten into discussions that may not have been in the "plan" and that is just part of learning and teaching. A teacher should have a good idea of the content to be covered, but there should be some flexibility. I think that when designing a course there should always be more objectives than the teacher thinks is possible. Some classes may learn at a slower pace and minor adjustments may be needed, but then there are others that may really take off and go beyond the expectations. I think that high goals make any classroom better and teachers should always be prepared for those classes that are high achievers. I would say the expectations for this class are pretty high and we have already covered more content than most online or traditional classes. I am achieving what I thought was the impossible and I am learning everyday. I feel like I am being pushed every week to succeed and I am. I am a huge part of this course. We do assignments that require us to research and learn on our own. I could not pass this course without taking ownership, but if I am stuck I can get help. I do not think that any class should be a cookie cutter class. Every group of students is different and the ways that information is presented should be different. In this class we have gotten into discussions that may not have been in the “plan” and that is just part of learning and teaching. A teacher should have a good idea of the content to be covered, but there should be some flexibility. I think that when designing a course there should always be more objectives than the teacher thinks is possible. Some classes may learn at a slower pace and minor adjustments may be needed, but then there are others that may really take off and go beyond the expectations. I think that high goals make any classroom better and teachers should always be prepared for those classes that are high achievers.
I would say the expectations for this class are pretty high and we have already covered more content than most online or traditional classes. I am achieving what I thought was the impossible and I am learning everyday. I feel like I am being pushed every week to succeed and I am. I am a huge part of this course. We do assignments that require us to research and learn on our own. I could not pass this course without taking ownership, but if I am stuck I can get help.

]]> By: phaedrus » Blog Archive » Recipe for Success? http://durandus.com/phaedrus/2006/09/25/design-and-development/#comment-11088 phaedrus » Blog Archive » Recipe for Success? Mon, 22 Sep 2008 10:49:31 +0000 http://durandus.com/phaedrus/?p=41#comment-11088 [...] that we have our toolboxes, what do we build? How do we go about it? Design and Development. Designing a course is a bit like creating a recipe. The idea is to come up with the steps you need [...] [...] that we have our toolboxes, what do we build? How do we go about it? Design and Development. Designing a course is a bit like creating a recipe. The idea is to come up with the steps you need [...]

]]> By: » Design and Developement Joe McConda’s Distance Learning 685 http://durandus.com/phaedrus/2006/09/25/design-and-development/#comment-6071 » Design and Developement Joe McConda’s Distance Learning 685 Sun, 30 Sep 2007 13:58:02 +0000 http://durandus.com/phaedrus/?p=41#comment-6071 [...] In thinking about designing an online course and reading the Design and Development post, I decided to focus on what was said about equilvalency.  My experience with recipes is very limited, but my wife and I talked about it (she’s a home ec. teacher) and she said that the term equivalent to her means the same, yet different.  I can echo those thoughts from my math background as well…..the same, yet different.  As far as designing an online course, I would think that the very nature of distance education would indicate that the course is to be different, yet it should be the same in terms of learning objectives and outcomes.  Okay, I haven’t said anything different from what has been posted, but I thought I would try to take components of regular classroom and draw anaologies to online courses and see what I come up with. [...] [...] In thinking about designing an online course and reading the Design and Development post, I decided to focus on what was said about equilvalency.  My experience with recipes is very limited, but my wife and I talked about it (she’s a home ec. teacher) and she said that the term equivalent to her means the same, yet different.  I can echo those thoughts from my math background as well…..the same, yet different.  As far as designing an online course, I would think that the very nature of distance education would indicate that the course is to be different, yet it should be the same in terms of learning objectives and outcomes.  Okay, I haven’t said anything different from what has been posted, but I thought I would try to take components of regular classroom and draw anaologies to online courses and see what I come up with. [...]

]]> By: Jeff Arnett http://durandus.com/phaedrus/2006/09/25/design-and-development/#comment-5931 Jeff Arnett Wed, 26 Sep 2007 17:45:25 +0000 http://durandus.com/phaedrus/?p=41#comment-5931 While I do believe that the designer of a course must have some guideline in place when they begin planning, I do not think that it is possible to plan for every contingency that might occur when delivering class by distance means. Every class of students is different....the perosnalities, thoughts, feelings and prior learnin they bring with them creates a unqiue environment that will not be the same in the next class. Therefore, it is not possible to plan a course like a "one size fits all" shirt....many differences must be addressed between the learners, and only a live person can address and adapt as necessary to help insure a positive learning outcome. Ideally, a well planned course would include a varitey off materials and approaches, and that only happens when a well trained teacher is at the helm While I do believe that the designer of a course must have some guideline in place when they begin planning, I do not think that it is possible to plan for every contingency that might occur when delivering class by distance means. Every class of students is different….the perosnalities, thoughts, feelings and prior learnin they bring with them creates a unqiue environment that will not be the same in the next class. Therefore, it is not possible to plan a course like a “one size fits all” shirt….many differences must be addressed between the learners, and only a live person can address and adapt as necessary to help insure a positive learning outcome. Ideally, a well planned course would include a varitey off materials and approaches, and that only happens when a well trained teacher is at the helm

]]> By: phaedrus » Blog Archive » Recipe is a Bad Metaphor http://durandus.com/phaedrus/2006/09/25/design-and-development/#comment-5879 phaedrus » Blog Archive » Recipe is a Bad Metaphor Tue, 25 Sep 2007 12:37:54 +0000 http://durandus.com/phaedrus/?p=41#comment-5879 [...] One of the enduring metaphors used to describe education is that it’s a recipe for instilling knowledge. I use it in this post: Design and Development The problem with designing and developing distance courses is embodied in Equivalency Theory. According to Equivalency you need to account for everything in the classroom and make sure there’s some equivalent function in the distance course. [...] [...] One of the enduring metaphors used to describe education is that it’s a recipe for instilling knowledge. I use it in this post: Design and Development The problem with designing and developing distance courses is embodied in Equivalency Theory. According to Equivalency you need to account for everything in the classroom and make sure there’s some equivalent function in the distance course. [...]

]]> By: Della http://durandus.com/phaedrus/2006/09/25/design-and-development/#comment-32 Della Sun, 01 Oct 2006 16:32:16 +0000 http://durandus.com/phaedrus/?p=41#comment-32 When developing a course the instructor should have a "blueprint" already sketched. They need to ensure that the course objectives are met and that the students receive sufficient learning outcomes. The design should contain content modules that consist of all of the components required for the course. The most important concept is to reinforce the students involvement in the course. The student is truly responsible for their learning. In the past online courses as well as face2face courses were either teacher-centered or student-centered. Now the new methodology is to become learning-centered. Incorporation of all 3 would be the ideal classroom environment whether in-person or virtual. When developing a course the instructor should have a “blueprint” already sketched. They need to ensure that the course objectives are met and that the students receive sufficient learning outcomes. The design should contain content modules that consist of all of the components required for the course.

The most important concept is to reinforce the students involvement in the course. The student is truly responsible for their learning. In the past online courses as well as face2face courses were either teacher-centered or student-centered. Now the new methodology is to become learning-centered. Incorporation of all 3 would be the ideal classroom environment whether in-person or virtual.

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