I am also analysing the data from the 19 online course developers and facilitators (members of the Canadian Institute of Distance Education Research) who completed the 3-question survey.
What I am looking for here is to find out the type of learning materials, activities and online applications that different educators use to ensure that what their learners are actually doing will result in the desired learning outcomes.
1) What types of online learning materials and learning activities do
you provide to meet the learning outcomes and target learners’ needs?
Although it depends on the nature of the course, lecturers, target learners and their needs, the common experience is to provide some variety of learning materials, media and activities that target learning outcomes, such as textual information, exercises, quizzes, word files, excel files, powerpoints, online articles, email, audio, video, sharing of ideas and experiences etc.
2) How do you deliver these learning materials and activities - through
which online presentation and communication applications (e.g.
discussion board, virtual classroom, email etc)?
Synchronously and asynchronously through virtual learning environments such as Blackboard, Webct and Moodle, and using online communication tools such as discussion boards, email, virtual classrooms etc.
3) Why do you think this combination of online learning experiences and
delivery methods helps your learners to learn your subject?
The instructional designers tend to use a variety of learning experiences and delivery methods in order to meet the learning outcomes and a range of learning preferences. The reasons mentioned for why this works include the following main criteria:
- Provide variety & choice
- Engage learners
- Help learners to feel a sense of community
- Interaction with learner and tutors
- Support from tutors
- Put learner in charge of own learning
- Time for individual work
- Specific materials with clear directions
Summary
Overall, the survey results indicate that having a variety and choice of online learning experiences and delivery media tend to work in meeting learning outcomes and a range of learning preferences for the intended audience in different subject areas. Although the exact combination of delivery methods used does depend on the nature of the course, lecturers, target learners and their needs, there are a number of common factors that are present across different subject areas.
