Hey all, due to the ongoing pandemic situation, I've been doing more and more of my classes online. I'm trying to figure out what makes an online course really effective. Do any of you have thoughts on what the most effective online high school course models look like? Thanks for any insights!
From what I've observed in multiple schools' curriculum models, effective online high school courses tend to share a few key characteristics. These characteristics can turn a potentially challenging online course into a rewarding and educationally beneficial experience.
1. Structured & Clear Learning Goals: An effective online course will have a clear scaffold of learning goals. This means each lesson aligns with the overall goals of the class, and you know what skill or topic you're supposed to be learning in each module. Learning objectives should be clearly stated at the beginning of each module, along with a recap at the end to consolidate learning.
2. Engaging Content: To make the courses engaging, a mix of video lectures, text readings, interactive quizzes, and discussion boards is helpful. Some even weave in virtual labs or interactive simulations for certain subjects, like chemistry or physics, providing an enriched learning experience.
3. Active Learner Participation: Active learner participation means regularly engaging with the content, whether that's through quizzes, discussion posts, group projects or other interactive elements. This ensures that the students are not just passive recipients of information but actively constructing their own understanding.
4. Accessible Resources: Effective online courses often incorporate supplementary materials for deeper understanding— this might include external resources, such as suggested books, articles, and websites. These resources should be appropriately designed and accessible to all learners, taking into account different learning styles and abilities.
5. Formative Assessment: Regular feedback through formative assessments, such as quizzes and draft versions of larger assignments, is crucial. This ongoing assessment allows students and instructors to see where the student might be struggling and to address these areas before final summative assessments like exams.
6. Opportunities for Collaboration: Features like group projects and discussion boards can encourage students to communicate and collaborate, bringing a sense of community into the virtual classroom. Communication skills are essential not just for the class, but also for future college coursework and careers.
7. Flexible, Yet Structured: An ideal online course is flexible enough to accommodate different students' schedules and learning speeds, yet structured enough to provide a rigorous, comprehensive learning experience.
Everyone learns differently, though, so these are just some common characteristics of effective online courses. Be sure to consider your own learning style and preferences when determining what's most effective for you.
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