0302 Designing for Online Learning

Format: Internet/World Wide Web seminar
Instructor: Bill Winfield
CEUs: 2.0

Online learning environments are built for a wide range of teaching and training applications. This course looks at settings that may require interactive strategies beyond discussions and group collaborations. It draws upon sound instructional design principles and motivational strategies to design creative learner-to-content interactions. This is done using an architectural approach to draw up a blueprint for on-line course development before construction begins. Participants work on their own sample lesson as a way to incorporate effective teaching methods, explore course design strategies, and utilize appropriate multimedia.

Topics Covered

how online learning environments need to be more than web sites
how learning theory informs the course design process
using learner analysis and motivational theory to design engaging activities
using a set of instructional design grids for as development guidelines
a review of different types of online courses that use a variety of media

Equipment and Software Required

This course focuses on the use of various multimedia, including some that require current plug-ins to Netscape or Explorer. Participants are responsible for making sure their computers have these plug-ins installed in order to access all presentations and materials.

Participants should have:

a multimedia computer with Internet and Web access.
a current browser such as the latest version of Internet Explorer
Shockwave and Flash plug-ins installed (click here to download)
RealPlayer plug-in installed (click here to download)
come prepared with a brief description of a course sample project to work on (i.e. sample lesson, training session, learning exercise).

Estimated Time Commitment

Approximately 5-10 hours per week for project work and asynchronous group discussion via Learn@UW/Desire2Learn online course tool.

Asynchronous Format

The course uses an asynchronous format for participation in weekly online discussion forums and case studies. You can send and read e-mail messages at any time, although early in the week and then later in the week is required for group cohesion.

Pre-requisite

Either 0300 Introduction to Online Learning or 0301 Group Processes for Online Learning.

About the Instructor

Bill Winfield is an online course design and development consultant to business and education organizations. He has taught the 0302 course since Spring 2000. Bill develops 0302 using Macromedia Dreamweaver, and he maintains a large database of course design resources and activity examples. His instructional design approach focuses on expanding those aspects of new technologies that combine learning with electronic performance support, independent of platform or delivery system. He is familiar with a range of software tools and platforms. As an instructional designer, Bill has built numerous online courses for academic departments as well as for training programs in corporate and governmental organizations. For several years he served as lead instructional designer and helped to coordinate the development team at the University of Wisconsin Learning Innovations. He also did multilingual web site and CD-ROM development for the Babcock Institute for International Research and Development. From 2000 through 2006 he directed the Annual Conference on Distance Teaching and Learning (held in Madison each August) and taught online for the Distance Education Professional Development Program.