Week 2

For the first course, the primary issues from a course designer’s perspective would be the varying degrees of technical skills possessed by the professors. Whenever you are presented with a task to produce one interface that will be utilized by multiple users, you should always keep in mind those that are the least experienced. I would identify where the lowest level of experience was and remain attentive to their comfort levels throughout the design process. I would probably then hold an orientation for the faculty to familiarize them with the course’s layout and features and use their feedback to make the final revisions before mounting the course. Another concern in this case would be the needs of the instructors’ as far as content is concerned. I would meet with the instructors frequently, both collectively and individually, to ensure that there is constant support and that the course is structured to accommodate these needs. Lastly, I would take into account the students’ general level of motivation. I know that they are capable from a technological standpoint, however they are younger students so it would be advisable to present them with weekly graded tasks to sustain their focus. Being that the subject matter is math, there is no real need for student –to-student interaction so this would most likely be an instructor led course with the majority of the communication being asynchronous.

In the second case scenario, we are presented with a much different set of circumstances. A single instructor leads the course and the subject matter is less rigid. Since the instructor is most experienced with face-to-face interaction with students, I would attempt to preserve this as best possible in an online format. I would focus on the instructor’s strengths and incorporate them into the content. For instance, if the instructor were a great lecturer, I would record and embed audio and video lectures on topics that corresponded with the syllabus and make them available as optional “teaching moment” resources. Since the course covers content that is divergent, there would need to be a holistic approach in place that is somewhat learner-led. To do this, there would need to be an expansive discussion board/forum available where students could create their own threads. There would be required postings on the primary discussion, but students would be encouraged to initiate and partake in their own discussions as well. I would also integrate a few synchronous sessions that would serve as lecture/class discussion meetings. Depending upon the comfort level of the instructor, I would advise that the content of the course be updated or modified weekly based on the class discussions and feedback.

For the 3rd course, the most pressing concern would be the attention span and motivation level of the students. Since they have already been identified as having high risk for dropouts, I would need to get a good idea of their interests and intentions. I would strive to create stimulating content that the students could relate to and keep them engaged. I would pre-develop this content with the instructors since they have never taught the course before, but concentrate on keeping it current to the trends of student life. I would also look at the resources available to the students and their level of technical proficiency. If they were fairly adept, than I would set up synchronous video chats, possibly in groups depending upon the class size, to discuss strategies and skills that are essential to become a successful student at the college level. I would develop content that requires a high level of interaction and participation and have small assignments due weekly to keep the students on task. Most importantly, I would try to make the course as enjoyable as possible while still effectively delivering the necessary content. One example would be to present students with video case scenarios of possible encounters or obstacles that they may face during their college experience and allow them to choose their approach in handling each circumstance. The student could select their course of action from multiple choices and at this would prompt a sometimes-humorous pre-recorded video portrayal of what the recourse would be based on their decision. I would reinforce this content by creating awareness that its purpose is to give the students the direction and tools needed to thrive as they begin their college careers.