Say you've prepared your e-learning content and are ready to upload it to an LMS for in-house distribution or outside syndication. To ensure its success on the marketplace or within your organization, follow a few simple guidelines.
Strong e-learning material is based on your own subject matter expertise and personal experience. And since there are an endless variety of courseware subjects, learners and contexts, not every guideline will necessarily apply to your LMS course. That said, one crucial element of a successful e-learning course is early communication with students. This includes pre-course basic training on how to use the LMS and other online tools, as well as how to navigate the online course itself. If collaborative tools like wikis or discussion boards are involved, clearly indicate how you'd like students to participate.
Guide students in course navigation through the use of videos. Take advantage of the easy-to-use video creation tools that LMSs often offer. Video tours are a great way to walk your students through their new virtual learning environment and make them feel comfortable.
The three basic aspects of communication are speech, gesture, and visuals. The online combination of these three elements helps recreate the natural ways people work in groups when they are physically present together. Utilizing these three elements--particularly the emotional signals of voice and tone--allows you to create a sense of trust and comfort for your students.
Another key to successful communication with students--which will ensure their ease of use and comfort with the online course--is the creation of a course outline or syllabus. A syllabus provides a space for you to break down and explain the course expectations and objectives for learners, and should be presented before any actual learning begins.
Particularly for the comfort of first-time e-learners, it's critical for them to understand as early as possible what to expect from a course.
A syllabus should include a few pieces of information about the online course. It should provide the instructor's email, office and/or phone number; the course date, length, and expected involvement; textbooks and other learning materials required; an outline of the LMS and course format and explanation of navigational features; a description of the course content; an assessment and project schedule; an overall evaluation plan; expectations related to student participation; and an outline of how learners are intended to interact using wikis, discussion boards, and other Web 2.0 tools.
In the course outline, advise learners to familiarize themselves with the LMS and the different kinds of information that can be found in each section of the course. Remind them that they will have to check it regularly for course updates and assignments. Be as specific as possible, describing in full detail the solutions for and consequences of missed classes or homework assignments, how students will be graded, class meeting times (if there are any), and any suggestions you can offer them.
Another useful function of the course outline or syllabus is to outline to learners the plagiarism policy. Although most people vaguely understand that plagiarism is wrong or not allowed, some may still be unsure about what exactly counts as plagiarism. And even though intentional plagiarism is more common, instances of accidental or uninformed plagiarism also occur and with your help, are quite preventable. Many learners are simply may not aware of the correct way to cite the sources they'd like to reference.
Along with your syllabus, attach a citation guide that tells how to cite articles, web pages, books, and other published information. MLA/APA style citation guides are easy to find online.
With the help of videos and a well-developed syllabus, you can help students feel secure and confident navigating their e-learning course and the learning management system. Help them feel at home in their online learning environment by quickly and clearly to establishing the features, scope, and tone of your e-learning course. Doing so will also help prevent any potential confusion or miscommunication, and create a harmonious learning and instructing experience for everyone.
Public schools can now use Coggno's learning management system for free. Create your free account now, visit Coggno at http://www.coggno.com/lms Call or visit:
Coggno, Inc.
1290 Parkmoor Avenue
San Jose, California 95125
Phone: (888) 585-9978