Using Visual Design to Improve the Online Learning Experience

2021 ◽  
pp. 1750-1785
Author(s):  
Jason D. Bader ◽  
Patrick R. Lowenthal
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Design Theory ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Colleges And Universities ◽  
Visual Design ◽  
Design Studio ◽  
Instructional Designers ◽  
Design Skills ◽  
Visual Design Principles

There is an abundant amount of literature on visual design principles, graphic design theory, and media theory. Yet very little is discussed, at least in a systematic way, about the process of making online courses aesthetically pleasing. A major obstacle to gaining such knowledge is the lack of understanding of applied definitions, conceptual ideas, and methods of creating online learning interfaces. In this chapter, the authors seek to clarify the process of using visual design to improve the online learning experience. The chapter concludes with strategies on how colleges and universities can help faculty and instructional designers learn visual design skills through the creation of a design studio.

Using Visual Design to Improve the Online Learning Experience

2018 ◽  
pp. 1-35
Author(s):  
Jason D. Bader ◽  
Patrick R. Lowenthal
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Design Theory ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Colleges And Universities ◽  
Visual Design ◽  
Design Studio ◽  
Instructional Designers ◽  
Design Skills ◽  
Visual Design Principles

There is an abundant amount of literature on visual design principles, graphic design theory, and media theory. Yet very little is discussed, at least in a systematic way, about the process of making online courses aesthetically pleasing. A major obstacle to gaining such knowledge is the lack of understanding of applied definitions, conceptual ideas, and methods of creating online learning interfaces. In this chapter, the authors seek to clarify the process of using visual design to improve the online learning experience. The chapter concludes with strategies on how colleges and universities can help faculty and instructional designers learn visual design skills through the creation of a design studio.

scholarly journals A guide for evaluation of online learning in medical education: a qualitative reflective analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nourhan F. Wasfy ◽  
Enjy Abouzeid ◽  
Asmaa Abdel Nasser ◽  
Samar A. Ahmed ◽  
Ilham Youssry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Education ◽  
Online Learning ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Organizational Capacity ◽  
Expert Consensus ◽  
Educational Effectiveness ◽  
Education Community ◽  
Rapid Shift

Abstract Background With the strike of Covid-19, an unprecedented rapid shift to remote learning happened worldwide with a paradigm shift to online learning from an institutional adjuvant luxury package and learner choice into a forced solo choice. This raises the question of quality assurance. While some groups have already established standards for online courses, teaching and programs yet very little information is included on methodology of their development and very little emphasis is placed on the online learning experience. Nevertheless, no work has been done specifically for medical education institutions. Aim To develop a set of descriptors for best practice in online learning in medical education utilizing existing expertise and needs. Methods This work utilizes a qualitative multistage approach to identify the descriptors of best practice in online learning starting with a question guided focus group, thematic analysis, Delphi technique and an expert consensus session done simultaneously for triangulation. This was done involving 32 institution in 19 countries. Results This materialized into the development of a set of standards, indicators, and development of a checklist for each standard area. The standard areas identified were organizational capacity, educational effectiveness, and human resources each of which listed a number of standards. Expert consensus sessions identified the need for qualification of data and thus the development of indicators for best practice. Conclusion Standards are needed for online learning experience and their development and redesign is situational and needs to be enhanced methodologically in axes that are pertaining to the needs of the education community. Taking such axes into consideration by educators and institutions will lead to planning and implementing successful online learning activities, while taking them into consideration by the evaluators will help them conduct comprehensive audits and provide stakeholders with highly informative evaluation reports.

scholarly journals Understanding Learner Behaviour in Online Courses through Learning Analytics

2021 ◽  
pp. 381-390
Author(s):  
D. Thammi Raju ◽  
G. R. K. Murthy ◽  
S. B. Khade ◽  
B. Padmaja ◽  
B. S. Yashavanth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Learning Analytics ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Training Needs ◽  
Online Course ◽  
Quality Of Education ◽  
Time Data

Building an effective online course requires an understanding of learning analytics. The study assumes significance in the COVID 19 pandemic situation as there is a sudden surge in online courses. Analysis of the online course using the data generated from the Moodle Learning Management System (LMS), Google Forms and Google Analytics was carried out to understand the tenants of an effective online course. About 515 learners participated in the initial pre-training needs & expectations’ survey and 472 learners gave feedback at the end, apart from the real-time data generated from LMS and Google Analytics during the course period. This case study analysed online learning behaviour and the supporting learning environment and suggest critical factors to be at the centre stage in the design and development of online courses; leads to the improved online learning experience and thus the quality of education. User needs, quality of resources and effectiveness of online courses are equally important in taking further online courses.

Using Moodle to Teach Constructivist Learning Design Skills to Adult Learners

2012 ◽  
pp. 561-572
Author(s):  
Douglas L. Holton
Keyword(s):  
Instructional Design ◽  
Adult Learners ◽  
Open Source ◽  
Management System ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Learning Design ◽  
Design And Implementation ◽  
Design Skills

This chapter describes a case study of the design and implementation of an online project-based course for learning constructivist instructional design techniques. Moodle, a free and open source learning management system, was chosen as a tool to meet both the goals of the course and the needs and abilities of the adult learners in this course. Despite the instructor’s and students’ inexperience with both Moodle and online courses, Moodle greatly facilitated the process, resulting in a largely successful and motivating learning experience.

Adult Learners Online

2018 ◽  
pp. 2086-2100
Author(s):  
Adam A. Morris ◽  
Michael T. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Adult Learners ◽  
Instructional Strategies ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Instructional Designers ◽  
Cultural Differentiation ◽  
Personal Experiences ◽  
Course Experience ◽  
Different Cultures

The current chapter describes how adult learners of different cultures experience and respond to online learning, and what different instructional strategies and personnel in higher education can do to develop an appropriately delivered online experience. Adult learners approach formal education differently than younger children (Olsen & Clark, 1977), namely the utilitarian functions of education and the application of learning to personal experiences, and personal needs are paramount to the learning experience (Peters & Associates, 1980). This foundation has a limited element of cultural differentiation and is complicated by using one-size-fits all online courses. Instructors, administrators, and instructional designers must all collaborate to re-think and re-build the effective online course experience: an experience with a hallmark of flexibility and diversified instructional techniques. Effective cultural responsiveness can greatly improve adult learning and potentially respond to a unique group of learner motivations.

scholarly journals STUDENTS’ PERSPECTIVES ON ONLINE LEARNING – ARE THEIR EXPECTATIONS MET BY CURRENT TEACHING PRACTICES?

2021 ◽  
Vol LXIX (1) ◽  
pp. 73-91
Author(s):  
Iulia Gonţa ◽  
Cristina Tripon
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Time Management ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Traditional Learning ◽  
Teacher Student Relationships ◽  
Teacher Student ◽  
Teachers And Students

The challenges of online learning, created by the COVID-19 pandemic, have prompted a significant demand in researching this particular field of education. The adaptation to online learning, unfortunately, was applied in a context of unprepared teachers and students. This situation was caused by the new format of education, which differs significantly from massive open online courses, traditional learning or distance learning. The new hybrid model of education, prompted by the pandemic, has certainly become a trend that could incite future transformations in terms of teaching and learning. To better understand the specifics of this type of online learning, we asked the students (N = 705) from the University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest to express their opinion on their learning experience during the pandemic. The survey included the problems and expectations of the interviewees, and the research results were analyzed in the article. Our goal was to improve educational practices in the virtual educational environment. In this regard, we analyzed the important components of online learning, focusing on the following ones: the quality of the educational resources used to support the content, the improvement of the quality of the teacher- student relationships, time management, online assessment. The article also provides solutions for effective online learning, from the students’ perspective.

scholarly journals Maintaining Quality in Online Learning Environments

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. 361-367
Author(s):  
Melissa Aldredge ◽  
Sarah DuBois ◽  
Diane Mobley ◽  
Elizabeth Prejean ◽  
Margaret Vienne
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Academic Quality ◽  
Online Classroom ◽  
Careful Planning ◽  
Online Learning Environments ◽  
Security Issues ◽  
Secure Learning

The online classroom continues to play an ever increasing role in higher education. There are proven, research-based pedagogical techniques available to instructors who want to create online courses that are both dynamic and engaging. With careful planning, online learning can provide students with a positive learning experience without sacrificing the academic quality of learning. Addressing security issues and challenges is vital to maintaining the desired academic rigor and quality. This paper discusses these important security issues and offers a variety of solutions for facilitating a secure learning environment.

scholarly journals Face-to-Face and Online Instructional Delivery Formats: a Mixed-Methods Study of Teacher Self-Efficacy in Higher Education

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 163
Author(s):  
Colin William Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Online Learning ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Instructional Delivery ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Face To Face

The COVID-19 pandemic forced higher education institutions in South Korea to administer Spring 2020 semesters online. This mixed-methods study examined instructor/professor competence for the instructional delivery formats of Face-to-Face and online teaching. Quantitatively, the researcher measured teacher competence for Face-to-Face and online instruction by measuring the Teacher Self-Efficacy levels of non-Korean instructors/professors in South Korean higher education institutions. The qualitative questions assessed the advantages and drawbacks of each instructional delivery format. Findings indicate that instructors/professors are significantly more effective teaching Face-to-Face courses than online courses. However, instructors/professors with online learning experience were significantly more effective teaching online courses than those without online learning experience. It is recommended that all instructors/professors engage in professional development geared towards equipping educators with the tools needed to succeed in the online education environment.

A Case Study Exploring Quality Standards for Quality E-Learning

2011 ◽  
pp. 232-240
Author(s):  
Colla J. MacDonald ◽  
Terrie Lynn Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Quality Standards ◽  
Critical Issue ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Online Programs ◽  
Learning Programs ◽  
E Learning

In order to satisfy the needs of growing numbers of adult learners, the availability of well-designed, effectively implemented, and efficiently delivered online courses is essential (MacDonald, Stodel & Casimiro, 2006; Palloff & Pratt, 2001). Despite the demand and prevalence of e-learning, there are still concerns regarding the quality and effectiveness of education offered online (Carstens & Worsfold, 2000; Noble, 2002). Too often, in an “effort to simply get something up and running” (Dick, 1996, p. 59), educators have been forced to compromise quality and design. Intensive competition among educational institutions has resulted in quality assurance becoming a critical issue for promoting learning and learning programs. Within this economically motivated environment, online learning has not escaped the scrutiny of quality standards. Quality in online programs is generally defined in terms of the design of the learning experience, the contextualized experience of learners, and evidence of learning outcomes (Jung, 2000; Salmon, 2000). However, the plethora of online learning courses and programs with few standards to ensure the quality of content, delivery, and/or service creates a challenge. The resulting variance in quality makes it difficult for an organization or learner to choose a program that meets their needs and is also of high quality.

Learner Assessment in Blended and Online Settings

2016 ◽  
pp. 1132-1146
Author(s):  
Kay A. Persichitte ◽  
Suzanne Young ◽  
Tonia A. Dousay
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Learning Environments ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Instructional Designers ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Assessment Of Learning ◽  
Learner Assessment ◽  
K 12 ◽  
Effective Assessment

In this chapter, the authors distinguish between blended and online learning settings, discuss a variety of types of learner assessment, describe contemporary trends, challenges, and recommendations for the effective assessment of learning in blended and online courses, and offer several recommendations for future research. The content targets teachers, instructional designers, administrators, and program managers of K-12 blended and online learning settings. Suggestions are offered for using web-based communication tools for feedback and assessment in blended settings. The authors conclude with a discussion of implementation topics associated with assessment in these learning environments that deserve additional attention and consideration.

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