| Learner Guidance Establish a sense of purpose Communicate the course outcomes clearly to learners, and tell them why the outcomes are important and relevant to them. For example, Phil put this page online: Project 1: Improved outcomes. This relates to the first stage in our design model. It's standard practice to inform learners of the assessment requirements. However, you can help establish a sense of purpose by: Providing an assessment plan or schedule which gives students a clear overview of the assessment requirements Choosing assessment methods which are relevant and authentic: that is, they resemble real-world tasks. If the assesment methods are already set and can't be changed, set assessment topics which are relevant to the learners and their lives.
Check out Phil's assessment plan Provide a clear learning path Once you have developed a sequence of activities, you need to develop a guide for learners on how to work through the sequence. Provide a clear overview of the course and clear instructions for each activity. A weekly schedule can be very helpful! Motivate and engage learners Many learners say they find learning online is less motivating than learning face-to-face. The lack of physical presence and the ever-present go-between of the keyboard and monitor create a sense of 'distance' between people that can make learners (and teachers!) uncomfortable. So how can we increase the level of motivation and engagement? InteractionPersonal presenceSet up an initial activity where teachers and learners introduce themselves personally to the group (online or face-to-face) Set guidelines for regular access so that teachers are seen to be active participants Address learners directly and in a friendly tone. For example, say 'You will...' rather than 'Students will...'
Provide support We'll look at how to support learners and teachers in kete 5. |
