An Analysis of Organizational Approaches to Online Course Structures

The structure of an online course, including the navigational interface, visual design of materials and information, as well as the communication tools to facilitate learning, can affect students, instructors, programs and educational organizations in various ways. This paper examines online course structural issues derived from previous research as well as the authors’ collective experiences as instructors, instructional designers, and online learners at multiple universities. Three organizational philosophies of online course structure are analyzed, and ten key components for developing a well-organized online course are presented based on established design principles. This information is intended to help emerging online instructors understand their own organizational culture and to develop a more standardized approach to online course design.

[1]  Leslie J. Briggs,et al.  Principles of Instructional Design , 1974 .

[2]  Robin Mason,et al.  Effective facilitation of online learning: the Open University experience , 2001, Teaching & Learning Online.

[3]  Patrick R. Lowenthal,et al.  Web-Based Learning: Design, Implementation, and Evaluation , 2006 .

[4]  Charles M. Reigeluth,et al.  Instructional-design Theories and Models : A New Paradigm of Instructional Theory, Volume II , 1999 .

[5]  Robert M. Gagné,et al.  Essentials of Learning for Instruction , 1988 .

[6]  Gary R. Morrison,et al.  Designing Effective Instruction , 1997 .

[7]  George J. Posner,et al.  Course Design: A Guide to Curriculum Development for Teachers , 1982 .

[8]  Lynna J. Ausburn.  Course design elements most valued by adult learners in blended online education environments: an American perspective , 2004 .

[9]  Anthony G. Picciano.  Distance Learning: Making Connections Across Virtual Space and Time , 2000 .

[10]  Susan Ko,et al.  Teaching Online: A Practical Guide , 2000 .

[11]  Terry Anderson,et al.  E-Learning in the 21st Century: A Community of Inquiry Framework for Research and Practice , 2016 .

[12]  Susan Powers,et al.  Technology and Teacher Education: A Guide for Educators and Policymakers , 2002 .

[13]  Mingming Jiang,et al.  A Study of Factors Influencing Students’ Perceived Learning in a Web-Based Course Environment , 2000 .

[14]  Judith V. Boettcher,et al.  The Online Teaching Survival Guide: Simple and Practical Pedagogical Tips , 2010 .

[15]  P. Smith,et al.  Instructional Design (3rd ed. , 2005 .