Awaken the Mind

What do you believe?  About learning I mean.  Take a few minutes and dig back into the various learning theories we all have studied as educators.  Which ones of these actually work in an online platform?  Get this part straight before you even start with the design process because it will subconsciously direct EVERYTHING.

Ready, set…Once you have the green light to bring your blended learning, hybrid or online course into existence, and you feel good about your learning / teaching theories, there are a few things you should know before jumping right into the creating phase.  The first is this:  have a well thought-out design.

The first step, as unexciting as it may seem, is more logistical in nature than creative.  Find a good platform for your course.  I have worked with many various Learning Management Systems (LMS) and online course platforms, such as Schoology, Desire 2 Learn, Canvas and Kajabi. They each have their own unique offerings and layouts, but they will perform pretty much any task you might expect or need for an online course.

Next, outline the basics, so that you are crystal clear on your outcomes, audience, and basic information.  It may seem redundant but all of this shapes what comes next.  RESIST the urge to skip ahead – there is nothing worse than having your learners struggle or hit a pothole because you neglected to do it right the first time.  Sure, your course will need tweaking and modifying all year long.  But make sure you have thoroughly paved the way before you invite your students to travel along.

Outlining your learning goals, specific audience and needs may seem tedious but trust me when I tell you that it helps IMMENSELY when it came to the creation phase.  Immensely is a fancy word for A LOT.  Make an outline! Oh, and follow it.

A quick google search will bring you to more sites you thought existed where you can take online courses (many for free) on virtually any topic.  Photography?  Drawing?  Quantum Physics?  French?  Oui, mon ami, they are all there for the clicking.  Mind blown.  Best College Reviews has a hefty list of offerings and I marvel at their fine research work.  Check it out!  The best way to create a course may be to take one first. Get inspired and see what is possible – observe it as a learner and see where it flows, where it gets frustrating or confusing, and use those experiences to shape your online course design.

Here are some quick tips to help you design an online course that actually works!

1. Start with the end in mind. Before you hit record be very clear about your goals – what do you want learners to be able to do by the end of this course? Your objectives are the backbone, so make sure they are strong enough to keep the project standing.
2. Structure is EVERYTHING and then some. As you explore various online courses you will find some that leave you confused and feeling lost. Sorry, but their poor course design is sadly obvious. use a logical, bite-sized structure.
   • Start with an intro to set expectations and objectives.
   • Break content into short, focused lessons. Micro learning is big these days. Keeping it short and sweet = easier to retain.
   • End each section with key take-aways or a quick recap, quiz or reflection.
   • Make navigation easy – nobody likes clicking through a maze.
3. Make it Interactive! Watching endless videos can quickly become mind-numbingly boring.Mix things up with interactive elements like quizzes, polls, case studies and hands-on exercises. Fun situational scenarios get the learner involved. i recommend using tools like Vyond for fun scenarios and videos and then Articulate 360 to make them interactive. Your LMS will have the ability to create amny types of quizzes and discussions to keep your learner engaged.
4. Use Multimedia Wisely. Sometimes more is not better. Yes, we want to combine text, visuals, and audio to appeal to different learning styles. But don’t overdo it – avoid culttered slides, long text blocks, or pointless distracting animation. Everything should be clean, streamlined and have a relevant purpose.
5. Test, Tweak and Improve. Don’t get too attached to your first version. Our job as designers is to get feedback from those experiencing the course and then improve it based on that input. Use data to refine the course over time. A successful online course is a living thing – it grows with you and your learners. Like a good game of Bananagrams, you need to be willing to take apart a killer word to make a better one and win the game!

Ready to design? Whether you are creating a course for work, a passion project or a side hustle, the above intructional design principles will help you make it effective and enjoyable. Keep your outline in mind, make it learner centered, and focus on clarity and engagement. You’ll have a course that actually teaches something – which brings enrichment and growth.

Got a course idea? Start mapping it out today!