So, with all of the amazing feedback I received yesterday…(crickets, crickets), I decided to start going through the planning steps of creating an online class. In this case, the only class I teach is Introduction to Computing, so that is what I am going with. In the third chapter, the author had an analysis which she felt anyone who is going to teach online should do for their class. It was a starting point. So I wrote down all of the questions, and my own answers. So this is the first step, Analysis:
Intro to Computing Online
Analysis
1. What is your student audience? For example, is this course for twenty or 120 students? Is thie course for beginners or advanced students? For majors or primarily for non-majors?
The student audience for my class would be all students at GLCC, but in groups of probably no more than 30-40, the students will range from beginner to advanced students depending on the knowledge they bring from previous classes or experience.
2. What types of materials should be made available to students online? For example, will any on-campus activites or labs be available, or must all class activities be delivered online?
For my class, I could offer specific Lab times that would be available for certain projects, for instance, maybe offer a 2-hour lab time when working on the Microsoft Access assignment, since databases tend to be difficult. However, all assignments would be turned in online.
3A. What kind of internet access will your students have?
The speeds of internet could range from dial-up (Hopefully not many) up to very high-speed.
3B. Will students access this online classroom from campus networks or from their homes or even mobile devices?
If this is primarily a class offered at first to on campus students, then the assumption would be mostly on campus network. That isn’t to say it doesn’t provide the flexibility to work from home or even from a mobile device.
3C. Do most students have unlimited internet access through the university, or do they pay for their own access?
Through the campus they would have unlimited access, if they are off-campus, then they would have to make their own arrangements for internet access, Free Coffee shops or paying for internet to their homes.
4. What Support will you have available to assist you in creating online course materials?
Currently the support would be the academic dean and myself
5. Is there an integrated suite of tools or course management software available to house your course, or will you have to create everything on your own web pages or free resource sites?
We use Moodle as our course management system.
So that is the analysis aspect of planning my first class. The next thing we will be looking at is Course Objectives and Goals.
Again, for anyone who actually reads this, your feedback is much appreciated.
Peace.
