Predesigned course templates : helping organizations teach online

Abstract

The growing use of technology and digital learning environments present a challenge for organizations, teachers and trainers to facilitate technology in teaching and training. Teaching and training online can enable the flexibility of learning regardless of space and time. However, planning, preparing and developing an online course takes time and resources and requires skills and knowledge. Creating an online course can be seen as a project that requires elements of design thinking, knowledge of course design process and learning models as well as understanding the pedagogy behind teaching online. An answer to the growing need for providing online learning and to overcome to barriers in implementing technology in teaching online can be designing a course template. An easy-to-use template can make the move to online teaching easier and potentially lower costs and save resources related to designing online courses from the beginning.

This aim of this thesis was to determine how a predesigned course template can help organizations in facilitating online teaching and training. This thesis was commissioned by Mediamaisteri and the aim was also to find out ways of making their pre-existing course templates more useful for their customers.

Data were collected interviewing selected customers. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using a thematic coding protocol. The collected data were used to ascertain what course creators need in a template for it to be as usable as possible.

The analysis revealed three main themes: user experience, learning design and motivation and instruction. Therefore, to be usable the template offered should have a layout that makes navigation on the course easy, takes visuality in consideration and is easy to use for the course creators. The template should follow learning design protocols and facilitate activating and motivating learners.

A well-designed course template comprises of learning design and pedagogy. Having the option of using a course template can make facilitating online learning quicker and easier. It can also allow course creators to learn the basics of course design and make the switch from traditional classroom teaching a little less tricky and taunting.