What is Your Course Built Around?

Let me repeat: What is your course / learning solution / training built around? Who is the focus of this learning solution?

Instructional designers, together with your content expert: we need to do this check because what you think you have done well for the course may not turn out well for the learner.

In an online course I’m now enrolled in as a learner, it is obvious to me that the course is built around the CDROM content. Learners are expected to watch the CDROM videos and complete the CDROM exercises, and submit them on the Blackboard LMS. 95% of the assignments are based on the CDROM. This means a lot of taking or drawing of pictures (busy work drawing poodles, bags, backpacks, etc.) and retyping assignment questions to post on Blackboard LMS, because these questions are in a physical textbook and not on a digital page. Learners also have to locate the assignments on the CDROMs without clear specifications from the instructor.

There are so many questions I have when navigating the course, and so much information lacking for me to complete the assignments, that it is obvious this course has not been carefully vetted before it was launched. As the course began, I was reminded again as to why I was frustrated with the first course: the course is not ready for launch on launch date, the syllabus is not available till five days (Friday) after the course launch day (it’s is a requirement for a pre-course quiz!), there is a lack of community in the course, dead links, and so on.

It bothers me when institutions or organizations develop online courses, call them self-paced courses and think the course will simply run on its own. Really?

Yes, it is a choice I made to continue to take this next course despite the problems I faced in the first course.

I’ve continued to pursue ASL learning in the online mode because there is no other option during this pandemic period. ASL 1 wasn’t a very enjoyable experience last semester, but I worked hard to make significant progress in ASL proficiency. I want to be able to reach interpreter proficiency, so I press on to the next course, ASL 2.

But maybe, the program in this institution is simply not the one for me.