在线学习的未来：如何为高等教育的学生成功设计课程

THE FUTURE OF ONLINE LEARNING:How to Design Courses for Student Success in Expert Contributors MJ BishopVice President for Integrative LearningDesign at the University of Maryland Patrick CreghanFormer Senior Solutions Engineer, Dr. Cristi FordChief Learning Officer, Kevin MacLeodLearning Experience Architect, Melany McNewManager of Learning Experience Nicolas ParesInstructional Designer and Principal Mandi SingletonLearning and Training Specialist,Regional Transportation District, Jeff SalinSenior Manager of Learning Shane StrupSenior Director ofLearning Experience Design, Gemma StaffordSenior Learning Designer,Nottingham Trent University Dr. Emma ZoneSenior Director of Academic Affairs, Melissa WellsManager of Learning Experience Over the past 50 years, the profile of higher educationstudents has undergone a remarkable transformation.The modern student body is more ethnically diverse,gender-inclusive and representative of various walks of life We’ve also witnessed a significant increase in the numberof non-traditional students, such as working adultsreturning to education, part-time students and those The percentage of students aged 25 and older has This diversity brings a wealth of perspectives andexperiences to the classroom, enriching the learning Despite adecline in overall enrollments at traditionalhigher education institutions, the demand for onlinecoursescontinues to surge. Statista, a global data and business intelligence platform, predicts that the global onlineeducation market will reach nearly$400 billion by 2026(up from $200 billion in 2019), driven by the flexibility andaccessibility it offers. This growth is a testament to the These demographic changes have significant implicationsfor higher education institutions, which must adapt to meet Why OnlineCourses? “Institutions are really trying to think about how contentcan be interactive, engaging and visually stimulating,”he said. “Because not only do they want these part-time According to edtech expert and consultant Phil Hill, the institutional move towards online courses is partlydriven by the need to recover lost tuition revenue.Online programs enable colleges to reach learners livinganywhere. They also appeal to working adults who cannottravel to a physical campus, or who may not have time to To understand what makes an online course truly effective,we consulted a diverse group of experts, includinginstructional designers, learning experience designers,faculty, former administrators and solutions engineers. Patrick Creghan, formerly a senior solutions engineer atD2L, has noticed the change. Staff at the higher educationinstitutions he speaks with share that there’s a growingappetite to reach online learners, many of whom fall inthe non-traditional student category. Engaging these While we acknowledge the value of in-person and hybridlearning environments, this guide focuses on the uniquechallenges and opportunities of online course design.Our goal is to equip educators with the strategies needed Why Online Course DesignIs Important Many non-traditional students taking online courses areincreasingly looking to upskill and reskill to meet thedemands of a rapidly changing job market. TheWorldEconomic Forum, to take just one example, is workingwith more than 350 organizations in a bid to provide one Strategic course design is a crucial factor for studentsuccess across all learning environments, but onlinelearning presents unique challenges. Keeping studentsengaged online can be more difficult due to the plethora of One thing course designers can do is incorporate creativeand interactive content elements. Doing so can significantly MJ Bishop is the vice president for integrative learningdesign at the University of Maryland Global Campus(UMGC), a distance education branch of the University ofMaryland. Bishop’s department is responsible for designing Key elements of interactive content in online courses include multimedia components such as videos, animationsand simulations, which cater to various learning stylesand make complex concepts more digestible. Interactivequizzes and gamification techniques, like badges and “They come in knowing that they want to createa better life for themselves and their families,or because their employer has told them they Research shows that student engagement in onlinelearning environments is significantly enhanced by interactive elements and strong instructor presence.Students who participate in interactive activities, such as “Or they’ve decided, ‘I’ve been at this [job] for a few years,and I don’t think I like what I’m doing, so I want to changegears entirely.’” According to Bishop, there’s been an uptick in learnerscoming to UMGC who are looking for a very skills-forwardexperience. That may or may not include earning a full We’ll explore additional tactics in online course designfurther down, but the design portion is just one part.Understanding your student population