EDCI 495 TZ/EDCI 495TZ/DLDD 102

Developing and Managing Distance Learning

Course Introduction

Overview

This course is the second in the four courses in the E-Learning Design and Development Certificate Program. Here, we move beyond the specifics of how to design a program to examining the details of the development processes that need to be in place for a successful E-Learning project.

To accomplish this goal, we've divided this course into three discrete parts:

• "What is a Course and What Do We Want Learners to Know and Do?" is the first part, which we'll go through in the first two weeks.

  We'll start out by examining what makes up a course or an e-learning experience and how Learning Objectives are used to tell learners what they can expect to be do by the time they've completed the experience. In week one we'll focus on the structure of courses and week two will cover developing and creating learning objectives.

• "Can I Make Some Content Now?" is next and we'll tackle that subject from week three through week six. Starting with this part of the course, the work we do becomes iterative. By that I mean that we will each work on three different assignments but they should each be a little more complex, and build upon the previous weeks accomplishments. We'll develop small samples of three types of E-learning content.
• "Who is Going to Help Me Create My Course/Training?" is the third and last part and comes in weeks seven through nine. In this section, we'll focus on developing skills for working in teams on E-learning projects. We'll do this by forming three-person teams and rotating each week through the roles of Instructional Designer/Project Manager, Subject Matter Expert, and Graphic/Media Artist. We'll keep with the same project through this simulation and change roles each week. Our discussions will focus on what is critical to the success of E-learning project and not so much on general team building skills.

Week ten is a surge week and is reserved for completing any last minute projects.

Threaded throughout the course will be opportunities for reflection and analysis, and discovery and describing new tools to each other. We'll use course discussion forums for these.

Course Objectives

Our goals for the course are:

• Get acquainted with, and comfortable creating content for E-learning courses or experiences;
• Develop skills and practice creating Learning Objectives;
• Familiarize ourselves with typical types of teams involved in creating complex E-learning materials;
• Discover and tryout typical tools used in creating E-Learning experiences; and
• Create the proposal that describes the activity we'll be developing for the practicum part of the Certificate Program.

Is This Course For You?

EDCI CP 495A, is the second in the series of four courses which comprise the certificate program in E-Learning Design and Development. Its content assists you in examining the details of the development and management processes that lead to a successful E-Learning project. The course design assumes you have mastered the material presented in the previous course in the sequence, and have finished all previously assigned work.

 

The course material is intended to be relevant to you whether you are focusing on the administrative or development aspects of E-Learning courses and programs. Feel free to contact your instructor about your specific needs as required.

The ten-week EDCI CP 495A course will run the entire Winter quarter, 2006. EDCI 600, the practicum course in which you work with a mentor to develop your personal project, will begin partway through Spring quarter. It will run overlap with EDCI CP 494 in Spring quarter.

Technology Requirements

The requirements for this course are minimal; email, a Web Browser and Word Processing software are all that is required. How you choose to complete some assignments may require you to have access to more software. It will really depend on what you decide to do.

If you need technical help, e-mail Program Support Services at dltechsupp@extn.washington.edu. You may also call (800) 543-2320; fax (206) 543-0887; or call (206) 543-0898 (TTY).

Course Organization

To help you organize your time and efforts for this course, this section outlines the specific readings and assignments for each module.

Readings

The required text for this course is: E-Learning by Design, by William Horton 2006, Pfeiffer: San Francisco.

• Week One: Chapter One, Designing E-Learning, pp 1-12, 37-46
• Week Two: Chapter One, Designing E-Learning, pp 12-36
• Week Three: Chapter Two, Absorb-Type Activities
• Week Four: Chapter Three, Do-Type Activities
• Week Five: Chapter Four, Connect-Type Activities
• Week Six: Chapter Six, Topics
• Week Seven: Chapter Seven, Lessons
• Week Eight: Chapter Eight, Strategic Decisions
• Week Nine: Chapter Ten, Visual Display

Assignments for the Course

More detail on the assignments and performance expectations are outlined in this section.

• Week One: Posting a reflection in the discussion board.
• Week Two: Submitting an assignment: Ten written lesson-level learning objectives. More information on this assignment will be posted in the Week Two Section.
• Week Three: First Content Prototype. More information on this assignment will be posted in the Week Three Section. Posting a reflection in the discussion board.
• Week Four: Second Content Example. More information on this assignment will be posted in the Week Four Section.
• Week Five: Third Content Document. More information on this assignment will be posted in the Week Four Section. Posting a reflection in the discussion board. Team Assignments will be set this week.
• Week Six: Submitting an assignment: Personal Reflection on your role this week.
• Week Seven: Submitting an assignment: Personal Reflection on your role this week.
• Week Eight: Submitting an assignment: Personal Reflection on your role this week.
• Week Nine: Submitting an assignment: Personal Reflection on your role this week.
• Week Ten: This week is reserved to turn in any uncompleted assignments and we'll share our team projects with the whole group.

Study Tips

This class is the second in the E-Learning Design and Development (ELDD) certificate sequence. By now, you should have developed study techniques making you a successful distance learning student. Here are several suggestions related to this particular class:

• Be sure to stay current with your readings. They are neither long nor complicated, but they do change every week. I recommend completing the readings early in the week before completing the assignment for the week.
• Be sure to carefully read the on-line text that is a part of the modules as well as the textbooks. There is good information included in the on-line documents.
• Also keep up with your assignments. Because there are both group and individual assignments nearly every week, it is important to you and your group that you keep up.
• If you have any problems, feel free to contact your instructor. Email works well, but your instructor is also available by phone.

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