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Welcome to this section on guidelines for developing e-learning courses at George Brown College. Its purpose is to assist you with your task of developing blended or fully online course materials in a way that will enhance student learning.
Good online course development is, like all good course development, based on sound principles of curriculum design. In addition, there are specific considerations related to the online environment that need to be taken into account.
Before You Begin ….
Ask yourself the following questions:
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Do I have a good knowledge of curriculum principles?
It is strongly recommended that you take the WIDS (World Wide Instructional Design System) training as a way of broadening your understanding of elements related to curriculum design. Faculty who have taken WIDS training tend to be better prepared, and more able to proceed with online course development.
To arrange for WIDS training, contact Staff Development at (416) 415-5000 ex 4661.
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Who are the learners?
Do I know the characteristics of the learners for whom I am designing this course?
Has there been a thorough assessment of the need for this online course?
Who would be interested in taking this course?
What access to technology, and what computer skills will the learners likely have?
What learner characteristics do I know related to age, gender, cultural background, language skills, writing skills, other life commitments etc.?
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Do I have effective writing skills?
You do not have to be a professional writer to develop an online course.
You do have to be able to write in a way that provides clarity and fosters understanding of concepts.
Some people find writing an extremely difficult task. If you are one of these people developing an online course may not be the best activity for you. This does not mean that you could not be an excellent online facilitator.
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Can I meet deadlines?
Developing online course materials always takes more time and effort than originally anticipated. There will be time limitations on your work. You will need to be able to manage your time efficiently in order to complete this task.
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Do I have, or can I develop the required technical skills?
Most online courses take place through the Course Management Tool WebCT. You will need to know how to use this tool before attempting to facilitate an online course.
Generally, it is recommended that the course developer be allotted the following release time:
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