It is time to set up a new eLearning course. That sounds simple enough, at least in theory.
- Sit down, draw up objectives for what the course is expected to convey to students.
- Get curriculum prepared to meet those objectives.
- Prepare assessments to determine how effective you were in presenting information to those who participated in the eLearning course.
And you might think you're ready....
But, not really!
You have to make sure your course is designed taking into consideration how students learn best.
Research has proved that the order and organization of learning activities affect the way information is processed and retained (Glynn & DiVesta, 1977; Lorch & Lorch, 1985; Van Patten, Chao, & Reigeluth, 1986).
Text-Organization Effect
The concept refers to the effects that the structural elements of the course have on the information learners encode and remember. This effect relies on the fact that learners’ comprehension is influenced by the text structure used to convey the information. Moreover, it says that our brains like the organization of information, which is why chapters, outlines, and sections are highly recommended as an instructional method.
To properly organize and sequence content, you’ll first need to consider:
- How to use concept or mind-mapping for analyzing content (to determine which concepts build on others and should be presented first, and know how much to include and what to eliminate.)
- Get to know your learners (These 27 Questions Will Help You (Really) Know Your Learners)
- And...Answer these 7 questions before choosing a structure