Want to build a good online course? 1. think about the goals of your course Learning and knowing are different things. We learn every day — through experience — but many of the things we “know,” are decontextualized facts that the school said are important to memorize. To turn your classroom course into an engaging, effective online course, you must ask yourself about the utility of what you teach. 2. ask what people should be able to do after they have taken your course When you teach someone to play the piano, having them play something well is the ultimate goal. When you teach a kid to play soccer, one goal is scoring a goal. No kid will learn to do anything unless you force them by using the threats of tests and grades. You need to fascinate them. 3. find the experts are Letting students ask questions and having experts answer is possible in good online education. Find experts and record their stories. These video answers can then be incorporated into the course. 4. ask what the course is really for Forcing students to do something to fulfill a requirement which doesn’t interest doesn't work online. A good course must make it clear to students that they will learn to do something they want to do and that they will receive the help they need to succeed.
