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Converting classroom courses to online courses

  • 1.  Converting classroom courses to online courses

    Posted 11-17-2008 13:33

    Hi there,

     

    We are thinking about offering some of our courses in an online format. Do you have recommendations for articles and books that address how to do such a conversion successfully?

     

    Thanks for your help,

     

    Markus Vodosek

    ********************************
    Markus Vodosek, Ph.D.
    Assistant Professor
    Department of Management
    David Eccles School of Business
    University of Utah
    1645 E. Campus Center Drive #106
    Salt Lake City, UT 84112-9304
    Tel. (801) 585-9546
    Fax (801) 585-5966
    markvodo@business.utah.edu
    www.business.utah.edu/~mgtmv
    ********************************

     

     



  • 2.  Converting classroom courses to online courses

    Posted 11-17-2008 14:00
    Hello,
     
    One source that I found very helpful a number of years ago was a conference that I attended put on by the Instructional Technology Institute at Utah State University.  Suggest that you contact them to see if they are continuing to put on conferences on using instructional technology. They were also graduating people with that speciality. I wish that I had the money to hire some of them.
     
    Frank

    >>> Markus Vodosek <markus.vodosek@BUSINESS.UTAH.EDU> 11/17/2008 1:32:48 PM >>>

    Hi there,

     

    We are thinking about offering some of our courses in an online format. Do you have recommendations for articles and books that address how to do such a conversion successfully?

     

    Thanks for your help,

     

    Markus Vodosek

    ********************************
    Markus Vodosek, Ph.D.
    Assistant Professor
    Department of Management
    David Eccles School of Business
    University of Utah
    1645 E. Campus Center Drive #106
    Salt Lake City, UT 84112-9304
    Tel. (801) 585-9546
    Fax (801) 585-5966
    markvodo@business.utah.edu
    www.business.utah.edu/~mgtmv
    ********************************

     

     



  • 3.  Converting classroom courses to online courses

    Posted 11-17-2008 14:22

    Markus:

     

    I found The Online Teaching Guide by Ken White and Bob Weight, published in paper by Allyn and Bacon to be very helpful when I was doing online teaching.

     

    Good luck.

     

    Paul

     

    Paul L. Govekar, D. B. A.

    Assistant Professor of Management

    The James F. Dicke College of Business Administration

    Ohio Northern University

    525 South Main Street (USPS)

    4611 State Route 235 (UPS, FedEx, DHL)

    Ada, Ohio 45810

    Phone: 419-772-3124

    Fax: 419-772-3125

    p-govekar@onu.edu

     

    From: Management Education and Development Discussion [mailto:MG-ED-DV@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU] On Behalf Of Markus Vodosek
    Sent: Monday, November 17, 2008 1:33 PM
    To: MG-ED-DV@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
    Subject: Converting classroom courses to online courses

     

    Hi there,

     

    We are thinking about offering some of our courses in an online format. Do you have recommendations for articles and books that address how to do such a conversion successfully?

     

    Thanks for your help,

     

    Markus Vodosek

    ********************************
    Markus Vodosek, Ph.D.
    Assistant Professor
    Department of Management
    David Eccles School of Business
    University of Utah
    1645 E. Campus Center Drive #106
    Salt Lake City, UT 84112-9304
    Tel. (801) 585-9546
    Fax (801) 585-5966
    markvodo@business.utah.edu
    www.business.utah.edu/~mgtmv
    ********************************

     

     



  • 4.  Converting classroom courses to online courses

    Posted 11-17-2008 14:37
     
    required reading and articles are:
    Books by Ruth C. Clark
    Articles by David Merrill
     
    I don't have the specifics at hand -- but go to Amazon and search under Ruth C. Clark and you will see a several most excellent books on e-learning and technical training; Also google both folks and you find a plethora of information.
    -rr
     
    -------------- Original message --------------
    From: Markus Vodosek <markus.vodosek@BUSINESS.UTAH.EDU>

    Hi there,

     

    We are thinking about offering some of our courses in an online format. Do you have recommendations for articles and books that address how to do such a conversion successfully?

     

    Thanks for your help,

     

    Markus Vodosek

    ********************************
    Markus Vodosek, Ph.D.
    Assistant Professor
    Department of Management
    David Eccles School of Business
    University of Utah
    1645 E. Campus Center Drive #106
    Salt Lake City, UT 84112-9304
    Tel. (801) 585-9546
    Fax (801) 585-5966
    markvodo@business.utah.edu
    www.business.utah.edu/~mgtmv
    ********************************

     

     



  • 5.  Converting classroom courses to online courses

    Posted 11-17-2008 15:42
    The problem with most classroom conversions to web presentations is that they totally ignore the expectations and best practices of the web.  Writing style is different, interfaces are different.  There's probably more differences than sameness between printed info and web content.  One of the most useful, yet often ignored, differences is the ability to "Search"
     
    My recommendation w/b to stay far away from Ruth Clark.  When I read "eLearning and the Science of Instruction" I found the studies and examples to be old (approx 50% before 1991) and based on CBT.  That info would have been nice to have in the '80's but the concepts presented are not completely applicable to the web.  Marc Rosenberg has a understanding of organizing web based content.
     
    eLearning is not the same as CBT and is far removed from organizing printed materials.  Learn from current best practices on the web.  What sites present information to you in a way that you find useful?  Think about how those sites are organized and try to replicate their organization.  Learn about basic web usability and interface design concepts.
     
    Some books that have some good beginning conceptual info w/b
    "The Design of Site"
    "Managing Enterprise Content"
    "Design for Community"
    "Designing from Both Sides of the Screen"
     
    and the "bible" of usability "Don't Make Me Think"
     
    Christie Mason


  • 6.  Converting classroom courses to online courses

    Posted 11-17-2008 15:52
    Hi there.

    Look at the excellent free online journal International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning (IRRODL), www.irrodl.org.



    Best regards from Iceland.

    Ingi Runar Edvardsson
    Professor of Management
    Facutly of Business and Science
    University of Akureyri,
    Akureyri, Iceland




    ________________________________

    From: Management Education and Development Discussion on behalf of Markus Vodosek
    Sent: mán. 17.11.2008 18:32
    To: MG-ED-DV@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
    Subject: Converting classroom courses to online courses



    Hi there,



    We are thinking about offering some of our courses in an online format. Do you have recommendations for articles and books that address how to do such a conversion successfully?



    Thanks for your help,



    Markus Vodosek

    ********************************
    Markus Vodosek, Ph.D.
    Assistant Professor
    Department of Management
    David Eccles School of Business
    University of Utah
    1645 E. Campus Center Drive #106
    Salt Lake City, UT 84112-9304
    Tel. (801) 585-9546
    Fax (801) 585-5966
    markvodo@business.utah.edu <mailto:markvodo@business.utah.edu>
    www.business.utah.edu/~mgtmv <http://www.business.utah.edu/~mgtmv>
    ********************************


  • 7.  Converting classroom courses to online courses

    Posted 11-17-2008 16:17

    Hi Markus,
     A book that has proved very useful is Gilly Salmon's "e-moderating", reprinted several times since original version in 2000,now in 2nd Edition,2004,published by RoutledgeFalmer. Gilly is at the UK Open University and the material does have a bit of a UK/EU/Australian leaning.
    regards,
    tom
    Dr Tom Cockburn
    Academic Learning & Teaching Fellow
    Australian School of Business
    UNSW
    Sydney 2052
    phone:+61 2 93856182
    email:t.cockburn@unsw.edu.au


    Markus Vodosek <markus.vodosek@BUSINESS.UTAH.EDU>
    Sent by: Management Education and Development Discussion <MG-ED-DV@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU>

    18/11/2008 05:32 AM

    Please respond to
    Management Education and Development Discussion        <MG-ED-DV@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU>
    To
    		<MG-ED-DV@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU>
    cc
    Subject
    		Converting classroom courses to online courses





    Hi there,
     
    We are thinking about offering some of our courses in an online format. Do you have recommendations for articles and books that address how to do such a conversion successfully?
     
    Thanks for your help,
     
    Markus Vodosek
    ********************************
    Markus Vodosek, Ph.D.
    Assistant Professor
    Department of Management
    David Eccles School of Business
    University of Utah
    1645 E. Campus Center Drive #106
    Salt Lake City, UT 84112-9304
    Tel. (801) 585-9546
    Fax (801) 585-5966
    markvodo@business.utah.edu
    www.business.utah.edu/~mgtmv
    ********************************
     
     


  • 8.  Converting classroom courses to online courses

    Posted 11-17-2008 16:32
    Markus,
     
    A few (only semi-organised) thoughts from someone who has 12 years experience of designing distance learning courses at an AACSB accredited school which is purely distance learning:-
     
    1. If you think in terms of converting face to face learning experiences to online learning experiences they will always be less effective than the face to face equivalent. A better place to start is by considering the opportunities for learning afforded by the technologies available to you and how they are different from face to face. For example, a temptation is to replace class discussion with synchronous  online discussion as the closest alternative. In my experience synchronous technologies are good for community building and establishing relationships in the class. Asynchronous (posting to shared online forums) is often better for encouraging group reflection (especially if linked to assessment in the same way you might award class participation marks and if there are clear expectations about time period for discussion). If group work is compulsory or assessed, 4 or 5 participants is a good size for a collaborative online task. By all means raid face to face curricula and materials, but start from scratch with the design of learning activities and structures.
     
    2. What gets assessed gets done. Online students can be much less visible to you. Think in terms of assessment for learning rather than assessment of learning. Use the assessment structure to drive engagement in the learning activities.
     
    3. You need much closer attention to design and selection of learning materials. You will not be there to mediate between teaching notes or set readings and the learner.
     
    4. Think carefully about how the learners will get feedback. Your time is limited so use opportunities to build feedback into tasks and to design peer feedback into the learning process.
     
    5. Are students taking the online course so they can study alongside work. If so, this provides a great opportunity to use their work and experience as a resource for the course. They can work on their own case and on the cases of other students. You may even (like me) have students studying in a range of different countries - again this can be a resource for learning.
     
    6.  There are some great resources on the net just a click away. Since they are working at their computers these become more available than in the classroom.
     
    7. Above all the technology is not what drives the learning experience (any more than the size and shape of a classroom) it is the learning you design to go on within it, nonetheless some technologies afford and constrain certain types of learning more readily.
     
    best regards
     
    Mark
     
     
    Mark Fenton-O'Creevy
    Professor of Organisational Behaviour
    Open University Business School
    Walton Hall
    Milton Keynes MK7 6AA
    United Kingdom

    e-mail: m.p.fenton-ocreevy@open.ac.uk
    (DL) +44 (0)1908-655804
    Fax: +44 (0)1908-655898



    From: Markus Vodosek
    Sent: Mon 17/11/2008 18:32
    To: MG-ED-DV@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
    Subject: Converting classroom courses to online courses

    Hi there,

     

    We are thinking about offering some of our courses in an online format. Do you have recommendations for articles and books that address how to do such a conversion successfully?

     

    Thanks for your help,

     

    Markus Vodosek

    ********************************
    Markus Vodosek, Ph.D.
    Assistant Professor
    Department of Management
    David Eccles School of Business
    University of Utah
    1645 E. Campus Center Drive #106
    Salt Lake City, UT 84112-9304
    Tel. (801) 585-9546
    Fax (801) 585-5966
    markvodo@business.utah.edu
    www.business.utah.edu/~mgtmv
    ********************************

     

     

     

    ---------------------------------
    The Open University is incorporated by Royal Charter (RC 000391), an exempt charity in England & Wales and a charity registered in Scotland (SC 038302).


  • 9.  Converting classroom courses to online courses

    Posted 11-17-2008 17:20

    Dear Markus:

    Consider contacting Dr. James Morrison at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Nova</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Southeastern</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place>.  He is editor of Innovate an online journal for matters relating to online education (see sample below).

     

    Best,

     

     

    Ed

     

    _Innovate_ (www.innovateonline.info [1]) is published bimonthly as a public service by the Fischler School of Education and Human Services at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Nova</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Southeastern</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place> and is sponsored, in part, by Microsoft.

     

    The October/November 2008 issue includes a landmark interview describing important developments in technology-enhanced learning plus two articles on e-learning, experiential learning, and reflective participation. In our remaining articles, one reports on a study on the use of student response systems to increase classroom engagement while the other describe an analysis of student assessments of important elements in department Web sites.

     

    In the opening interview, Vijay Kumar describes network-enabled open education, a fusion of distance education with open courseware and other freely available resources that catalyzes new opportunities in endlessly customizable education. With the number, quality, and variety of freely available educational resources growing exponentially, Kumar argues that the combination of open education with the technological tools of distance learning can produce an educational experience at least as good as, and in some ways better than, traditional classroom education.(See http://innovateonline.info/index.php?view=article&id=657&action=article

    [2]) The webcast is scheduled for November 6, 2008, at 11:00 AM EDT.

     

    The second article explores the notion of participation and its role in creating rich, engaging experiential learning experiences. Sandra B. Schneider and Michael A. Evans suggest that a sociocultural understanding of the concept of participation could help instructional designers and instructors to combine experience and technology more meaningfully. (See http://innovateonline.info/index.php?view=article&id=511&action=article

    [3]) Their webcast is scheduled for November 14, 2008, at 12:00 PM EDT.

     

    In our next article, Margaret Farren takes a related approach, discussing how a reflective action research process can engage students meaningfully in their professional communities as they learn and help them define a learning process that reflects their values.

    (See

    http://innovateonline.info/index.php?view=article&id=543&action=article

    [4]) Her webcast is scheduled for October 21, 2008, at 11:00 AM EDT.

     

    Next, David J. Radosevich, Roger Salomon, Deirdre M. Radosevich, and Patricia Kahn describe a way to engage students in the traditional classroom setting, using student response systems (also known as

    "clickers") to allow students to provide feedback during the lecture.

    This kind of instant input helps reinforce key concepts and gives instructors an opportunity to gauge understanding while the lecture is in process, leading to more-targeted teaching. (See http://innovateonline.info/index.php?view=article&id=449&action=article

    [5])

     

    Finally, Trevor Hall, Ryan Jensen, and Daniel McLean assess students'

    feelings about department Web sites, producing a hierarchy of information that most students want to see and suggesting more complex organizational structures to meet the needs of different students.

    (See

    http://innovateonline.info/index.php?view=article&id=416&action=article

    [6]) Their webcast is scheduled for October 21, 2008, at 12:00 PM EDT.

     

    We have two columns this month. In Places to Go, Stephen Downes describes an intriguing experiment in open education: Connectivism & Connective Knowledge, a massive open online course offered by Downes and George Siemens through the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Manitoba</st1:placename></st1:place>. Practicing what it preaches, Connectivism & Connective Knowledge engages 35 enrolled and over 2,000 auditing students through the networks and virtual communities that it studies. It is truly an innovation that illustrates the potential of open education and Web 2.0 social applications for learning. (See http://innovateonline.info/index.php?view=article&id=668&action=article

    [7])

     

    And we introduce a new column, Innovate-Ideagora, based on Innovate's new Ning network. As a "marketplace for ideas," Innovate-Ideagora lets readers participate directly in conversations about education and information technology 24/7, thereby representing an important step in our ongoing mission to inform the educational community about innovative uses of educational technology to enhance the educational process. Membership is open to all and registration is easy and free.

    Read this month's inaugural column for more information, then head to http://innovate-ideagora.ning.com [8], create your profile, and join the conversation! (See http://innovateonline.info/index.php?view=article&id=653&action=article

    [9])

     

    If you are considering submitting a manuscript describing how you use Microsoft technology to enhance the educational experience for publication consideration in the From our Sponsors section, please make sure that it conforms to the publication guidelines described at the Contribute link on Innovate's navigation bar.

     

    We hope that you enjoy this issue of Innovate. Please use the discussion board within each article to raise questions or provide additional commentary. Your comments will be sent to authors for their response, which will become part of the record for their article.

    Also, please ask your organizational librarian to include Innovate in their section for open-access journals.

     

    Thanks!

     

    Jim

    ----

    James L Morrison

    Editor-in-Chief, _Innovate_

    http://www.innovateonline.info

    Fischler School of Education and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Human</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Services</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Nova</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Southeastern</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place> http://www.schoolofed.nova.edu/home.htm [10]

     

     

    Links:

    ------

    [1] http://innovateonline.info/www.innovateonline.info

    [2]

    http://innovateonline.info/index.php?view=article&id=657&action=article

    [3]

    http://innovateonline.info/index.php?view=article&id=511&action=article

    [4]

    http://innovateonline.info/index.php?view=article&id=543&action=article

    [5]

    http://innovateonline.info/index.php?view=article&id=449&action=article

    [6]

    http://innovateonline.info/index.php?view=article&id=416&action=article

    [7]

    http://innovateonline.info/index.php?view=article&id=668&action=article

    [8] http://innovate-ideagora.ning.com

    [9]

    http://innovateonline.info/index.php?view=article&id=653&action=article

    [10] http://www.schoolofed.nova.edu/home.htm

     

    ---------------------------

    Please note: You are receiving this message because you have subscribed to the journal Innovate. If you would like to opt out of such announcements in the future, please visit our account management page at http://www.innovateonline.info/index.php?view=unsubscribe to update your preferences.

     

     

     

    From: Management Education and Development Discussion [mailto:MG-ED-DV@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU] On Behalf Of Markus Vodosek
    Sent: Monday, November 17, 2008 2:33 PM
    To: MG-ED-DV@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
    Subject: Converting classroom courses to online courses

     

    Hi there,

     

    We are thinking about offering some of our courses in an online format. Do you have recommendations for articles and books that address how to do such a conversion successfully?

     

    Thanks for your help,

     

    Markus Vodosek

    ********************************
    Markus Vodosek, Ph.D.
    Assistant Professor
    Department of Management
    <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">David</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Eccles</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">School</st1:placetype></st1:place> of Business
    <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Utah</st1:placename></st1:place>
    <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">1645 E. Campus Center Drive #106</st1:address></st1:street>
    <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Salt Lake City</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">UT</st1:state> <st1:postalcode w:st="on">84112-9304</st1:postalcode></st1:place>
    Tel. (801) 585-9546
    Fax (801) 585-5966
    markvodo@business.utah.edu
    www.business.utah.edu/~mgtmv
    ********************************

     

     



  • 10.  Converting classroom courses to online courses

    Posted 11-17-2008 23:05
    I would take exception on the note below regarding Ruth Clark. She has recently updated the book -- not sure when -- but in the last five or six years I think. Even so, there is good information regarding issues around instructional design.
    -rr
     
    -------------- Original message --------------
    From: Christie Mason <CMason@MANAGERSFORUM.COM>
    The problem with most classroom conversions to web presentations is that they totally ignore the expectations and best practices of the web.  Writing style is different, interfaces are different.  There's probably more differences than sameness between printed info and web content.  One of the most useful, yet often ignored, differences is the ability to "Search"
     
    My recommendation w/b to stay far away from Ruth Clark.  When I read "eLearning and the Science of Instruction" I found the studies and examples to be old (approx 50% before 1991) and based on CBT.  That info would have been nice to have in the '80's but the concepts presented are not completely applicable to the web.  Marc Rosenberg has a understanding of organizing web based content.
     
    eLearning is not the same as CBT and is far removed from organizing printed materials.  Learn from current best practices on the web.  What sites present information to you in a way that you find useful?  Think about how those sites are organized and try to replicate their organization.  Learn about basic web usability and interface design concepts.
     
    Some books that have some good beginning conceptual info w/b
    "The Design of Site"
    "Managing Enterprise Content"
    "Design for Community"
    "Designing from Both Sides of the Screen"
     
    and the "bible" of usability "Don't Make Me Think"
     
    Christie Mason


  • 11.  Converting classroom courses to online courses

    Posted 11-18-2008 12:15

    Colleagues,

     

    I had a different reaction to Clark & Mayer's book.  Many of the principles they tested with data are not likely to be dated, as they suggest how to maximize learning outcomes given the limitations posed by how people process information.  And the principles are based on nearly a lifetime's worth of experimental work by Richard Mayer.  So the design advice they present is empirically-based and, assuming that how we process information hasn't changed much in our lifetime, still current.

     

    Design principles for good web design can be very useful, but aren't they typically driven as much by aesthetics and efficiency as anything else?  In other words, these folks have different priorities.  When we design a learning environment, I think aesthetics and efficiency are important, but we also want to design with an eye toward learning.  Clark and Mayer provide advice specifically for that outcome.  So I'd suggest looking at both the science of instruction (e.g., Clark & Mayer and others) and web site usability!  Both add value albeit in different ways.

     

    I'd also like to suggest, if you are repurposing MBA courses, that you review Ben Arbaugh and colleagues work at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.  Ben has  published a number of papers based on his institutions experience teaching on-line.  They are some good lessons learned from their experience.  See http://www.business.uwosh.edu/other/facultystaff/faculty/arbaugh.php

     

    Ken

     

    ~~~~~~~~~~~
    Kenneth G. Brown, Ph.D.
    Associate Professor and Henry B. Tippie Research Fellow
    Associate Editor, Academy of Management Learning & Education
    Henry B. Tippie College of Business
    The University of Iowa
    Iowa City, IA 52242
    Ph: 319.335.3812  Fx: 319.335.1956

    From: Management Education and Development Discussion [mailto:MG-ED-DV@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU] On Behalf Of Christie Mason
    Sent: Monday, November 17, 2008 2:42 PM
    To: MG-ED-DV@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
    Subject: Re: Converting classroom courses to online courses

     

    The problem with most classroom conversions to web presentations is that they totally ignore the expectations and best practices of the web.  Writing style is different, interfaces are different.  There's probably more differences than sameness between printed info and web content.  One of the most useful, yet often ignored, differences is the ability to "Search"

     

    My recommendation w/b to stay far away from Ruth Clark.  When I read "eLearning and the Science of Instruction" I found the studies and examples to be old (approx 50% before 1991) and based on CBT.  That info would have been nice to have in the '80's but the concepts presented are not completely applicable to the web.  Marc Rosenberg has a understanding of organizing web based content.

     

    eLearning is not the same as CBT and is far removed from organizing printed materials.  Learn from current best practices on the web.  What sites present information to you in a way that you find useful?  Think about how those sites are organized and try to replicate their organization.  Learn about basic web usability and interface design concepts.

     

    Some books that have some good beginning conceptual info w/b

    "The Design of Site"

    "Managing Enterprise Content"

    "Design for Community"

    "Designing from Both Sides of the Screen"

     

    and the "bible" of usability "Don't Make Me Think"

     

    Christie Mason