Moving Learning Design Forward

I constantly read about new design ideas, new technologies and the implementation of social media into education. However, at least in part of the world, I rarely find more than text based online courses, that primarily point to course readings with discussion forums time and time again at a post-secondary level.

Working in this world I find faculty very reluctant to move outside of their comfort zone and explore new approaches to learning. Even though we can reassure faculty that their time commitment does not need to be extensive I find that the advances in technology themselves are overwhelming for most.

What are the BIG ideas in e-learning we need to get faculty to embrace?

1, I think we need to have them view technology as not a different way to teach but a way to
teach learners in a manner that could not otherwise by reached in the classroom. What can e-learning provide that classroom instruction cannot? Often as instructional designers I don't think we present e-learning in this manner to instructors.

2. Teaching in the classroom is different than teaching online. Not all good classroom strategies work well online.

3. Multimodal learning. One of the greatest selling features of e-learning is that we can present the same content using different learning paths.

4. When planning instruction consider:

• How will the students interact with other students
• How will the students interact with the instructor
• How will the students interact with the content

5. In e-learning there needs to be a movement for passive learning to active learning. Student engagement is important to e-learning success.