"Online Course Design" is one of a series of training courses oriented towards e-learning educators,jointly developed by the Open University of China (OUC) and the Open University, UK (OUUK). After only seven weeks of online learning, the course helps learners learn the basics of online course design, including designing a well-targeted, unique online course based on the learning experience of their students, so as to better respond to the challenge of online education.

In 2012, with the rise of MOOCs, the popularity of online study increased, meaning that the need for “grassroots” teachers who can design their own courses or participate in lesson design was increasing at the same time. Online courses are not only a form of online learning content, they also help teachers to lecture or communicate with learners from remote location over the Internet. Learners can, in turn, interact with and encourage each other and form communities, which also fits the core spirit of MOOCs.

“Online Course Design” encourages “grassroots” teachers to attempt to design their own lessons. Teachers can learn the process from scratch. The course allows them to experience popular online courses by understanding the need for online learning, and the value and connotation of online courses. They can learn how to integrate creativity, design principles and tools and use them in the process of course design. Through this, they make their courses or other people’s courses more flexible, open and interconnected. The course does not include much text content for each unit. Instead, it is more focused on practical activities, which are closely linked to the learning objectives, including online reading, case analysis and discussion, peer evaluation, activity design, Moodle course construction, and practical training.

The course employs a number of professional and experienced tutors (including the most popular teachers with students), who give careful guidance for learners in the learning process. Since the course launched,training for 608 learners has been fulfilled. Some major changes have been made to improve the practicability of the course in the 2.0 version, which won praise from the students. Currently, the course is still being updated in accordance with the needs of the students.

As the scale of online education continues to grow, online courses will be one of the main sources of learning content. Not sure if you have the skills needed to design an online course on your own?  Don’t worry. Follow “Online Course Design”to create your very first online class. We are waiting for you.

(OUC Curriculum Group Members: Lin Xiuqin, Zhang Meilan, Cheng Gang, Feng Liguo, Cui Naipeng, Chen Shougang)


                                                                                                        By Lin Xiuqin,the OUC