Course Design Models
How your course is organized and how students navigate through the course are important factors of the course design. Online and hybrid courses can be designed using several different models or schemas. In Chapter 5, Bender (2012) discusses four different models for organizing an online course: thematic, chronological, by different books, or by the chapters within one book. Here are some other models to consider:
1. Linear design: Content flow is directed by the instructor. Students move from one unit or module to the next in a linear fashion. Often, later content is only revealed at specific time intervals or dates.
2. Branched design: Similar to the linear model. Content flow is directed by the instructor, however, students move to more advanced units based on the results of the preceding unit. For example, if students do well, they will be directed to the next more advanced model. If student do not do well, they will be directed to a different unit for remediation.
3. Hypercontent design: The number of modules and their content are determined in advance by the instructor, and students have to complete all of the modules; however, students have control over the order in which different modules and content within a module will be completed.
4. Learner-directed design: Students have a great deal of flexibility to choose modules and content that meet their personal goals and interests.
For this Discussion 1, think about the course you are proposing, including the content area and target student population, and explain which course design model would be the best fit and which design model would not be the most effective for your course.
Discussion 2
If necessary, please review the scenario and instructions described in Unit 1.
In Unit 3 you will complete the second of four parts of the Course Project and review your peers' work. The plan will be viewable to the instructor and your classmates, who will provide feedback to you on each component. You will have an opportunity to use this feedback and revise your proposal before a final submission.
In Part 2, you should define the course design and organization of your proposed course. You should use the textbooks, assigned readings, class interactions and your own research as reference materials for supporting each component of this proposal. Please cite references where appropriate.
Tip: Use the bullet points in each deliverable as headers in your proposal. This will ensure that you cover all of the required items and keep your proposal organized and easy to read.
In Course Proposal Part 2, address the following points:
· Course design model: Describe the model you have chosen for this course. Support your decision and explain how this model fits your content area, delivery mode, and potential learners.
· Course introduction: Introduce your course to potential learners. Include a short description of the content, organization, and expectations.
Be sure to support your proposal with sources from the course and your own research. The Kaplan University library is a good place to find reliable, scholarly resources. Please cite and reference all sources used according to APA (6th ed.) style.