How do you structure your online Course to Get the Most Engaging Students

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    Find out how you can structure your online course to ensure that students are engaged until the end of the course and increase results in learning. We'll cover five methods to help you get maximum value from the content of your courses!

WHAT'S IN THE INSIDE          Toggle

• 1. Structure for Progressive Learning
•       Example of a Course Structured for Progressive Learning
•       How to Structure Your Course for Progressive Learning
• 2. Break Content into “Microlearning-Modules”
•       What are Micro-learning Modules?
• 3. Set Clear Learning Objectives
•       How to Set Clear, Measurable Objectives
•       Example Objectives for a Sample Course Module
• 4. Use Multimedia
•       Types of Multimedia
• 5. Provide Regular Assessments and Feedback
•       Types of Assessments
•       Tips for Giving Constructive Feedback
•     Wrapping Up

Most of us have been there: you start a course full of enthusiasm and great intentions, however somewhere along the way it becomes difficult to maintain your focus. Life gets busy, priorities change, and in no time, the course is left unfinished.

Consider your own students. Knowing why they are disengaged helps you to identify the underlying causes behind disengagement.

How you design your online course plays a big role in keeping them on the right track to the time of graduation.

In this post we'll discuss practical methods you can counteract the causes of disengagement with a strong online learning structure.

Without further ado Here are five ways to organize your online course for maximum participation and better learning outcomes:

1. The Structure of Progressive Learning

    Cause of disengagement: The course content doesn't adhere to a logic sequence.  

Students should feel as though each lesson of a module builds naturally on preceding lessons. While they progress through the curriculum, they need to have the ability to apply what they learned from earlier lessons and apply it to the ones they're taking right now.

This kind of structure helps students to see the value that they have achieved, making them more motivated to continue engaging with the content.

A Course Example Structured to facilitate learning through progressive progression

Imagine you're creating a module for beginners learning English. The first step is to teach the basics of vocabulary like man woman, dog cat apple, water and the.

In the following lesson it is possible to teach the conjugation of present tense of common verbs such as "eat," "drink," and "see."

You'll then bring the two together through teaching your students to make simple sentences such as "The man eats an apple."

In just three short lessons, your students can create full sentences and immediately implement their new knowledge. It's A gratifying and encouraging milestone.

How to organize your course for Progressive Learning

So, how do you break down your course for progressive learning?

1. Start with the Fundamentals  
    Begin by introducing the foundational ideas or concepts your students need to understand before moving on to more complicated subjects. For example, in the English learning section, teaching vocabulary is the first stage.
2. Create Gradually  
    When the basic concepts have been established, it's time to add layers of complexity. Every lesson should build on previous ones, giving students the chance to apply what they've previously learned. For example, after learning vocabulary, teach verb conjugation before moving on into sentence construction.
3. Offers Potential for Application  
    Plan your lesson to include the students in activities or exercises where they can apply what they've learned. This could be as simple as asking them to write sentences with new words or tackle a problem using their new abilities.
4. Focus on Small achievable wins  
    Cut your lesson into smaller chunks that can be mastered, each of which has a distinct purpose or takeaway. When you've finished each lesson, students should experience satisfaction that motivates them to keep going.
5.   Utilize a Congruent Framework  
    Each module should follow a predictable format, such as:

• The Introduction The lessons they'll take.
• Content Delivery Learn the idea or skill.
• Application: Provide a task or an exercise.
• Examine: Summarize the key points.

If you follow these guidelines, you can create modules and lessons where students are left feeling content that they've made good progress and gained something useful.

2. Break Content into "Microlearning-Modules"

    Reasons for not engaging: Lessons take up too much time  

The content of your online course is up against:

a) decreasing attention spans
2.) the students' other priorities and commitments, as well as
C) countless distractions, both electronic and physical, that diminish how much time they can spend learning every day.

In order to keep your students interested, structure your course so it fits seamlessly into their hectic lives. Through breaking down material into smaller, more manageable segments, you can give them control over the amount (or the amount) they are able to tackle at a time.

This helps them get through the process without feeling overwhelmed or tempted to quit completely.

What are Micro-learning Modules?

Micro-learning is a popular approach for education. It restructures the course into manageable, bite-sized pieces. This method empowers students to determine the pace they want and to absorb the content without being overwhelmed.

Here's how to create efficient micro-learning courses:

• Lessons should be short and clear Ideally, 5-10 minutes per lesson.
• Break down complex subjects into subtopics that are smaller and more focused.
• Make sure you have a clear and concise takeaway for each course to reduce the amount of cognitive stress.
• Use bullet points to make content attractive and simple to navigate.

This entire article is on how to break the content of your courses into micro-learning modules that you can access by clicking the link below.

3. Set Clear Learning Objectives

    The reason for the disengagement is unclear goal and the direction of the lessons  

In creating an online class, you probably have put some thought about what you would like your students to accomplish. That similar determination will help to sell your course. The value is what drew students in and made students excited about enrolling.

Now, it's important to follow the same principles for each lesson and module..

Clearly outlining what students will learn by the end of each lesson keeps your content focused and logical. In addition the students are assured that every step they take is meaningful and valuable.

How to Establish clear, measurable objectives:

1. Make It Clear  
    It is important to clearly define what you would like students to learn. Be sure to avoid vague words and concentrate on the specific knowledge or skills.
2. Be measurable  
    Be sure the objectives are measured by assessments, quizzes, or practical activities. This allows you to track how far you've come and to determine whether the objectives are being met.
3. be attainable  
    Set realistic objectives that students will be able to meet within the timeframe and with the resources provided.
4. Be Relevant  
    The objectives should be aligned to the general goals of the program and ensure that they meet the students' interests and needs.
5. Be Time-Bound  
    Specify a timeframe for achieving your goals, either by the time you finish a course, lesson, or course.

Examples of Objectives for a Example Course Module

 Course Module The course will introduce you to Digital Marketing

1.   Goal 1  
    By the end of this module, students will know the most important digital marketing terms such as SEO, PPC, as well as content marketing.

• It is measurable by A test on the terms used in digital marketing.

1.   Objective 2  
    Students will be able to identify the main components of a strategy for digital marketing.

• Measurable through: A short written task where students sketch out an essential digital marketing strategy.

1.   Goal 3  
    Students will be able to evaluate the SEO performance of a site by using metrics and tools.

• It is measurable through: A practical exercise where students use an SEO tool to evaluate an example website.

1.   4. Objective  
    Students can make a basic PPC campaign using Google Ads.

• Measurable by: An interactive project in which students create the PPC campaign that has clearly defined targets and keywords.

Through setting clear, measurable learning goals,you provide your students with a well-defined and clear course to follow. This helps them they remain motivated and comprehend the value of each step in their learning journey.

The clear objectives will aid you in your role as an instructor to keep in sync with the objectives of the class,creating a more effective and engaging learning experience for everyone.

4. Make use of Multimedia

    Reasons for detachment: The content does not cater to various types of learning  

Videos are the most well-known method to present course material due to a variety of reasons.

1. Highly engaging Video content grabs and keep your attention for longer than written material.
   
2. Demonstrations and visual Aids: Videos are perfect for showing demonstrations or processes that are hard to describe in words.
   
3. Creates Connection The ability to see and hear instructors makes learning experience feel more personal.
   
4. easily adaptable: Video content can be reused to promote marketing

While video may be the preferred type of media, you must think about adding other types that cater to diverse learning preferences and help in the process of absorbing information.

Different types of Multimedia

1. Text-Based Content

Utilize documents, written guides or PDFs to help students who like reading or need references that are easy to glance through.

Ideal for capturing key information or giving additional information or context.

• Example: A downloadable PDF that includes a week's meal plan, complete with basic recipes and shopping lists.

2. Interactive Elements

They can also aid in learning and test understanding.

• Example The quiz will require students to find out the foods that are high in certain vitamins or minerals, for example, Vitamin C as well as Omega-3s.

Watch >>> How you can add a test to the course (Full tutorial)

3. Infographics as well as Visual Summaries

Use charts, diagrams, and infographics to help break down complicated information into manageable visually-oriented formats.

Great for students who enjoy seeing connections or hierarchies on a glance.

• Example: An infographic illustrating the benefits of different food groups. For instance, how leafy greens boost energy levels, whole grains help digestion, and healthy fats support brain function.

4. Audio Content

Offer audio files that can be downloaded, such as podcasts or narrated classes for learners who are auditory or students who prefer learning on the move.

Perfect for students who want to keep their ears open while working such as during a commute.

• Example Example: A podcast episode discussing how to build healthy meals, or how to be mindful eating during busy schedules.

5. Downloadable Worksheets

Use templates, workbooks, or homework assignments for students to use to test their knowledge.

Helps reinforce learning through practice and self-reflection.

• Example: A worksheet to track eating and emotions for reflection on eating habits that are emotional triggers.

WATCH >> HOW TO SHARE DOWNLOADABLE files to your members (W/ DOWNLOADS)

6. Webinars and Live Sessions

This adds a sense of community and allows for instant clarification of questions.

5. Provide Regular Assessments and Feedback

Reasons for disengagement: Lack of accountability

Accountability plays a huge role in ensuring that students remain committed towards their studies.

If your students aren't feeling a sense of accountability, it's easy for them to leave your course.

Regularly scheduled assessments can solve this by creating checkpoints that help students stay in the right direction and track their progress.

It's equally important to provide feedback. A personalized feedback, no matter how brief, shows students you're committed to the success of their learning. This builds a stronger bond and encourages them to persevere.

Types of Assessments

Quizzes: As well as providing a fun and interactive component on your site, the quizzes which allow self-assessment offer students the opportunity to assess their skills, pinpoint areas that need improvement, as well as reinforce important ideas.

Discussion Participation: The evaluation of participation on discussions boards and live Q&A sessions can encourage more active involvement and better comprehension of the content.

Strategies for Giving Positive Feedback

1. Be Specific  
    Give clear, precise feedback that helps highlight strengths and areas for improvement. Avoid vague comments.
2. Be Timely  
    Provide feedback immediately following the test. The timely feedback can help students learn from their mistakes and correct errors while the information remains fresh.
3. Make Sure  
    Start with positive comments to increase confidence prior to addressing the areas that need improvements. This can help maintain motivation for students.
4. Be constructive  
    Give practical tips for improvement rather than just pointing out mistakes. Give the reasons why something isn't working and how it can be changed.
5. Be Balanced  
    Offer a mix of positive and negative feedback. Acknowledge what the student did good and highlight what isn't working.

Assessments and feedback help students take ownership of their progress. If they can see clearly defined checkpoints and get meaningful input this reinforces the notion that the work they do is important and that they're responsible to their own learning.

Closing Up

This article has discussed how you can structure your online course so that the students remain engaged and happiness, and as a result, improves results in learning.

We've discussed that taking a look at what your students will experience in your course can help you prepare them for success.

Consider the obstacles that your students will encounter, and then think of ways you can accommodate them to give them the greatest chance to stick through to their goal - to complete your course!

The following article outlines five of these issues and discussed real-world solutions you could apply for your online course structure. Here's a recap:

1. Make sure your course adheres to a logical sequencethat helps students apply the new information they have learned.
2. Make use of " micro-learning" in order to help students learn in a manner that is compatible to their schedules, commitments, and schedules
3. Each lesson should have a specific reason for each lesson, with explicit learning objectives
4. Respond to different learning styles by using a variety of media
5. Hold students accountable with assessment and individual feedback

It's now up to you to apply these actionable strategies to your class design and determine what's the best for your students.

Tell us what your experience is, and which of the elements do you intend to incorporate into your online course structure. Leave us a comment on the form that follows.

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Victoria Lloyd       Victoria has a knack for turning small beginnings into big achievements, and has taken her jewelry business out of the pulsating atmosphere of London's street markets up to more prestigious locations such as the Royal Academy of Arts and the Topshop's Oxford Circus flagship store. The expertise she has isn't limited to physical items. Victoria is a pro-active experience of increasing the online presence of a range of companies. From innovative startups to household names like Nokia as well as Jack Daniels, Victoria has employed her unique combination of wordsmithing along with strategic thinking and digital savvy to ramp the engagement of brands as well as SEO. At , Victoria leverages her diverse knowledge to deconstruct and simplify the web-based membership industry as well as business growth. She's here to guide users with her exclusive knowledge, assisting them in successfully and effectively build their communities online and membership sites.