Website: http://oyc.yale.edu/english
This week we were asked analyze a
course by Open Source. I chose to look at Yale, the English 300 with Professor Paul H. Fry,
William Lampson Professor of English. I thought it would be interesting to look
at English 300.
This course is carefully pre-planned
and well designed for a distance-learning environment. Starting with the design
of the site, it is inviting, the colors are visually clear and easy to read.
The colors are soft with the text standing out from the colors. The tabs are
easy to navigate without having to “hunt and peck” around for information. The
tabs are to the left, which I like because that is how we read. Pictures also
go from left to right, so the reader gets visual then is able to read the text.
The pictures match the text, professional and realistic.
As I entered the English 300 tab, there
are pictures of each professor along with a course introduction. Navigating
through the tabs there is information about the course such as; syllabus, sessions,
survey, and buy books. The tabs are easy to find and the text for each tab is
clear and concise. It is apparent that Yale offers a asynchronous learning
environment where the “students access the class at different times” (Simonson,
Smaldino, Albright, & Zvacek, 2012). Which is key for distance learning.
This course does have sections, where
they have oral discussions; the attendance is required in order to assure the
learner understands the concepts. This is the only limitation I see if a learner
limitation because there is not an on going discussion via technology, only in
person, which could challenge learners with different learning styles and
comfort levels. This course does follow the recommendations from our readings;
syllabus, course requirements, grading percentages. (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright, &
Zvacek, 2012).
Overall, I think
the Open Course many great options available for those learners who want to
continue their education without being tied to a local community college or
university.
References
Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M.,
& Zvacek, S. (2012). Teaching and learning
at a distance:
Foundations of distance education (5th ed.) Boston, MA: Pearson.
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