12a – Virtual Campus

Here we intend to guide you through the total process of design, development and delivery of the learning experiences. You will be guided through the various elements of a module that is developed on an e-learning platform. We will use examples from modules developed on CANVAS and throughout, you will be prompted to develop your own online module as we go through the process. You will also be introduced to a suitable online module quality assessment rubric

Instructional Design

During the design of the module, you must attempt to account for three important components; Learning Objectives, Learning Activities and Assessments.
Learning objectives will explicitly state what the students should be able to do at the end of completing each lesson or module.
Th learning objectives will then inform the types of activities to be chosen for the module.
The learning objectives will also inform the types of assessments and the difficultly level they should be set.
Instructional Design Theories and Models
As an instructional designer it is worthwhile to review the the theories and models that are popular.
Bloom’s Taxonomy is a popular Model. We recommend that you revisit your old books and review it before you start your module design and development.
Bloom’s Taxonomy is useful because you can use it to:
1. Assess a learner’s current level of knowledge
2. Create training specifically designed to move them up to the next level
3. Frame learning objectives, activities, and assessments around the verbs provided by Bloom to make learning measurable
ADDIE is another instructional design framework used by instructional designers to develop training courses. It involves five main phases; Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation.
We also recommend you to do a through reading on this Model before you get started in developing your module on the LMS.

Another approach that we suggest is the Design Thinking.
This is a philosophy and a process that focuses on the user, challenges, assumptions, and redefines problems in an attempt to identify alternative strategies and solutions that might not be immediately apparent with an initials level of understanding.
This method also involves five phases; Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype and Test
Creating a Module / Topic Narrative
After having built your understanding of theory behind online module development, and before you actually get to the process, one important thing that you must figure out is your MODULE NARRATIVE
Module narrative helps you create context, connections, and real world applications so the learner can better understand and retain the information you are presenting.

Module narrative will help you to:
1. Create a an overall structure that will make it easier for the learner to navigate the course. Create a structure where learners will se a logical progression forward and how each section is connected.
2. Establishing an emotional real-world connection to the content. This will help students to remember and apply the information learnt.
3. Provide the learner the opportunity to visualize a wider scope of the discipline while allowing the learner to focus in on significant smaller details, This way the leaner could make use of what was learnt in meaningful ways later in the future.
here are some tips that you can take with you when you are developing your curse narratives:
1. use your COURSE GOALS to create an overall structure: For example if your module is about progression of technology over time, then use a chronological structure.
2. Address the AUDIENCE. Adapt the context to fit to the context that your learners are familiar with.
3. Use CONVERSATIONAL LANGUAGE.
4. Let students FEEL YOUR PRESENCE with a personal touch in your written communications.
5. CREATE SCENARIOS to connect with the real world wherever possible.
GETTING STARTED

Now that we have laid some basics, lets get down to making our module. Click Continue to go to the next page