7 Key Elements of an Excellent Online Course

The global online learning market has exploded in recent years. The web, or so it seems, promises access to everything to everything, although this isn't always a good thing. Valued at around $315 billion, the global learning industry is expected to peak at $1 trillion in 2028. 

On one hand, this thriving, competitive space makes for a growing range of choice for the learner but, on the other, it also allows for online courses that are over-priced and over-promising on what they deliver.

There are several pros to learning online, all of which can be applied to everything from learning to knit to learning how to timetable like a pro:

 Flexible - to a certain degree (and that's an important caveat) online learning can be flexible. It depends on the structure of the course, obviously. Sign up for a course with little tutor interaction and yes, you can take 12 months to complete it. Our recorded courses offer this but we do also offer a support structure around it. generally speaking, however, these access-when-you-can-or-want courses, also known as self-paced, are ideal for learners new to the topic. 

 Surroundings - "learn from the comfort of your sofa"  is another common pro on online learning. There is no doubt that online learning and teaching, to a certain extent, allows for students to complete courses from the comfort of their home, sofa, kitchen table etc. 

 Accessible - there is a long history of discussion and debate on how to make learning accessible. Teaching and delivering online learning still needs to meet the needs of students hence quality online learning providers will ensure accessibility. 

 Integral to continuing professional development - the range of topics for online courses is vast and there is bound to be a course at the right level that appeals.

 Reduced cost - cost is not always an indicator of quality but there is no doubt that online courses tend to be more competitively priced than some in-person events.

Of course, there are disadvantages too. Some people feel disconnected, preferring the support they get with in-person teaching and learning. It can be harder to engage with your peers too. However, the quality on online delivery is improving and as you'll see, we work hard to lessen the barriers to online learning.

Before you leap and enrol, committing a chunk of your time and your departmental training budget, what should you look for? 

There should be plenty of information available pre-enrolment as to what the course covers, how it does this and what the end goals are for students. Key information from the course content should also be available but bear in mind that no online learning provider will provide all this information pre-enrolment or payment. This is sensitive information in that providers won't want to give this away!

If you feel you need more information on the course content and its suitability, look for how easy it is to contact the provider. This also gives you a flavour of whether the provider is student-centric in what it delivers or is merely about selling courses. 

Learning new skills can be challenging, in fact there is a theory that learning should be challenging. Known as desirable difficulty, this is where we are stretched ‘just enough’ to learn without being swamped. But all to often, online courses are simplistic, allowing students to move through modules without really challenging their newfound skill set.

This is where students make the first move. It assumes that the student what to learn and will do so by seeking out relevant information. We design our courses that students are encouraged to do just that - seek out information, apply the theory they are learning but also to practice their practical skill set too.

Or, as we prefer to think of it, sticky learning. We genuinely want people to learn, retain and apply their new found skills, practical and theoretical, so that they enjoy their role as Space Manager or Timetabling Specialist. And that means presenting our online courses in such a way that this knowledge is sticky.

From bite-sized sessions within modules to small breakout groups, our facilitators use a veritable range of tools and activities to maintain the interest of learners, and promote their learning.

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, or so the saying goes. Essentially, with only scant knowledge, we can be led into thinking that there is nothing more to know or learn on a given topic.

Life happens. Most of the time, it rumbles OK perfectly well. Most of our students complete our courses alongside their busy ‘day job’, social and family lives. We want everyone who joins our courses to enjoy them, to take something away with them but also to achieve the certification of attendance, if that’s what they want to do.

Online learning is here to stay. It provides an accessible and useful platform for learners to grow and to enjoy their learning.

But not all online courses are created equal. What support will the provider offer is you can’t access the technology? Are there CPD points attached to the course? Who designed it, and who is delivering it? Answer these questions and look for all these elements, and the possibility is, the online course is worth the time, money, and effort.