The Future of Online Courses and Instruction

What did you learn about the design of online courses this week that will affect how you think about this form of instruction in the future?


I think online instruction is still a nascent industry/method of instruction. Every aspect is new and deserving of research and investment - optimum pedagogy; the proper use of multi-media and digital tools; integration of social learning, interaction and sharing; professional development (or initial teacher development) of instructors who can take full advantage of the tools available and can still provide the personalization promised by online schooling, the acceptance of virtual schooling as a viable and credible option to face to face schooling, and more. There are multi-cultural opportunities, virtual language immersion, and a number of opportunities yet to come.

I believe there will be many companies that crop up as a result of the needs and pivots that online schooling takes. Private, individualized, personal tutors? Elluminate or Adobe Connect classes where students see and interact with each other? Handheld integration or "always on" learning? The list goes on. I doubt very much that online schooling will look like this in a few years, but this is a start!