This presentation will explore, through design experience with online course development, rather than specific tools, the thoughtful and often unsung considerations and steps needed in order to develop rich, engaging and accessible content. Like a “physical” body, the building of an e-learning course is composed of a full set of frameworks or a skeleton on which to grow the muscle and skin of the learning experience.

Often, we begin with the idea that we can simply “copy” our face 2 face content into an online learning environment and let learners proceed at their own pace. Then we find out the reality is such that without careful, meaningful and thoughtful development, our courses fail to engage our learners for several reasons.

The design and development of a “true” E-course, whether a full course or a micro credential is an emerging space for both instructors and learners. As we make the effort to transfer our courses to online and hybrid platforms to meet the demands and needs of a new demographic, it is fundamental to take design and accessibility considerations into account from the earliest moments.

Like a body, the development of a rich, engaging online learning course requires tendons and a wide variety of “connective tissue” to hold the learning in place and to help send signals and direct motion as learners progress. From clear instruction to the development of thoughtful media or interactive elements to well-developed information, it is key to take concepts of flow, colour and text accessibility, multi-media accessibility (text to type and alt image descriptions) to deliver meaningful, rich and engaging courses.

Adam Thomas is an Educational Developer at Selkirk College