What are the key elements a teacher should consider when designing effective and engaging e-learning opportunities?

Abstract

As education practices continue to move into online learning spaces the need for educators to be trained for the e-learning environment is of paramount importance. The intention of this Masters project was to provide the knowledge, skills as well as an example of this training to address my critical challenge question: What key elements should an educator consider when designing and delivering effective and engaging e-learning opportunities? I created an online course titled Learn2TeachOnline where educators could participate as a student in an online course while learning some of the essential considerations needed for online education. The course, created in the Moodle Learning Management System and hosted by Canadian eLearning Network (CANeLearn), was designed to take approximately two weeks to complete. Initial feedback regarding the course as a tool for educators to learn how to teach in the online environment was very positive. Applying some sort of credentialing, as well as approaching educational institutions in both the public and private sector, could broaden the reach of the course to many educators. Further investigation and research around connected e-learning opportunities such as blended learning and mobile learning would be encouraged.