Online Course Design Tips for Boosting Learner Autonomy With Synchronous and Asynchronous Tools

Abstract

Online learning can be useful for designing instruction with its asynchronous or synchronous forms. The teachers can reduce time and space limitations and support learners with additional materials in a cost-effective way. However, online learning heavily depends on learner characteristics/profile and course design. Even though it provides the flexibility of designing courses for different learner needs, motivation and learner responsibility remain unsolved problems. On the other hand, we can boost learner's autonomy with our course design. Autonomous learner profile is a perfect fit for online learning because of the flexibility for the learners. In this chapter, the authors define learner autonomy, describe its role in online course design, go over key elements in online course design and management, and give design tips for boosting learner autonomy in both synchronous and asynchronous online courses.

Key technologies and case implementation of online course

“…Online courses adopt database technology supporting high concurrent storage and access to store information data of massive student users and teaching resources [25]. Asynchronous or synchronous models can enable students to control the learning process independently, or realize real‐time interaction between teachers and students [1, 6]. A variety of teaching resources, such as video animation and in‐class quizzes, stimulate the interest of students in the course and their thinking on knowledge points and help students to deepen their cognition of the subject and build a complete knowledge system [12].…”