“Dreaming the Impossible Dream: A Completely Customizable Online Course”

Dr. Laura Yost & Alan PeterkaDistance Learning

Defining the Starting Point

"UCLA:X = UCLA:Xtreme! This course represents the first customizable

ATAW offering at Kirkwood - meaning students have the option to choose

which projects they complete."

Customizable: a coursein which, with some instructor-

provided structure, students can select the content they study

Customizable: more than just permitting selection of paper

topics. Meaningful control of one’s learning path.

Benefits

ChallengesConsiderations

Examples

Sources

Where To Go From Here?

Useful Tools

The Benefits of Customizing

• Empowers enrolled students• Promotes intellectual creativity • Focuses on flexible content• Breaks grading monotony• Respectful of values• Thought and introspection• Displays breadth of fields• Disruptive innovation

Considerations When Customizing

• Information-intensive• Communication-intensive• Standardizing essential• Foster relationships• Course outcomes• Minds change

Approaches to Customizing

• Select umbrella units by topic • Create patterned projects• Expand ideas of assessment• Collaborative, democratic• Learning styles• Bloom’s or other taxonomy

Approaches to Customizing

Challenges to Customizing

• Content development• Balanced unit exercises• General working confusion• Option overload• Grading• High enrollment

Examples of Customizing

Examples of Customizing

Examples of Customizing

Customizing Sources

Some Useful Customizing Tools

Brainstorming About CustomizingChoose one or more of the following…

• How many words/phrases can you think of to describe the act of learning?• What choices could be offered when

teaching others your favorite card game?• Draw a sketch depicting the depth &/or

breadth of your subject.• Write down the hard choices you made

today – how did you decide?• Describe a metaphor for choice infused

course work.

laura.yost@kirkwood.edualan.peterka@kirkwood.edu

Q&A