Online course design is often focused on the organization and dissemination of content while the user experience is easy to overlook. This session explores and demonstrates the practical use of narrative in designing and running an online course. While there are a variety of approaches to online course design, the narrative approach is particularly useful in providing students with a framework and structure that makes intuitive sense, thereby reducing anxiety. Emphasis is placed on creating a flow and maintaining a sense of structure even when the student is faced with multiple options. This session will discuss narrative structure in online design, and will also demonstrate practical solutions and best practices using various Web 2.0 tools within a narrative context. Presented by Donald Jordan, and hosted by the Faculty Center for Teaching and learning.

1. Narrative Techniques in Sakai for Engaging Students Donald Jordan djordan@pacific.edu bit.ly/Pacificelearning-gettingstarted

2. “I wish they would invent something that could keep the sun out of my eyes.”

5. Organization & integration Backward Design

6. Wiggins and McTighe's Model Determine Outcomes (SLO) Determine evidence of understanding Explain Interpret Apply Demonstrate Empathize Self-knowledge Design learning task

7. Content Priorities

8. Worth being familiar with Key figures Nonessential terminology, anecdotes, background

9. Important to know and do Key terminology (daily use of practitioners) Procedures Laws that impact daily decisions and interactions

10. Big Ideas Abstract Ideas Scaffolding concepts Critiques and analysis Ways of thinking Ethics

11. Implications for online courses: Start the design process with what you want the student to take away and remember months after the course is done.

12. Organization & Integration Telling a Story

13. Syllabus Sakai Samples—Syllabus

14. Syllabus Sakai Samples—Syllabus Other samples of Visual Syllabuses

17. Design

18. Design