Student-to-content, student-to-instructor, and student-to-student interaction are fundamental pieces of an effective online course.
What makes a great online course?
- Create an engaging online experience that allows students to easily navigate course content
- Ensure that students identify and achieve course learning outcomes through the course content and assessments
- Cultivate a course community that encourages interaction between students and their instructor, students and their peers, and students and course content
While every course is unique, extensive research-based evidence has identified items that help make a course successful. Listed below in the Core Components table you see items that give students a concrete orientation to the course material, expectations, and structure, and provide context for learning. The Exemplar Components table includes examples that go above and beyond with a focus on student engagement and effective learning strategies.
For an accessible version of the infographics on this page, please view/download the PDF.
Core Online Course Components Exemplar Online Course Components