LTU HPC line introduction

When you or your students want to find something specific in the textbook, there really is only one way to navigate through the book - turning pages. They can turn pages one at a time, or many at a time, but they must still turn pages. The textbook has a table of contents and an index to help the student determine which page to turn to, but they must still turn the pages. But on the internet in general and in online courses specifically, there may be many ways to get from point A to point B. We have all visited those web sites that we know should have the information we are looking for, but it seems impossible to find it, and this is very frustrating. In an online course it is incredibly frustrating for the student.

When you review the literature for best practices in online course design, every author and every study strongly recommends "logical and simple" course navigation. Very few ever dig down to what exactly logical and simple navigation means but there are some clear recommendations that I will cover in this section.

Navigation Tips

1. Headings and labels

These should be clear and descriptive. This includes the titling of content within the online classroom. Documents should use established heading-format settings

Heading 2
Heading 3
Heading 4

The titles of headings should be descriptive of the content below. Not only does this assist the average student in finding information, but also supports the use of screen-reader applications for the vision impaired.

2. Hyperlinks

These should be descriptive of where the hyperlink will take the student.

Bad example: Click here to go to the CPTC home page.
Good example: Learn more at CPTC Home Page,
Worst example: http://cptc.edu

3. External web content

Whenever possible, external web content should open within the online classroom instead of navigating the student away from the classroom.

4. Documents

Very long documents that will require considerable scrolling should be avoided. Instead, break the document up into several shorter documents.

Avoid nesting content more than two layers deep (e.g., a document, inside a folder, that is inside a folder, that is inside yet another folder). This is not really possible in Canvas.

5. Modules and Pages

Do use the modularization concept previously talked about. There is no easier navigation for a student than to go to the Week 1 module, and find everything they need for week one in that location. Very little is more frustrating to a student than opening one module to read a handout for Week 1, then having to open another module to view a video for Week 1, then go somewhere else to complete the Week 1 assignment, and even somewhere else to take the Week 1 Quiz.

6. Text Header

With the + button in the Module header (were you create Pages and assignments) you can choose to create a Text Header. This is a great way to divide pages into different sections. For example: In this module we have divided all pages about the four principles for course structure under a heading called "The four principles for course structure" before the next section on templates and import of course content comes. This makes it easer to navigate.

7. Numbers

Another way to make navigation clear is to Number your Modules and pages. In this course the Module about Structure is number 4 and then the following pages can be called 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 etc ...

8. Increase indent

Another way to make navigation clear is to use increase indent. In this module we have a page that gives an introduction to the four principles for course structure before we look in to each concept. The following pages were we go through each of the principles we have increased the page header for easier navigation

9. Course Navigation menu.

Hide unnecessary content areas: when pages, files, quizzes, assignments and discussions are already included in your course modules and are accessible to students there, then hide their respective content areas in the Course Navigation menu.

When it comes to navigation, simply put, your students need to be able to:

Find out what they need to do,
Find where it needs to be done,
Find where it needs to be turned in, and
Consistently find these things out in the same places in the classroom throughout the term.

Micro-task: Reflect on!

To do:

Choose a course, your own, a college or a course from Canvas Commons.
Analyze the course navigation
Reflect on how to make the course navigation better and think of what changes you would like to do and why
Write down your reflection in your reflection document

This exercise is for practice only (not graded)

Support

If you have any questions any time during the course address them here: Support