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Comparing Saylor Academy's Classroom: Similarities And Differences

Decent Essays

These two modules demonstrate components of suggestions made by Ko and Rossen (2017) and Ragan (2017) of the practices that are best used when conducting a blended or online course. Although MIT’s course is described as a blended learning environment, Saylor Academy’s course is solely facilitated online; the two share many similarities and few differences. Besides the contrast of the learning environment each course final assessment of learning competencies is different, i.e. MIT: portfolio submission versus Saylor Academy: password-protected timed final exam. Furthermore, MIT provides students the opportunity to collaborate, discuss, and learn independently as students reflect in blogs about classroom observations and through written assessments. This approach is unlike Saylor Academy’s asynchronous, independent study, knowledge base – through recall approach learning opportunity for students.
On the other hand, the similarities these two courses share far outweigh their differences and demonstrate the implementation of …show more content…

The site’s pages are easy to see, using contrast colors with the white background and clearly identifies each unit. These elements are a few examples that Moore & Kearsley’s (2011) research (as cited in Antisdel, 2016, p. 60) list as part of the “General Design Principles and Best Practices” for online learning. While the MIT site is aesthetically busy with pictures, advertisements, and appears to be harder to navigate because it requires more time spent on understanding its format, and how to find learning links. Ease of accessibility and navigation assists students in focusing on learning. Thus course design is an important element, and the Saylor Academy course appears to meet the best practices criteria most

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