Review of "A Beginner's Guide to Coffee" course by Sunway University
Functionality
Scale: It is unclear of the exact amount that this course may hold. It does seem to be able to accommodate any class size. The course does not have the option to create smaller groups or subgroups.
Ease of Use: The course page is easy to navigate. On the left of the screen there are tabs that clearly name each section in the course. On the right bottom of the page there is a chat box, clearly labeled. Under each tab/section the page is a continuous scroll with no hidden pages withing or other links to travel to.
Tech Support / Help Availability: There does not seem to be a way to directly contact the course producers for help. The Open Learning website does have a help and support page that can be accessed at the bottom of any page on the website. The help page includes frequently asked questions, request forms, and customer service phone number.
Hypermediality: The user may choose to communicate under each section in the comment box, texts and pictures are supported. The user may also communicate through the chat box at the bottom right of the page. The course does include some videos and pictures to aid the text information.
Accessibility
Accessibility Standards: This course does not include non-text information besides the aiding pictures and videos with supporting information. The sections also do not include any videos or audio alternatives for the text components. The page is keyboard accessible and easy to navigate. The information in the course is simple to read but the user may need some prior knowledge on the topic.
User-Focused Participation: In the comment section users are able to communicate with the instructor and ask questions. It does lack the additional components such as audio, video, and sign language that would allow the users to be more diverse.
Required Equipment: To participate in the course the user needs a computer and internet connection. This course does not require any additional equipment. All information and practice modules are accessible through the course pages.
Cost of Use: This course is free.
Technical
Integration/Embedding within a Learning Management System (LMS): The course pages are all presented via HTML format website. Accessing the information is the same as accessing any other normal website/link.
Desktop/Laptop Operating Systems and Browser: Users can effectively participate in the course on a desktop or laptop computer if they have a standard, up-to-date operating system, or browser.
Additional Downloads: The user does not need any additional downloads. All information needed to participate in the course are available with the course pages.
Mobile Design
Access: The Open Learning website does provide a mobile website and downloadable app where course can be accessed the same as on desktop/laptop. The app is available for iOS and Android devices.
Functionality: In mobile mode the pages are similar to the half-size browser window. The chat at the bottom is not easily available or shown during mobile. The left side tabs to navigate the course are now placed in a dropdown bar.
Offline Access: The course and its materials are only available with internet connection. There is no option to access any components offline.
Privacy, Data Protection, and Rights
Sign Up / Sign In: The user is required to sign up for an account on the Open Learning website. They ask for your first and last name, email address, age, gender, and Country/State to sign up, all required. The user may also use Facebook or Google account to have a quicker sign-up process.
Data Privacy and Ownership: When signing up the only information that is required to be shared is the user’s email address to the company who is providing the course.
Archiving, Saving, and Exporting Data: The user is able to upload content in different formats. They are also able to screenshot the page, save images from the course, and copy any text for later use if they choose to save the information. There are no obvious ways to download the course information directly to the user’s computer. Information can only be accessed through the website.
Social Presence
Collaboration: In each learning module learners are encouraged to post and respond to others posts. They can also participate in discussions using the additional chat section. Both module comment sections and chat can be accessed at any point during the course and the user may go back to previous conversation if they would like.
User Accountability: There aren’t any specific rules or instruction on how to conduct conversation with others in the course, but an open and friendly atmosphere is encouraged by the instructor through how they address the class.
Diffusion: The course/website shares many basic and easy to use qualities as other websites and learning courses and should be familiar enough for most if not all to use.
Teaching Presence
Facilitation: The user has an opportunity ask the instructor questions via the comment boxes. Other than that, the instructor’s presence is not fully there. The course is more focused on user-to-user communication. The instructor does have access to all components of the course and has the ability to change things to better accommodate course users. For this course the instructor to user ratio would not allow for the instructor to give personal attention to all learners.
Customization: The instructor is able to customize the course as they would like to what they think would best suit the course. The website seems to use a template type format, but it does not limit the type of media that can be used to present the course information.
Learning Analytics: The instructor can easily monitor and access the learners’ projects and practice problems that they complete throughout the course.
Cognitive Presence
Enhancement of Cognitive Task(s): The course lessons give the learners better understanding of the topics and provides equally understandable tasks to follow along with the course information. The complexity of each task and topic can be different for each user but the open discussion portion can bridge the gap between user’s knowledge. These components give the users a linear track to follow compared to if they tried to learn this information on their own.
Higher-Order Thinking: The instructor encourages that users comment on other’s posts and ask questions. This leave room for the user to learn through shared experiences and experiences other than their owns. This provides the platform for the user to try different ways of thinking.
Metacognitive Engagement: The learners have the opportunity to review their tasks and receive feedback from the instructor and other users. Though the course is mostly learner focused and involves mostly conversation-based assignments, so there are no wrong answers and just experiences to learn from.