jyllene

Steering Clear of 4 Critical Course Creation Mistakes

September 3, 2023
Course Creation, Marketing and Promotion, Student Success, Teaching and Facilitation

Introduction

The most important thing you can do in learning is to be useful. There are plenty of educators and course creators who are committed to providing valuable, useful, and engaging learning experiences. Yet, many aren’t. They may be motivated by profit, pressured by trends or demands and rush development, or lack true subject matter or instructional design expertise. Or they just made a mistake along the way.

The goal of this article is to help you design useful learning experiences by avoiding four critical course creation mistakes. I include examples of each critical mistake, the impact on the learning process, and what you can do to prevent them.

Disclaimer Before I begin, I feel it’s important to convey that mistakes are totally OK and part of the learning process. However, some mistakes have bigger consequences than others. That’s what makes these mistakes “critical.” As educators, we have an obligation to others. And so we must do our due diligence to reduce the likelihood of these mistakes because of their impact on learners and the learning process. Now, let’s get into it!

Mistake #1

Misdirection

Misdirection occurs when you unintentionally divert learners’ attention away from the core learning objectives and content or mislead learners about the focus of the course. In simple terms, the course doesn’t focus on what you said it would focus on. Here are some examples of misdirection mishaps in course creation and how they may impact the learning process:

Irrelevant activities may confuse the purpose of certain tasks.
Unclear course structures may limit learning effectiveness because the intended sequence of learning is unclear or unknown.
Catchy titles or descriptions may cause learners to expect something other than what they’re getting.
Overemphasis on secondary topics that are tangential to the main learning goals gives learners a shallow understanding of the essential concepts.
An overwhelming volume of content without clear prioritization makes it challenging for learners to identify what’s most important and retain and use key information.

The result of misdirection is that learners struggle to grasp the essential concepts and fail to achieve desired outcomes. Learners who are misdirected can feel confused, frustrated, and disconnected from the learning process.

Avoiding Misdirection

To avoid misdirection, make sure all online course elements–such as learning objectives, activities, and assessments–are relevant and directly aligned with the intended knowledge and skills you expect learners to acquire.

Mistake #2

Miscalculation

Miscalculation occurs when you make errors or oversights in the course creation planning process that inadvertently hinder the learning process. This could involve underestimating or overestimating learners’ prior knowledge or misjudging the time needed for certain topics. Here are some examples of miscalculations in course creation and their potential consequences:

Overwhelming learners with an excessive amount of content or assignments can cause learners to struggle to keep up with the pace and develop an incomplete understanding of concepts. It may also lead to stress, burnout, and a reduced cognitive capacity for effective learning.
Underestimating time requirements and allocating insufficient time for key or complex topics and assignments can lead to rushed explanations and surface-level learning.
Misjudging prerequisites, or underestimating or overestimating learners' prior knowledge, can lead to an environment where learners struggle to grasp concepts or become bored due to repetition.
Overemphasizing theory and failing to provide opportunities for learners to apply knowledge in practical scenarios can disconnect learning from real-life contexts.
Inadequate interaction and collaboration can result in a solitary learning experience that inhibits peer learning and engagement.

These instances of miscalculation can contribute to an environment where learners struggle to engage, comprehend, and retain information effectively. And it leaves learners with a negative perception of the course and the abilities of the instructor.

Avoiding Miscalculation

To prevent miscalculation in your course design, you should accurately assess learners’ needs, carefully plan course content, provide varied learning opportunities, and regularly evaluate and adjust the course based on learner feedback.

Mistake #3

Misguidance

Misguidance occurs when you lead learners astray by providing them with incorrect or misleading information or instructional strategies. This may happen due to outdated resources, poorly researched content, or subjective biases you hold. Here are some examples of misguidance in course creation and the potential consequences they may have:

Inaccurate information–including incorrect facts or theories–can lead to a distorted understanding of concepts which they’ll struggle to apply in real-world scenarios.
Surface-level explanations of complex and advanced topics may make learners think they have a deeper, more comprehensive understanding of concepts than they do, leaving them unprepared to make informed decisions in practical situations or apply concepts beyond a basic or introductory level.
Biased or one-sided perspectives present a single viewpoint without acknowledging alternatives, leading learners to believe the viewpoint presented is the only valid one. This can lead to narrow-mindedness and intolerance of differing opinions and puts learners in a position where they lack the critical thinking skills to engage in meaningful discourse.
Reusing content from other sources without proper attribution or context can cause learners to believe they’re receiving a unique and original experience when they’re not.

Learners who have been misguided feel let down and like they wasted time and resources. They are aware that they didn’t get what they were promised, especially when they struggle to effectively apply what they learned in real-life situations. And they may question the learning process overall and the credibility and quality of online courses in particular.

Avoiding Misguidance

To prevent misguidance, prioritize accuracy, transparency, and ethical instructional practices. Thoroughly research and verify the accuracy of the information you present, provide balanced perspectives, and engage in open communication with learners. Encourage critical thinking and provide opportunities for learners to question and verify information to reduce the chances of misguidance.

Mistake #4

Misrepresentation

Misrepresentation occurs when you present yourself or your online course in a false or misleading way. It may involve inaccurately portraying the nature and value of the learning experience or embellishing the credentials of the instructor–both of which can lead to significant issues for instructors and learners. Misrepresentation can happen unintentionally due to oversight or lack of clarity, but it can also be a deliberate attempt to attract learners or achieve certain goals dishonestly. Here are some examples of misrepresentation in course design:

Falsely representing yourself as an expert in a field by using fabricated credentials or qualifications can lead learners to lose trust and the course creator to lose credibility.
Inflating the benefits, outcomes, or opportunities of the course to attract more learners will simply leave them disappointed and dissatisfied when those false promises are not realized.
Making bold or unsubstantiated claims about the effectiveness or success rate of the course without providing evidence to support the statements can leave learners skeptical about the course’s legitimacy and less likely to invest.
Using copy/paste, AI-generated, or plagiarized content can mislead learners about the quality and integrity of the course materials and the overall learning experience.

Misrepresentation in course design can lead to a loss of trust and a feeling of wasted time and money. When learners feel like they didn’t get what they paid for, or in more severe cases feel outright scammed, they’re more likely to leave negative reviews and actively deter others from enrolling. This can leave course creators with a negative reputation and, in extreme cases, possible legal consequences.

Avoiding Misrepresentation

To avoid misrepresentation in course creation, it’s crucial to be transparent, honest, and accurate in your public-facing and marketing materials. Make sure course content aligns with the stated goals and is up-to-date, relevant, and well-researched. Open communication with learners and prompt resolution of any issues that arise can also help maintain trust and credibility in the learning environment.

Summary

To summarize, course creation must be intentional. These four mistakes can have profound consequences on your online course and reputation as a course creator:

Don’t misdirect learners by taking them away from core learning content.
Don’t miscalculate your course design by ignoring what learners need to succeed.
Don’t misguide learners by providing them with incorrect or misleading information.
Don’t misrepresent what you and your online course can do for learners.

Overall, avoiding misdirection, miscalculation, misguidance, and misrepresentation in course design requires careful planning, ongoing evaluation, and a learner-centered approach to make sure learners have a meaningful and successful learning experience.