What 'Online Content Only' Courses Would You Like To See?

[whaylonsmithers]

John I'm fascinated that the academic knowledge is superior in online candidates. I must admit your hard evidence contradicts my strong instincts. That said I have been impressed by some online packages I've sat through, although the most useful way I've found to do it is to borrow the book and open it at the same time as doing the online learning.

Do you attribute this to a generational thing? I am often impressed by the ability of younger computer users to subconsciously filter out unnecessary information and retain the relevant information. On a related note, have you noticed any difference in in-water (practical) learning ability between the online and offline groups?

Aside from scuba I'm also forced to sit through terminal online education processes by my compliance obsessed workplace. My observation of scuba versus dive eLearning is that like any form of education motivation in the student is the key predictor of success regardless of subject matter or teacher.

 

[boulderjohn]

John I'm fascinated that the academic knowledge is superior in online candidates. I must admit your hard evidence contradicts my strong instincts. That said I have been impressed by some online packages I've sat through, although the most useful way I've found to do it is to borrow the book and open it at the same time as doing the online learning.

Do you attribute this to a generational thing? I am often impressed by the ability of younger computer users to subconsciously filter out unnecessary information and retain the relevant information. On a related note, have you noticed any difference in in-water (practical) learning ability between the online and offline groups?

Aside from scuba I'm also forced to sit through terminal online education processes by my compliance obsessed workplace. My observation of scuba versus dive eLearning is that like any form of education motivation in the student is the key predictor of success regardless of subject matter or teacher.

One of the problems people have when imagining what online education is like is that they think it is pretty much reading a book online and then answering some questions in a quiz. Some courses made by amateurs are indeed like that. When an online program is created by professionals who know what they are doing and have the budget and time to do it right, it is a completely different experience. Text is interspersed with video, animated images demonstrating concepts, carious multi-media incorporating sound as well as visual content, knowledge checks as you go, etc. It is a far superior product to what people who have not experienced it can imagine.

One advantage with eLearning is the pace of learning compared to an in person class. The students who picks it up quickly can zoom through the materials. The student who is having trouble can repeat content until it is mastered. The ADHD student who is easily distracted can let his mind wander a while and then return to content without having missed a thing.

This is, of course, all about the academics. Physical in-water skills are not taught that way, so there is no difference in the students in that regard.

 

[Lorenzoid]

Hi:

The move towards Nitrox courses that are online only, not requiring dives, got me wondering what other subject matter might be appropriate for this style of education. . . .

Doesn't the basic Nitrox course require you to actually hook up an analyzer and analyze a tank? And then record the requisite information on the tank sticker? How does one do that on-line? I realize this is a fairly trivial act, but it seems like it would be a good idea to practice it before one is fumbling around at a dive op's analyzer station holding everyone else up. Plenty of people don't have an innate grip of how the bleed valve works, etc. It's easy for a student to BELIEVE he knows the procedure--and to enter all the correct answers regarding the procedure into an on-line quiz--but until he's actually done it once or twice, it's not a given. At least for the basic Nitrox course, I see value in having an instructor there to show the student a few things hands-on.

 

[Peter Guy]

Tides and currents should be/could be an online course. While not everyone dives in moving salt water on a regular basis, this would still have a big audience (not everyone dives dry either). It wouldn't hurt to add in swell models and such too.

In many ways, this is almost an ideal online course since much of the information is online and doing the course would allow (require?) the student to actually look at local conditions.

 

[chrpai]

Can distinctive specialties be designed to be delivered online?

 

[boulderjohn]

Can distinctive specialties be designed to be delivered online?

I deliver the content for my distinctive specialties online. There is a diving requirement for each, but I have yet to do the academics any way but online.

 

[chrpai]

Too bad you can't make a "Santa Rosa Diver" course that is basically altitude diver and deliver the whole thing online...

 

[drrich2]

I appreciate everyone's input on the topic. It occurs to me such online offerings could offer a competitive advantage (in a limited niche market) for an agency that was first to bring high-quality courses to market. It would offer a convenient, effective means for people to get education & cert.s, particularly in the winter months that for some divers are the 'off season.'

Kind of like how the SDI Solo Course was a unique offering (still is somewhere, despite PADI's similar 'Self-reliant Diver' course) that put SDI 'on the map' for some of us. It offered me something I wanted (including a card that said Solo rather than just implying it), that PADI didn't quite match. So now I have an SDI cert.

Underwater naturalist offerings specific to regions could give people a greater appreciation of vacation spots before they go. For example, a diver fresh out of OW heading to Bonaire for the first time might go in knowing French Grunts and Sergeant Majors are very common, sharp-tail eels are fish not snakes, tarpon are apt to join you at night so don't freak out when one 'buzzes' you at arm's length, and how to recognize a range of common species - blue striped grunt, black margate, tiger grouper, spotted eagle ray, great barracuda, etc...

Richard.

 

[Frosty]

One online couse one of my dive buddies NEEDS is TIMEKEEPING 101. One more wait beside a chilly lake with winds howling and he's in the lake sanz gear

 

[windapp]

I wouldn't like any. If I need a c card, it ends up costing more in the end. If I don't need a c card, and there is no practical training involved, I can always read a book.