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What exist that lends itself to the e-learning solution?

• Active job seeking Market
• Online Masters Degree Graduates looking for Job opportunities in the field of DE
• To help these graduates utilize the skills they have learned in an online classroom and to organize these in an online job search.

Who is your target audience? What do you need to know about them?
All four students are at the graduate level studying online toward an OMDE degree in distance education at the University of Maryland University College.  Each fit the characteristics of an adult learner: 

1. age: 30-50
2. all are labor-force participation
3. multiple life roles: student, parent, worker
4. prior learning: yes, lifelong learning in multiple subject areas
5. educational background:  bachelors/masters or above
6. time and place of study: computer based learning 
7. access to communications: yes
8. educational provider: UMUC

Who is affected by it?

• OMDE Graduates, First time job seekers, Career Changes, Adult learners re-entering another job market, Individuals seeking advancement with current employer.
• Local Job Markets

Do they have access to computers for learning?

• Yes, all four learners are active OMDE program students with personal computers at home and with Internet access.
• Many have computer access at work
• All have public access: Libraries, neighborhood centers, community colleges.

What should be the goals of a the course?

1. To develop an online job search
2. To familiarize students with online networking, career development software tools and job bank services.
3. How to organize an online job search in the field of DE

How will you assess whether these goals have been achieved?

1. Generate a report on career portfolio from licensed software program
2. Review various assignments

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DESIGN PHASE:

List some possible types of products/other online resources that can be used.

1. Online Job Banks 
2. National Associations
3. Career Services Offices
4. Licensed programs
5. E-learning Tutorials
6. Newspapers online
7. DE Journals and Online Publications representing the field of DE
8. Company Websites (SHRM resource)
9. Chamber and Government Sites (i.e. Department of Economic Development)

Developing and documenting the learning strategy

Functions of a Course Syllabus

1. Describing course content scope
2. Communicating course focus
3. Detailing logistics
4. Identifying course goals
5. Sequencing/scheduling instruction
6. Identifying performance objectives
7. Identifying reference material
8. Motivating students
9. Facilitating optional learning activities
10. Establishing evaluation system
11. Advertising/promoting/recruiting clientele
12. Serving as an articulation tool

What do you expect your session participants to "know' once they're done with your session?

Objectives:  By the end of this course students should be able to:

1) identify the major components of a chronological and functional resume;
2) develop goals and objectives appropriate to a job search;
3) develop a summary of qualifications list for online resume;
4) identify three job descriptions using online job banks;
5) view other resumes on the web;
6) research various online job banks focusing on the field of distance education;
7) discuss the issues and pitfalls in doing an online job search;
8) demonstrate mastery of online networking through development of
career path portfolio using the career development software program: Discover

Next you will want to develop some course materials and exercises to captivate your session participants. Think about articles or books or web pages you want your "students" to read.

 How will you and your participants know that they know and understand your material? After each module there will be an assignment. Online conferencing for feedback sessions, written assignments (completion of online worksheets), review of online career portfolio (I have access rights as an administrator where I can observe how many time the student logged on, how long the sessions were, what tasks were completed and which sections they skipped) 

Overview of Process:

I’ve incorporated the constructivist approach to help students write a resume objective, choose a resume format and use the Internet to preview online job banks and research companies in the field of DE. Students will be asked to use the knowledge they learn from course readings, hyperlinks, and online discussions on how to conduct a DE job search. I don’t really have a group assignment developed other than each student will be expected to email their resume in an electronic format for another classmate to critique. They will further be encouraged to comment on each other's resume and answer one or two interviewing questions highlighting the skills presented on their individual resume to simulate the interviewing process. Furthermore, I’ve incorporated a section using "authentic instruction" where each student will be given a password and user name to create an account in a password protected site. They will be asked to develop (start) a personal career portfolio in which I can preview and download progress throughout the class. I plan on using a combination of technologies to deliver this course: pint (textbooks, job search manual, and course notes), Nighthawk computer conferencing, Internet Web sites, e-mail, and the Discover Program (A licensed Career Planning Software Program from ACT). So far, the design of the course is outlined in four modules with four written assignments:

• Module 1: An Introduction to Performing a Job Search in the Field of DE: Introduction to Discover Creating my Online Portfolio
  
• Module 2: Resume Writing Formats- Functional/Chronological/Electronic: Filling out the Resume Writing worksheet
  
• Module 3: Using Online Tools to Research Companies in DE: Filling out My three Job Openings of Choice
  
• Module 4: Targeting a Company and Mock Interviewing: Sending Your Resume Via Email and answering three interviewing questions. 

Consider some guidelines and specifications that will ensure editorial consistency and error-free operation of the program.

1. Written Syllabus- Each student will receive a password to access the E-discover program where they can create an online portfolio.

2. Module format: Each student will perform three additional assignments. They will also receive a job hunting guide in which they must fill out the resume writing worksheet. 

3. Book Format: The student will be required to purchase one book and one career planning guide by Harris-Bowlsbey, J. & Lisansky, R. (2002). Take Hold of Your Future. The Career Development Leadership Alliance, Inc.- for more information on the resource go to http://www.careerguide.org  This resource was chosen because Dr. Harris-Bowlsbey is one of the original developers of ACT's Discover program; she's a scholar in career development research and a colleague of Dr. Holland who helped created the world of work map in the Discover program.  She refers to this map along with the discover program in the textbook. Dr. Bowlesby created one of the first career development courses online and teaches at Loyola College in Maryland. Although the students will not be required to complete the whole textbook, it is a good resource to have.  The chapters that will be covered in class will also be available in a PDF file online.

4. Hyperlinks- various hyperlinks to review. 

5. Feedback sections for interaction via online conferences. 
   Use of the E-discover program. Reports for students. As an administrator I have writes to produce a variety of reports on the individual user's work with the program.  For example, I can track changes in the user's career planning, observe progress, and display the results.  DISCOVER^® provides guidance and information to help people make important career and educational decisions.

• Research-based assessments of career-relevant interests, abilities, and job values help individuals consider career options that are a good match for them. ACT's organizes occupations into six clusters, parallel to Holland's Hexagon, to help users focus on preparing for career options that fit them best.
• DISCOVER's comprehensive, developmental guidance process helps users identify their strengths and needs, make good career decisions, and build a plan based on their personal profiles.
• The system offers complete, current databases of occupations, college majors, schools and training institutions, financial aid/scholarships, and military options.
• Users can also learn how to develop good job-seeking skills through effective resumes, cover letters, job applications, and interviewing skills.

*For more information on the E-discover career planning program go to  http://www.act.org/discover/login

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DEVELOPMENT PHASE:

Drafting the prototype class

How will you adapt your teaching style or writing style for the computer?

1. Accessibility 
2. Organization
3. Modules
4. Job Hunter Guide- supported print material- Students will be required to purchase a textbook; however, they will have access to chapter 9 via the online classroom (PDF file). will be given 
5. Email availability for resume critiques and feedback

What sources of feedback will be most relevant for evaluating your program?

1. Written feedback from classmates using online classroom and webtycho. 
2. Evaluate similar programs offered through colleges and universities, written literature, other career action plans as a model. 
3. Evaluate the research and what make f2f workshops successful. Review most popular  online job searching tools (i.e. Discover program) 
4. Use of Summative (end of class) Evaluation for feedback on revision.

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IMPLEMENTATION AND MAINTENANCE PHASE:

How will you distribute the materials- through the Web or by CD or DVD?

1. This class is best distributed via the web because the content is ongoing and changes daily. 
2. It could be designed in a CD or DVD format but the concept is an online job search which is best practiced by using Internet technologies. 

Promoting the e-learning program

How can you let learners know that your program is available?

1. Word of mouth
2. Hyperlinks to and from online job sites
3. Collaboration with Career centers, workforce development boards, chamber of commerce groups, government pages, grant funded programs, colleges and universities, national associations (i.e. National Association of Colleges and Employers, Community Colleges, Employer HR pages, WIBS, etc)

Maintaining the e-learning program

What information do you anticipate will change after the course is published? When? How much effort will be required to update the course?

1. Supported websites may change (keep current)
2. The EDiscover program is a licensed program therefore, the version may be upgraded each year- Login procedures may need to be reviewed each semester/year.
3. Job openings in the field of DE may be challenging to find and review; each semester these will be different due to positions being filled, and also, because DE is a new field, it may provide a challenge for students to find positions to review. 
4. OMDE information pages. Highlighting non-credit job placement services for the OMDE graduate.

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