performance of your learners (knowledge, skills, attitudes,
and behaviors) differs from the ideal. Determine learners’
perceived educational needs and preferences. Evaluate
resources and barriers in the teaching environment
(including those in Steps 2 and 4).
Use the needs analysis to develop goals and objectives
that address the gap between current and ideal performance,
taking into account available resources and learner
perceptions. Objectives for online education tend naturally
to focus on medical knowledge, but skills and attitudes
can also be taught online. Well-stated objectives focus the
design and function of the program, including evaluation.
List the goals and objectives on the final website.
Clear objectives help define the role of online learning
in your setting. Will it supplement an existing (traditional)
course, or be the primary method of instruction? Most
online teaching in medical education has supplemented
existing courses, but many courses have been successfully
taught completely online.
Estimate the class size. In Web-based teaching the
classroom never fills up and handouts never run out, but
this does not always mean that Web-based classes can
expand
ad infinitum
. In an automated course—that does not
require instructor intervention—an extra learner requires
virtually no additional resources (a barely perceptible
increase in network usage, and possibly a per-user fee on
software or copyright licenses). However, in courses where
the instructor plays an active role (moderating online
discussion, for example) extra students will have a direct
effect on faculty time.