This page of a module sets out instructions for the student's learning activities.

You should state in clear terms what the student should do and what should be produced as evidence of learning.

This is the core of the module. It is likely to consist of at least two elements:

• your teaching materials
• a series of tasks or instructions

The activites undertaken by the student might be any of the following:

• reading a set of guidance notes
• answering a set of questions
• completing a questionnaire
• making a list
• conducting an interview
• gathering information
• taking notes
• making a detailed essay plan
• writing a report

You will know what activity is most appropriate for your subject.

Your writing task is to make the instructions as clear as possible.

There are two important features of Headstart which affect the manner in which these instructions are presented.

The course may be delivered in seminar form - or as an online course.

Online delivery requires any activities or tasks to be chunked.

This means that activities or tasks should be broken down into separate parts wherever possible.

The second important feature you should keep in mind is that the student is required to read materials on screen, and write answers at the same time.

This requires the ability to navigate web pages and work in a word processor - switching between the two when required.

If you are new to online course design, you might wish to read through these guidance notes.

You could even print them off and keep them by your side whilst you are completing this training module.

  Online Learning - Principles of Course Design

  Now go on to - What should I do now? Part 2