Building and Launching Courses: External Sites
Incorporating external site content into your online courses can significantly enhance the learning experience, providing students with diverse perspectives and up-to-date information. However, it’s crucial to approach this integration strategically to ensure relevance, accessibility, and compliance with copyright laws.
Creating an External Site Course Element
- From the Course Elements page, click Add Element and select “External Site.”
- Copy and paste or otherwise enter the exact URL of the site you want to direct learners to.
- Make sure to click Save.
- Note that DigitalChalk does not have the ability to track activities that a learner may perform when not strictly within DC other than that they clicked the link from within the element.
Types of External Content
Consider incorporating these types of external content into your course:
1. Web links to relevant articles, research papers, or industry reports
2. Embedded videos from platforms like YouTube or Vimeo
3. Podcasts related to course topics
4. Interactive simulations or tools
5. Open educational resources (OER)
6. Social media content (e.g., Twitter threads, LinkedIn posts from industry experts)
7. Curated content from reputable sources in your field
1. Align with Learning Objectives
Ensure that all external content directly supports your course’s learning objectives. This alignment helps students understand the relevance of the additional materials.
2. Curate Carefully
Thoroughly vet all external content for accuracy, reliability, and appropriateness. Consider the credibility of the source and the currency of the information.
3. Provide Context
Introduce external content with clear explanations of its relevance to the course material. This context helps students understand why the resource is valuable and how it fits into their learning journey.
4. Ensure Accessibility
Verify that external content is accessible to all students, including those with disabilities. Provide alternative formats or descriptions when necessary.
5. Respect Copyright
Always obtain necessary permissions and comply with copyright laws when using external content. Consider using open-access resources or creating your own content when copyright issues arise.
6. Monitor and Update
Regularly check external links and content to ensure they remain active and relevant. Be prepared to replace or update resources as needed.
Technical Considerations
1. Mobile Compatibility: Ensure that external content is accessible and functions well on mobile devices, as many students access courses on smartphones or tablets.
2. Loading Times: Be mindful of the impact on course loading times when incorporating external content, especially video or interactive elements.
Challenges and Solutions
1. Content Volatility: External content can change or disappear. Solution: Regularly audit links and have backup resources available.
2. Information Overload: Too much external content can overwhelm students. Solution: Carefully curate and limit external resources to the most impactful and relevant materials.
3. Distraction: External links might lead students away from the course. Solution: Use embedding techniques and provide clear navigation back to the course.
4. Quality Control: Ensuring the quality of all external content can be time-consuming. Solution: Establish a vetting process and consider crowd-sourcing recommendations from students or colleagues.
By thoughtfully integrating external content into your online courses, you can create a richer, more engaging learning experience that exposes students to a broader range of perspectives and resources. Remember to balance external content with your original materials and always prioritize the alignment with your course objectives and the needs of your learners.