Work-in-Progress: Design of an Online Learning Coach

We have designed The Learning Coach (TLC) to be a hybrid online system that can supplement traditional instruction. Via a ground-up implementation, our effort is a joint process addressing both user interface features and instructional pedagogy. This paper describes the design, which was based on a review of best teaching practices. TLC includes embedded pre- and posttests, active learning exercises and homework problems. These features are integrated within TLC and are accessed sequentially via a defined lesson plan. The design also provides individualized content. Lesson module recommendations that based on pretests, examine both knowledge and confidence in material. Users may then adjust the suggested coverage before starting a lesson. Our goal for customizing instruction is to identify both gaps in knowledge and students' misconceptions (i.e. knowledge that students believe they have mastered, but that is actually faulty). Via this paper we would like to engage educators and developers of online learning tools to contribute suggestions towards the further refinement of our system. Upcoming in this effort will be test trials with students and faculty to examine the effectiveness of various features.