Online Learning Theories

As you have the opportunity to pause and add more thoughtful planning to your online course design and delivery we want to provide you with some key frameworks to support decision making for technology integration and course design. The Community of Inquiry (COI) framework provides guidance about the elements that need attention when planning an online or blended course. While SAMR and TPCK provide suggestion about elements to consider when selecting technology.
A common concern for faculty and student is how to maintain engagement and relatedly motivation as studies work more independently. John Keller’s ARC Motivation model provides useful insight.

ARCS Model

The ARCS model of motivation was developed by John Keller. Its design approach focuses on the motivational aspects of learning environment. His concepts are clustered into four categories: attention (A), relevance (R), confidence (C), and satisfaction (S). Learn more about the ARCS model in this Pressbook resource.

ARCS model

ARCS model

COI Model

The Community of Inquiry framework represents a process of creating a deep and meaningful learning experience through the development of three interdependent elements - social, cognitive, and teaching presence. Learn more about the COI model.

COI model

COI framework

SAMR Model

The SAMR model was developed by Dr. Ruben Puentedura which provides a framework to show the impact of technology on teaching and learning. The model is broken down into four stages or roles technology plays in teaching and learning: Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redifinition. Learn more about the SAMR model.

SAMR model

TPCK Model

The TPCK model is a simple way to look at our own teaching practice and ensure that we have technological (T), pedagogical (P), and content knowledge (CK) necessary to build learning activities for our learners. Learn more about the TPCK model.

TPCK model