Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic spurred a shift toward distance learning within education. Online courses have emerged as a prominent mode of remote instruction. While online courses existed prior to the pandemic, their focus was primarily on university students. This study examines the essential content types and features of online courses tailored for secondary school students. Additionally, it explores the alignment between teacher-selected materials and student preferences. Data was collected through lesson observations and interviews with students aged 14-17 in a UK school. Analysis suggests that students favor receiving information through videos, images, and presentations. They also value features such as progress tracking, feedback, and lesson commenting. This study’s findings offer guidance to secondary school teachers in the development of online courses for core subjects or exam preparation.