Online Course Development
Learning Outcomes
- What will students be able to do at the end of a module/unit?
Course?
- What is a realistic amount of work (outcomes) to be accomplished
within the specified amount of time for the unit/module/course?
- i. How many hours per week can a student expect to have to spend
on the material? (reading, writing, studying, interacting)
- Are the outcomes relevant to the needs/expectations of the program?
Resources
Writing
Learning Outcomes (pdf)
Learning
Outcomes Brown University
Learning
Outcomes University of Windsor (pdf)
Student Assessments
- How will I know that the student has accomplished the outcome?
- What type(s) of assessments will be used?
- Have you given clear directions for how the students are to complete
the assignment?
- Are marking rubrics required?
- How will the assessment be delivered? (quiz tool, assignment tool)
- What special arrangements will need to be made for exams?
- i. Proctors
- ii. Open book
- iii. Timed
- iv. Other
Resources
Principles
for Fair Student Assessment Practices for Education in Canada (pdf)
Rubric Resources:
http://olc.spsd.sk.ca/de/resources/rubrics/index.htm
Using Rubrics in Higher Education
Learning Resources
- What readings and/or resources are needed?
- How will students access the resources? (links, internal docs/pdfs,
library search, paper course pack)
- Do you have copyright permission to use the resource in the format
you have chosen? (digital is different from paper)
- Are interactive multi-media components required? (flash animations,
camtasia presentations, podcasts)
Resources
University of Alberta Libraries
Library Support for Course Development
ACCESS Copyright at the University of Alberta
Camtasia
Learning Center
Audacity Tutorials
eCast Podcasting Service Basics
Activities
- What activities will the student engage in to accomplish the outcome?
- i. Are
the activities meaningful, authentic, relevant, interesting?
- ii. Will the
students work independently, in small groups, in the large group
and/or a combination?
- Are there a variety of activities for students to engage in? (synchronous/asynchronous:
individual, small group, large group)
- i. Have you provided opportunities for community building? (Ice
Breakers, social discussion spaces)
- What tools will be used to support student learning? (discussion
boards, V.o.I.P. (Elluminate, Skype), wikis, blogs, electronic journals,
Podcast/Videocast, Google Apps (Wave, Docs, Sites, others) email, chat
rooms, Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
- i. Which technologies are you comfortable with?
- ii. What technology is support in your Faculty?
- iii. Which technologies/techniques will you need learn?
Resources
Teaching with Technology
- Ice-Breaker Ideas
Using Online Icebreakers to Promote Student/Teacher Interaction
Free Management Library Group Skills
eLearning Workshops
Technology Training Centre
Additional Documents
- Have you provided a course syllabus?
- Have you provided a schedule of course events/activities? (a 1
pager)
- Do you have links to Student information (Code of Conduct), Student
Help (documents, help desk), library, or other internet resources?
- Have you provided ?Getting Started? information?
- Have you provided clear expectations for the course? (conduct,
participation, netiquette, etc.)
- What additional information will you provide to students when
the course is running?
Resources
Code of Student Behaviour
Students - Getting Help
Netiquette
Course Site
- Have you provided introductory information about the technology,
learning online, etc.
- Have you provided clear directions and expectations for the course/units/activities?
- Is the course site appealing and easy to navigate?
Resources
Example - Online Course Expectations
Example -
Expectations for Online Courses
Course Evaluation
- How will you evaluate the success of your course?
- i. Formative (mid-term)
- ii. Summative (end-term)
- What criteria are indicators of a successful course?
- i. Instructor satisfaction?
- ii. Student satisfaction?
- iii. Student success rates?
- iv. Other?
Resources
ROI - Rubric for Online Instruction
Online Course
Evaluations: Online Learning (Microsoft Office Doc)
Posting your Course and Utilizing Online Resources
Once your course has been developed you will want to post it online.
Our faculty uses eClass to post courses online. eClass is a learning
management system that includes the ability to post lectures and resources
securely online. It also includes discussion boards, a calendar and announcements,
chat with whiteboard, a gradebook, and assessment tools such as quiz,
survey and self-test. We also have a resource called eClass Live that
allows instructors to teach a lecture online with student participation
in real time.
- What course resources will you utilize?
- How will students communicate with you? (internal and/or external
email, phone, Skype, etc.)
- What office hours will you have and how will you conduct them?
- What additional communication tools will you use when the course
is running? (announcements, discussion board, other)
Resources
eclass
eclass live
Wikis - wikis are online collaborative spaces where people can work
together on shared documents.
Skype is software that
allows computer to computer telephone calls over the internet
Course Development Links