Center for Online Learning

Online Course Design

Introduction

The mission of the Center for Online Learning is to promote quality online courses. There is substantial research to indicate what constitutes best practice in online course design and delivery to achieve good student learning outcomes and satisfaction. It is the purpose of this site to set forth guidlines to achieve that end.

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Topic
Description
Information
What is Best Practice?     What does the research say about best practice in course design?     Introduction   
Implications for Online Courses and Programs     As Georgia Southern moves more degrees to the online environment, there needs to be more conversation within units about aspects of course and program design and delivery.     Introduction   

Course Design Principles

The information in this section lays a foundation for thinking about teaching and learning in an online course and how that influences course design. Bloom's Taxonomy is the basis of any instructional design process.   
Topic
Description
Information
50 Years of Research on Teaching and Learning    Read how 50 years of research resulted in the "Seven Principles of Effective Teaching."   
Introduction
Course Analysis     This is preliminary thinking about your course design. Before you begin building your course, you might want to do an analysis of instructor, student, and course needs.    
Introduction
Bloom's Taxonomy     Bloom's Taxonomy is one way to think about course design. This section explains how Bloom's Taxonomy promotes coherent, measurable course design.   
Introduction

Best Practice in GeorgiaVIEW

Best practice is based on current research into what constitutes effective online course design. The items below explain how specific tools in GeorgiaVIEW can be used effectively based on the research.    
Topic
Description
Information
View Demo Course     This is an actual GeorgiaVIEW course that you may tour as a student. The demo is based on best practice principles.     View Demo    
Home Page     The home page should not be cluttered with content.     Introduction   
Welcome Page     A welcome page sets tone and expectations.     Introduction   
Start Here    The "Start Here" learning module is where course policies are located. Students should complete this module before class activities begin.     Introduction   
Course Schedule    Lists all topics and due dates for the entire course    Introduction   
Learning Modules    Used to present individual units of instruction    Introduction   
Overview Pages    Guides students through the learning modules    Introduction   
Assignments    Assignment documents should be self-contained with all instructions and a grading criteria.     Introduction   
File Manager     Use of folders to organize content in File Manager    Introduction   
File naming conventions     Use file naming conventions to help you stay organized    Introduction   

Online Pedagogy

Face-to-face teaching relies on a lot of visual and aural clues. In the online environment, we have to use different strategies to insure effective teaching and learning. The information below presents pedagogical strategies for thinking about teaching and learning in an online environment.   
Topic
Description
Information
Instructional Strategies     Student motivation and learning styles; structured instruction; instructional strategies; online lectures and presentations   

Introduction

Discussion Strategies     Introduction to using discussion as a means of promoting classroom dialog   
Introduction
Guiding the Learning Process     In an online environment, students need explicit instructions to guide the studying and learning process.   
Introduction
Formative Feedback     Formative feedback is used to assess teaching and student learning before an exam. It is also used to to assess course design. Formative feedback is always done during the course.    
Introduction
Assessments    Effective strategies to guide and assess student learning online; alternative assessment strategies; case studies, PBL    
Introduction

Quality Assurance

In order to insure consistency and a high level of quality in course design, especially courses that support online programs, we have developed a checklist of items that help promote best practice. For instructors who go through our training programs and adopt best practice standards, we award a certificate of training in best practice. Courses that meet or surpass our best practice design standards can display the best practice logo in their courses.    
Topic
Description
Information
Quality Assurance Checklist/Rubric    The QA Checklist is the standard by which courses are developed for online delivery. It covers both technical and pedagogical aspects. It guides the course and instructional design process. It is the same as the course certification.   
Introduction
Course Certification    Meets requirements based on the Quality Assurance Checklist. The course must pass COL and peer faculty evaluations. Courses are also reviewed by Deans and Chairs.   
Introduction
Instructor Certification     Instructors must take specific COL workshops and prove proficiency in specific areas; their course(s) must also meet course certification requirements.    
Introduction
Project Management Tracking Worksheet     Course design and development takes time. Faculty who are working with the COL to develop a course need to adhere to a schedule to keep the project moving. This worksheet helps set due dates for specific deliverables.    
Introduction
Showcase    Faculty who participate in group efforts to create completely online courses for online programs will have the opportunity to showcase their work to colleagues in their departments.    
Perch Award     Awards go to courses that demonstrate exemplary course design. Courses are elected by a panel for this status.    

Supporting Information

Topic
Description
Information
Copyright    Links to Board of Regents and other sites pertaining to copyright in education.   
Introduction
Course "branding"     Logos, banners for course identification    
Introduction
Action Research     Action research is an informal method for doing studies on the effectiveness of course design.    
Introduction
HTML Templates     These are the HTML pages that you can use for your courses.    
Introduction
Work Aids     Work aids are documents you use to communicate to the COL course development information.   
Introduction
GeorgiaVIEW Template and Learning Modules     You may request the GeorgiaVIEW template from this page, or you may download pre-built learning modules.   
Introduction
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