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. If you have comments or suggestions for this page, please contact us via our Suggestions/Feedback form.
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 Vista (WebCT)
Best practice is based on current research into what constitutes effective online course design. The items below explain how specific tools in Vista can be used effectively based on the research.
Topic	Description	Information
View Demo Course	This is an actual Vista 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
Vista Template and Learning Modules	You may request the Vista template from this page, or you may download pre-built learning modules.	Introduction

Center for Online Learning

Online Course Design

Introduction

Course Design Principles

Best Practice in Vista (WebCT)

Online Pedagogy

Quality Assurance

Supporting Information