Institute for Online Course Design

The Institute for Online Course Design is an intensive, hands-on experience for faculty who are preparing a new online course or seeking to strengthen an existing one. Participants will work through a structured course design process that connects learning outcomes, assessments, instructional activities, course organization and student engagement.

Over three days, faculty will apply evidence-based principles of online teaching and learning directly to their own courses. They will examine organization of course content and design of meaningful learning activities and assessments, plan for instructor presence and engagement, establish clear communication channels for students and review their courses for accessibility and substantive interaction compliance. The institute also provides opportunities to consider how emerging technologies, including generative AI, may influence course design, student learning and assessment practices.

Instructors who have not taught online before should also attend the Orientation to Teaching Online. Participants are encouraged to work on their Canvas courses in the afternoons; an open instructional design office hour will be scheduled each day.

Participants will

• Develop, confirm or refine measurable course learning outcomes.
• Align assessments and learning activities with course outcomes.
• Create a clear, consistent and student-friendly course structure.
• Design opportunities for meaningful interaction, engagement and active learning.
• Strengthen instructor presence and communication in the online environment.
• Incorporate accessibility principles.
• Examine assessment strategies appropriate for contemporary learning environments, including those shaped by generative AI.
• Receive feedback on course design decisions and identify priorities for continued development.
• Leave with a substantially developed or redesigned online course and a clear plan for completing remaining work.

This institute will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Monday, Dec. 14 through Wednesday, Dec. 16.