Module 12: Concluding Course Development

Module Overview

In this module, you will work with your instructional design consultant to complete several important tasks that will help us make sure your course is ready to be taught. You will also have an opportunity to reflect on this seminar and give us feedback that will help us improve the seminar in the future.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this module, each participating faculty member will:

B1. Explain the key characteristics of a high-quality online course.

N. Create a course management plan for the use, maintenance, and revision of the master course, as well as the deployment and use of any sections based on the master course.

N1. Create a plan for tasks that must be done to copy/deploy content from the master course.

Why this Module is Important

In this final module, we focus on finishing the tasks for successful online course design, development, and planning for the next stage in your course lifespan. Keep in mind that course design is an iterative process, and you will very likely make changes to your master course shell as time goes on. As soon as you create your first teaching shell based on the master course, you are faced with two versions of your course. This module provides some practical guidelines to consider that will help you manage course revisions as efficiently as possible. In our model of continuous course improvement, change is expected. We want to help you avoid losing track of valuable changes made to the teaching shell in future versions of the course.

Next, as you look back over the rapid pace of the past 12 weeks, we ask you to reflect on what it means to design and develop an online course. Articulating your reflections in writing can help you and others make connections and solidify ideas for greater retention, so please be sure to complete the blog post assignment on lessons learned.

Lastly, you can show your support for the eCampus Center’s goal of delivering high-quality professional development by sharing your feedback and suggestions for improvement in the summative evaluation survey for the seminar. We view this seminar as a partnership and value your opinions and suggestions regarding how effectively the seminar content, format, and interactions have worked for you. Your input will help us make adjustments for future participants.

Strategies for Success

Please continue to communicate frequently with your Instructional Design Consultant.  As the eCampus Center works with you to finish development of your online course, your input is essential to ensure that your course is consistent with the proposed design. We are happy to take the lead when you have given us an opportunity to do so, but our best work is done with your collaborative input.

While you are not required to submit a completed Course Design Map, Course Development Plan, or Syllabus, we strongly suggest that you update these documents at least once more before you “put your feet up” and take a much-earned break from your course. The intent in updating your planning documents is to be prepared for the further course development, as needed.

Your Instructional Design Consultant will still be available to help you finish any remaining development tasks. However, please note that all development work done by Instructional Design Consultants must be completed by the second week after this seminar ends. After that, your instructional design consultant will be available to answer any follow-up questions, but new work tasks will require us to bring the consultants development time to a close. Consequently, we encourage you to take advantage of their help while they are still available to you.

Once you have finished this seminar, there are a number of opportunities for you to practice continual course improvement, including the following :

• Future access to this seminar – The eCampus Course Design & Development Seminar will remain available indefinitely so that you can refer to it in the future.
• Cumulative Course References and Resources – A comprehensive list of the resources used in this course is available in downloadable PDF format located in the Course Resources area, at left, or at this link: Comprehensive Resource List
• QM Peer Review – After your course has been taught once, the eQIP Coordinator will set up a Quality Matters Peer Review of your online course. If you have questions about the review, please contact the eQIP Coordinator at eQIP@boisestate.edu or 208-426-5485.
• Online Teaching seminar – The eQIP program includes another professional development offering for those who have finished developing a course and want to learn more about delivering it. The eCampus Teaching Online Seminar is six weeks long, fully online, and taught by two Boise State online faculty members who collaborate with eCampus Center.  If you have questions about participating in eTOS, please contact us at eQIP@boisestate.edu or 208-426-5485.

Finally, we want to thank you for your participation in this seminar. It’s a stretching experience to be sure, but ultimately, we all share a goal of creating excellent online learning opportunities for students of Boise State University.