Day Five: Course Structure Redux

Course Design Checklist

Grade Center

Course Management: Control Panel

Course Introduction

Course Organization and Design

o Unit Breakdown

o Weekly Breakdown

Instructional Design

o Providing instructions

o Creating clear and attractive pages

Using Design Tools to Organize

Using Communication Tools to Organize

Course Introduction

Is an introductory email or Announcement sent to your students providing them information on how to access your course?

Are students instructed on how to contact you?

Do students know how to contact technical support?

Are students provided information on how to prepare their browser for their online course?

Is it clear to the students where to find the course content?

Course Organization

Are font styles and content layout consistent throughout course?

Is content organized in a logical order using modules, topics, chapters, etc.?

Is the content presented in a logical progression for the semester?

Are section titles clear? So they help students navigate the course?

Is there an Introduction area containing a Syllabus, course schedule, etc.?

Does each module incorporate materials (assignments, discussions, etc.) needed to proceed through that module?

Is the content under the unit or module headings organized in a logical manner for students to navigate?

You can find the Control Panel under Course management on the bottom, left side of your screen.

The Grade Center is one of

the options you will find in

the Control Panel

You can choose to look

at

• the entire grade book

(Full Grade Center) or

• at the submissions

that have not bee

graded (Needs

Grading)

The full Grade Center allows you many options for managing

grades. You can add columns, adjust point values, and change

individual grades.

Syllabus

Welcome Note

Personal Introduction

Technical Requirements

Sample assignments

Expectations and

suggestions for success

Unit Breakdown (Modules)

Weekly Breakdown (Folders)

Consistent Design

Provide Discussion Forum or Blog for Course-Related Q & A

Up-to-date Links

ADA Compliance

Make them downloadable!

Providing Instructions

Creating clear and attractive pages

Introducing each unit with a discussion of the topic

Offering practice quizzes or assignment submissions

Posting rubrics with model submissions in each unit

Using activities that foster student professor interaction (see next

To access Bb, students can go to the main JSU page and

click on Blackboard in the dropdown menu, to the

Distance Learning page, or to a link you provide in your

home page.

• Email class often to create a sense of a “conversation” about

the course

• Use Discussion forum or blog to create asynchronous “office

hours”

• Use Announcements to communicate important information and

to keep it visible

• Use Chatroom to conduct virtual office hours while you are in

your office

• Consider setting up Skype on your computer

• Add Journals for students to individually record their class

progress and to share that progress with you

• Know that social networks and virtual worlds are advanced

ways of fostering interaction

The two pages

to the right

contain the

same

information.

The page on

the bottom

delivers that

information in

a

clear, concise

format.

The Control Panel

is the first stop for

customization.

Folders vs Modules

Color coding

Icons and Text

Course menu options

Tables of contents

Repeating structures

Announcements can be entered and scheduled at the start of the semester

Copy and email unit instructions

Use the Discussion Forum or Blog to post reminders

Require students to check in during your office hour chats and use that opportunity to share course info

Give general feedback on assessments or assignments via communication tools

We will use Day Five Checklist to look at how to improve the current course design.

Use Design Tools for Course layout

Complete Course intro Folder

Create/Post Sample Assignments

Create Course Q&A Forum or Blog

Organize Content for one unit or week

Decide on a plan for repeating instructions in various locations