Designing Exemplary Online Courses in Blackboard

@jrhode

jasonrhode.com/exemplarycourse

Presenter

Jason Rhode, Ph.D.DirectorFaculty Development andInstructional Design CenterNorthern Illinois University

Email: jrhode@niu.eduPhone: 815.753.2475Twitter: @jrhode

Overview

Best Practices

Practical Tips

Sample Courses

What Constitutes Quality Online?

Blackboard Catalyst Program

The Blackboard Catalyst Award Program honors those who push the boundaries of their educational programs and technology in order to delivery innovative and effective learning experiences.

Catalyst Award Categories

Exemplary Course Award

Staff Development

Award

Student Impact Award

Innovation Award

exciting and innovative

courses that represent the

very best in technology and

learning

individuals and/or

institutions that successfully

increased levels of student

engagement or retention

those who support and enhance faculty and professional development skills

those that think outside the box in such areas related to teaching and learning practices, online program management, etc.

Exemplary Course Program

Blackboard.com/ecp

Exemplary Course Program Rubric

Developed based on research and best practices, used for evaluating in four areas:Course Design, Interaction & Collaboration, Assessment, and Learner Support

Exemplary Course Program Rubric

j.mp/bbecprubric14

Course Design

• Elements of instructional design, including aspects including:– Structure of the course– Learning objectives– Organization of content– Instructional strategies

Interaction & Collaboration

• Interaction: communication between and among learners and instructors, synchronously or asynchronously

• Collaboration: subset of interaction, referring specifically to those activities in which groups are working interdependently toward a shared result

Learning Community = sense of belonging to a group, rather than each student studying independently

Assessment

• Assessment focusing on instructional activities designed to measure progress towards learning outcomes, provide feedback to students and instructor, and/or enable grade assignment

Learner Support

• Learner Support addresses the support resources made available to students taking the course.

• Resources may be accessible within or external to the course environment.

• Specifically, learner support resources address a variety of student services.

Major Areas & Sub-Categories

Course Design

Interaction & Collaboration Assessment Learner

Support

• Goals & Objectives

• Content Presentation

• Learner Engagement

• Technology Use

• Communication Strategies

• Development of Learning Community

• Interaction Logistics

• Expectations• Assessment

Design• Self-assessment

• Orientation to Course and LMS

• Supportive Software Plug-ins

• Instructor Role and Information

• Policies & Support• Accessibility• Accommodations • Feedback

Sample Course

• ETT 510 – Instructional Media & Technology• 10-week, online course with initial f2f meeting• Graduate course in Technology Specialist

online cohort program, NIU Department of Educational Technology, Research & Assessment

• Developed and taught for first time in Blackboard, Fall 2013

• Presenter submitted for review, awarded as ECP, available for NIU faculty to be enrolled

Exemplary Course Award

Instructional Media and Technology – more info at jasonrhode.com/ett510exemplarycourse

Exemplary Course Award

Perspectives on Disability MOOC – more info at http://facdevblog.niu.edu/mooc-award

ETT 510: Instruc. Media & Tech.

Example Attributes to be Shared

Course Design

Interaction & Collaboration Assessment Learner

Support

• Goals & Objectives

• Content Presentation

• Learner Engagement

• Technology Use

• Communication Strategies

• Development of Learning Community

• Interaction Logistics

• Expectations• Assessment

Design• Self-assessment

• Orientation to Course and LMS

• Supportive Software Plug-ins

• Instructor Role and Information

• Policies & Support• Accessibility• Accommodations • Feedback

Welcome – Start Here

Goals and Objectives Easily Located

Goals and Objectives Available in a Multiple Areas

Content Available or “Chunked” in Manageable Segments

Consistent Unit Structure

Navigation Intuitive

Info needed at beginning of the courseCourse news and updates

Social connections for building sense of community

Course content, activities, and assessments

Interaction

Reflection, feedback, & self-paced assistance

Collaboration in group

Content Flows in Logical Progression

Content Presented in Variety of Appropriate Mechanisms

Content Enhanced with Visual & Auditory Elements

Guidance for Learners to Work with Content

Tools Available in LMS to Engage Students with Course Content

Wide Variety of Delivery Media Incorporated into the Course

Effort Made to Use Low-Cost or No-Cost Materials When Available

Plentiful Opportunities for Synch. and/or Asynch Interaction

Asynchronous Communication Promote Critical Reflection

Asynchronous Communication Promote Critical Reflection

Synchronous Communication Activities, Real-Time Interactions

Communication Activities Designed to Help Build Sense of Community

Student-to-Student Interactions Required

Collaboration Activities Reinforce Learning Outcomes

Guidelines Explaining Required Levels of Participation

Rubric or Equivalent Grading Document is Included

Instructor Actively Participates, Including Providing Feedback

Instructor Uses Communication Tools to Provide Course Updates

Instructions Written Clearly and with Sufficient Detail

Assessment Activities Occur Frequently Throughout Course

Multiple Types of Assessments are Used

Opportunities for Self-assessment Provided

Contact Information for Instructor Easy to Find

Links to Institutional Policies

Course Materials are Accessible

Transcript provided for videos

YouTube videos captioned

Supportive Mechanisms for Learners with Disabilities

Learners Have Opportunity to Give Feedback on Course Design

View Exemplary Course Tours

j.mp/bbecptours13

ECP Winners Gallery

ecpgallery.coursesites.com

Volunteer to Review

• Explore in-depth a variety of different online courses and get ideas and inspiration for your own online courses

• Apply lessons learned from the Exemplary Course Rubric to your own courses or those you are helping to develop

• Share your knowledge and experience with others by providing feedback on their course designs

• Gain professional development experience and recognition for your accomplishments and participation in the program

Access Sample Shared Course

jrho.de/ett510ecp

Submitting Your Course

Blackboard.com/ecp

Questions?

Contact Me

Jason RhodeEmail: jrhode@niu.eduPhone: 815.753.2475Twitter: @jrhode