Best Practices: Online Course Design for Faculty - Blog

by Angela November 8, 2022
Best Practices: Online Course Design for Faculty

For some faculty, teaching and creating online courses is a new challenge. For others, it’s time to shift from the emergency learning of 2020 to creating meaningful online learning experiences.

Either way, understanding the basics of online course design can help students navigate classrooms, demonstrate their learning with practical assignments, and connect with faculty and other students. The course design allows faculty to bring content to life for online students.

“Consider the type of content you would want to learn and the assignments that would pique your interest. Put yourself in the student’s shoes to see how the course will intrigue them,” says The Babb Group’s Vice President of Academic & Professor Services Dorothy Miraglia, Ph.D.

Here are other best practices Professor Services recommends to faculty:

Consistent classroom navigation

Imagine walking into the same classroom each week, and it’s disordered, or all of the materials and chairs are in new places? Think of a classroom in an LMS as a physical classroom. It is essential that students focus on the work instead of figuring out where to find things. Create a consistent structure that flows through each week, module, or unit. For example, use the same folder structure. Put resources, discussions, assignments, and other items in the same places so students can easily access them each week.

Weekly Checklists

Checklists help faculty and students plan for the week. Provide students with their tasks and due dates. Put the checklist in a noticeable area so students notice it. Reinforce the checklist message in weekly announcements. Checklists are also an excellent place to add information about anything unusual that week or coming up in future weeks, such as an exam reminder or multi-part projects.

Weekly Announcements

Miraglia encourages instructors to take advantage of weekly announcements. She says, “Announcements can serve as reminders for students, review weekly content, and show how the instructor is present in the classroom. It’s a great way to put a personalized spin on the weekly content as well as share additional resources.”

Try using video announcements to set the tone for the week. You can address any exceptional cases from the prior week, give general feedback on assignments, and share what to focus on in the coming week. Miraglia adds, “Announcements can help increase motivation such as sharing motivational quotes or stories. It’s all about engagement and showing a presence.” Announcements are an excellent tool for communicating and connecting with students.”

Consistent Due Dates

Keep due dates consistent across modules. For example, initial discussion posts are due every Wednesday, and responses to classmates are due every Saturday. This schedule gives students a tool for planning their work. If you start changing dates or making the same assignment due on different days each week, it needs to be clarified, or it can lead to late submissions.

Creating Content and Assignments

Start with learning outcomes to align your assessments with any objectives or outcomes from the institution or program. Then, create assessments for students to demonstrate they achieved the outcome. As you consider creating assessments, Miraglia suggests creating practical assignments.

“You want them to walk away being able to apply it to their field of study if applicable, or to simply enjoy it,” she says.

Miraglia also suggests providing a variety of materials instead of always relying on a textbook. She suggests adding articles, videos, and graphics.

If you’re transforming a class from face-to-face to online, you need to reconsider the format of submissions and presentations. Consider:
- Use short videos, 3 to 10 minutes, to present content or do a demonstration
- Have students submit videos for reflections, discussion responses, and more
- If you usually have students submit assignments during class, consider consolidating assignments into one and having a single submission once a week. This makes assignments simpler for students and more manageable to grade.
- Look for ways to convert in-class discussions or assignments into discussions.
Consistent Rubrics

Rubrics can be a handy checklist for students to check their work before submission. Ensure students can see the rubrics and understand how you plan to use them. Be clear with instructions and your expectations as they relate to the rubrics. Add a note about the rubrics in Week 1 or with a video announcement.

Consistent, Substantial, and Personalized Feedback

Feedback on assignments is an opportunity to give students guidance and to connect. Discuss specific points in their work, offering areas to improve and praise. Feedback areas in an LMS are another spot to connect with students as people. Be sure to use their names. Share any appropriate personal or professional information that may help them with future assignments or connect their submission to future work. Sharing your experiences humanizes you and gives students a glimpse of your work and life outside the classroom.

For more specific ideas and support with your online classrooms, talk to one of Professor Services’ mentors like Dorothy. Contact her at dorothy.miraglia@thebabbgroup.com.
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Angela

Angela Britcher, M.A., is a dynamic content marketing professional and storyteller who transforms complex ideas into easily digestible bites for audiences. She teaches communications, media studies, and writing, and she is a skilled instructional designer, creating engaging online learning experiences for colleges and corporate training. Angela produces and hosts The Babb Group's DigitalEDU Dialogues podcast.
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