Course Development Process


Course Development Process  

calendar Courses do not open for enrollment until they are completely developed and ready to teach

The course development process can take up to six months (or more) depending on an instructor's schedule and the amount of time they can dedicate to it. Creating a course can be a lengthy process of locating material, creating online content, developing assessments, and placing it all in Canvas. This often takes more time than is expected. 

An important thing to keep in mind is that courses DO NOT OPEN for enrollment until the course is complete and ready to teach. For this reason, it is often a good goal to have the course completed in time for enrollment which typically occurs in April for Fall and October for Summer and Spring semesters.

>>Click here to check specific enrollment dates  


The course development process is outlined below. Read through the different steps and begin to determine what a course timeline might look like for you. 


Course Development Process

The online course development process includes five main steps. 

Course Development Process
STEPS TO DO ITEMS

STEP 1:
Initial Meeting and Course Setup

Before the course development begins the following occurs:

  • Instructor views the Guide to Online Course Design
  • Instructor meets with an instructional designer (ID)/course manager 
  • Course Starter Template copied into course

STEP 2:
Initial Course Planning

The course planning process begins with the development of the following items and a meeting with the media specialist:

  • Learning Outcomes
  • Syllabus
  • Course Schedule

>> Meeting can be scheduled with media specialist to discuss online lecture options

STEP 3:
Content Development and Creation

 

During this step of the process the items below are created and placed into the course.

  • Modules
  • Introductions and Overviews for modules, readings, and learning/teaching activities 
  • Teaching and learning materials 
  • Narrated lectures
  • Assignments (including overviews, dates, rubrics, etc.)

In addition, course checks are performed at different points during this step (see below). Instructor should also complete the Teaching Online section of this orientation during this step. 


COURSE CHECKS

Course Development Check 1 
1-2 Modules*

  • Course check performed after 1-2 modules* of the course are set up and completed (feedback is provided)
  • PowerPoints for mini-lectures can be sent in for feedback on formatting and images prior to recording

Course Development Check 2
5-8 Modules*

  • Course check is performed after 5-8 of the modules* are completed and feedback is provided

*A module is the equivalent of 1 week of work in a 16 week semester. There are typically 16 modules or sections in a course. Shorter semesters will have the same amount of work and modules in spite of their condensed format.

STEP 4:
Course Review

During this step, the course development is complete including all modules, assignments, and teaching elements and the Course Evaluation Rubric is applied.

STEP 5:
Final Meeting
 

  • Final meeting with ID/course manager - Review of course
  • Adjustments to course are made based on final course review feedback

STEP 6: Course Enrollment Opens

 

Some of these additional steps may occur once the course development is complete and the semester begins.

Additional Steps After Semester Begins
STEPS TO DO ITEMS

Semester Begins

Course Begins

  • Instructor reviews the Teaching Online module prior to course start date
  • Instructor reviews all content, links, etc. prior to student access each day/week 

Mid-Term

  • Check-in at mid-term to see how course is going

Course Concludes

 

  • Post-course debrief and reevaluation of course
  • Course is updated for teaching in next semester

 


>>This completes the Standards and Guidelines portion of the Guide. Once this is completed you can proceed onto:

 

 

 

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