How Can I Improve and Prepare my Course for Next Time? 


How Can I Improve and Prepare my Course for Next Time? 

computer with happy, neutral, and sad faces for evaluation
Always be evaluating your course for how to make it better

One of the great things about teaching online is the ability to reuse much of your course content from semester to semester. Canvas provides the tools to easily copy a course for the next time you teach it.

Each time you teach the course is an opportunity to improve it from last time. Course evaluations, student comments, and your own observations are often the best resources you can draw from when updating your course.

It is recommended to complete a full evaluation of your course every two to three years. 


How do I Copy my Course?

To copy a course in Canvas you will go to the course you will be teaching and import the content from the last time you taught it. 


Adjust Dates

When importing or copying a course in Canvas you can shift due dates so they line up closer to the current semester, or remove all associated due dates.

Two boxes that say Canvas Course at the top. One is lighter to show it's a copy.
You can copy a course from semester to semester and then update it

Other Updates

After you have copied your course you will need to manually update semester specific information like your syllabus and schedule. In addition, use this time to review your course for textual errors and broken links. Below is a list of items that will need to be checked or updated after a course copy:


What Information Can I Draw from to Make Improvements?

OU Evaluations 

Use the feedback you receive from your OU evaluations to make improvements.


Questions and Comments

If you have recurring issues during the semester, this is the prefect time to fix the problem before you teach the course again.


Canvas Survey

Canvas has a survey setting under the Quizzes tool that will let you create short evaluations for your course. Survey submissions can be set to anonymous so students feel like they can fully express themselves. Surveys can be given at the midterm or at several key points throughout the semester. This allows you to see what components in your course are working well for students, as well as what they are having trouble with.

Click here for example questions: Student Feedback Survey Example

NOTE: An importable survey is available in the DFCAS Online Template. Once it is added to Canvas it can be edited by instructors to suit their specific course needs. 


How Often Should I Complete a Full Evaluation of my Course? 

Calendar sign that says It's been two years, time to update your online course
Complete a full evaluation every 2-3 years

In addition to the small improvements you make from semester to semester, online courses should be fully re-evaluated every two to three years. This provides an opportunity to thoroughly review the course and update resources and teaching material that may be outdated.

A complete review of your course also provides a chance to apply current best practices. The means and method of teaching online are always evolving and improving and reviewing your course every two to three years is a great opportunity to keep your course meeting current standards. Even more, it helps to ensure the quality of your course for your students.

 


>> This completes the section on teaching online. To learn more about online course design and teaching review the section below:

 

 

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