Fundamentally, the development of quality face-to-face and online courses follows a similar process. In simple terms, faculty members plan and design their course outcomes, activities, assessments, content and activities. They then develop and build the elements needed for teaching the course and, once they have created the course and taught it, they review their work, evaluate the course and make revisions where necessary.
Transferring versus Transforming Courses
The Transfer Method of Course Development
Face to Face Course Contains:
• Lecture
• Face to Face Activities
• Textbooks/Content
• In Class Assessments, Mid Terms, Finals
Transfer to
HuskyCT
Online Course Contains:
• Lecture meant for Face to Face
• Activities meant for Face to Face
• Content designed for Face to Face
• Assessments meant for Face to Face
• Little if any info and content designed around the benefit of a digital environment
As most online courses evolve from existing face-to-face courses, it can be tempting to create an online course by transferring that course and all its elements (e.g., assignments, content, materials, assessments, activities) into an online environment. Though this process may seem the easiest and quickest solution, it inevitably leads to problems when trying to use course elements designed for a face-to-face environments in a wholly unique online space. Imagine taking the lectures, assessments, and activities designed to fit the unique needs of a 300 student large-lecture class and using them in a 25 student class.
Transformative Course Design and Development
Face to Face Course Contains:
• Lecture
• Face to Face Activities
• Textbooks/Content
• In Class Assessments, Mid Terms, Finals
Instructional
Design
Process
Online Course Contains:
• Activities that foster student interaction with each other, the content, and the faculty
• Content designed specifically around the benefits and challenges of an online environment
• Sequenced and Varied Assessments appropriate for online courses
Transforming face-to-face courses for online delivery takes more than just placing materials into the online environment. Creating a course for an online environment requires taking into account the unique risks and challenges as well as benefits and advantages found in an online environment. To this end, eCampus uses the instructional design process to ensure faculty members neither become mired in the challenges and risks nor miss the benefits and advantages that exist for all online courses.