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Ensuring that all course materials, activities, assignments, and assessments support the stated learning objectives.

• Why It's Important:
  • Keeps the course focused and effective.
  • Helps eliminate unnecessary content and/or busy work.
  • Provides students with clear expectations for their learning.
• Quality Matters Standards:Ìý
  • 2.1 & 2.2: Course and module learning objectives describe outcomes that are measurable.
  • 3.1: Assessments measure the achievement of the stated learning objectives.
  • 4.1 & 5.1: Instructional materials and activities contribute to the achievement of the stated learning objectives.
  • 6.1: Tools used in the course support the learning objectives.

Andragogy is the theory and practice of teaching adult learners. It recognizes that adults have different learning needs, motivations, and experiences compared to younger students.

What It Includes:

• Self-directed and experiential learning
• Problem-solving and real-world applications
• Flexible and personalized learning pathways
• Opportunities for collaboration and reflection

Why It Matters:

Andragogy helps educators create meaningful learning experiences for adults by focusing on relevance, autonomy, and practical application. It is essential in higher education and professional development settings.

AI refers to computer systems that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as analyzing data, recognizing patterns, and making decisions. In higher education, AI is transforming how instructors teach and how students learn.

What It Includes:

• AI-Powered tutoring and study assistants
• Automated grading and feedback tools
• Personalized learning platforms that adapt to student progress
• AI-driven plagiarism detection and writing support
• Data analytics for tracking student performance and engagement

Why It Matters:

AI enhances efficiency in teaching and learning by automating routine tasks, providing personalized feedback, and helping instructors identify students who may need extra support. It allows more adaptive, student-centered learning experiences while also streamlining administrative processes. When used thoughtfully, AI can improve engagement, accessibility, and overall educational outcomes. However, ethical considerations, such as academic integrity and data privacy, must be carefully managed.

Assessment is the process of evaluating student learning, skills, and understanding. It helps instructors measure progress, provide feedback, and improve course design. Assessments can be formal or informal and are used to guide both teaching and learning.

Summative assessment

Summative assessment is used to evaluate student learning at the end of a unit, course, or program. It measures mastery of learning objectives and is often used for grading purposes.Ìý

What They Include:

• Final exams
• Research papers
• Capstone projects
• Standardized tests
• End-of-course presentations

Why They Matter:

Summative assessments provide a snapshot of student achievement and help determine if learning goals have been met.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is an ongoing process that provides feedback to students and instructors during learning. It helps identify strengths and areas for improvement before a final evaluation.

What They Include:

• Quizzes with immediate feedback
• Discussion board participation
• Reflective journals
• Drafts and peer reviews
• Instructor feedback on assignments

Why They Matter:

Formative assessments support student learning by offering timely feedback and opportunities for improvement. They help instructors adjust their teaching strategies to meet student needs.

Asynchronous learning allows students to complete coursework on their own schedule, without live interaction. Instructors provide materials, and students engage with them at different times.

What It Includes:

• Pre-recorded lectures
• Discussion boards
• Self-paced assignments and quizzes
• Written or video feedback from instructors

Why It Matters:

Asynchronous learning offers flexibility for students and instructors, making education more accessible. It allows learners to review content at their own pace while still engaging in structured coursework.

Blended learning combines both in-person and online learning, integrating the best aspects of both formats to enhance student engagement and flexibility.

What It Includes:

• A mix of face-to-face and online instruction
• Online discussion boards paired with in-class discussions
• Flipped classrooms (students review content online before class)
• Digital assessments and interactive activities

Why It Matters:

Blended learning provides students with multiple ways to engage with course content, making learning more personalized and accessible. It can also help instructors use class time more effectively.

Checklists help you and your students stay organized by breaking complex tasks into clear, actionable steps. They ensure consistency, improve efficiency, and serve as a reference to keep key details from being overlooked.

What They Include:

• Clearly definedÌýsuccess criteria aligned with learning objectives.
• AÌýlogical sequence of steps to guide students through a learning experience.
• Concise, well-organized language to minimize confusion.
• Flexibility for updates as tasks evolve or new information becomes available.

Why They Matter:

• Enhance retention: Well-structured steps reinforce learning and improve recall.
• Reduce uncertainty: Clear expectations help you and your students stay aligned.
• Increase efficiency: Streamlines planning, ensuring nothing important is missed.
• Improve confidence: Help you and your students stay on track and better prepared.

The process of working together to enhance course design and learning experiences.

Why It Matters:

• Encourages fresh ideas and diverse perspectives.
• Leads to innovative problem-solving and better student engagement.
• Fosters a more supportive and efficient development process.

Certain aspects of a course can influence the time and effort required for development:

• Subject Matter: Technical or advanced topics may require more planning and specialized resources.
• Course Length: A longer course (e.g., 4 credits vs. 3 credits) often requires more extensive content development.
• Learning Objectives: Courses with complex or skill-based objectives may need additional alignment and assessment strategies.

Ensuring that all students, including those with disabilities, can fully access course materials and participate in learning activities.

Legal & Institutional Commitments:

• ²¹²Ô»åÌý of the Rehabilitation Act require accessible educational experiences.
• ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ’s Digital Accessibility Policy reinforces this commitment, with guidelines updated in November 2021.
• emphasizes the importance of accessible digital content and aligns with institutional policies to ensure accessibility.

Why It Matters:

• Accessibility benefits all learners, promotes inclusivity, and aligns with ethical and legal responsibilities.Ìý

To begin course development, instructional designers typically need:

• AÌýsyllabus outlining course expectations, policies, and objectives.
• AÌýcourse timeline (e.g., 7-week, 10-week, or 14-week format).
• Assessments that align with course objectives.

Gamification applies game-like elements to educational experiences to increase motivation and engagement. It encourages active participation and makes learning more interactive.

What It Includes:

• Points, badges, and leaderboards
• Challenges and interactive quizzes
• Story-based learning modules
• Rewards for participation and progress

Why It Matters:

Gamification makes learning more engaging and can improve motivation, retention, and problem-solving skills. It is especially useful for fostering collaboration and friendly competition.

The structured process of developing effective learning experiences that help students acquire knowledge and skills.

What It Involves:

• Designing, developing, and delivering instructional materials such as online courses, video tutorials, and interactive activities.
• Applying research-based models to ensure courses are engaging, accessible, and effective.

Why It Matters:Ìý

A strong instructional design foundation improves student learning outcomes and ensures courses are aligned with best practices in education.

Key model: ADDIE (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation).

Instructional design models provide structured approaches to course development, helping educators create effective and engaging learning experiences. While theÌýADDIE model is one of the most commonly used frameworks, other models likeÌýBackward Design ²¹²Ô»åÌýBloom’s Taxonomy also contribute to course planning and development.

ADDIE Model

The ADDIE model follows a systematic process to guide course creation:

• AnalysisÌý(7–9 months before course launch) – Identify learning needs, gather data, and conduct needs assessments.
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• DesignÌý(5–6 months before course launch) – Develop learning objectives, select instructional strategies, and create assessment plans.
  Ìý
• DevelopmentÌý(1–5 months before course launch) – Build course materials, test content, and refine as needed.
  Ìý
• ImplementationÌý(1 month before course launch) – Deliver instruction and provide faculty and student support.
  Ìý
• EvaluationÌý(Ongoing) – Gather feedback, measure effectiveness, and make improvements.
  Ìý

Backward Design

Backward Design starts with defining desired learning outcomes and then structures course activities and assessments to align with those goals. This approach ensures that instruction directly supports the intended learning objectives.

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Bloom’s Taxonomy

Bloom’s Taxonomy categorizes learning objectives based on cognitive complexity, helping instructors scaffold learning experiences from foundational knowledge to higher-order thinking skills. This model is widely used to design effective assessments and learning activities.

By integrating these models, you can develop a course that is structured, goal-oriented, and aligned with student learning needs.

Different course formats require different instructional approaches:

• Online Courses: Require significant upfront development for multimedia, accessibility, and engagement strategies.
• Blended Learning: Combines online and in-person components, adding layers of complexity to course structure.
• Traditional Classroom: Focuses on in-person activities, discussions, and assessments.

An LMS is a digital platform that organizes and delivers course content, assignments, and communication between students and instructors.

What They Include:

• Course modules and materials
• Assignment submissions and grading tools
• Discussion forums and messaging systems
• Quizzes and assessments
• Analytics and student progress tracking

Why They Matter:

An LMS centralizes course management, making it easier for instructors to organize materials and for students to access them. It also enhances communication and supports both synchronous and asynchronous learning.

Measurable statements that define what students should know or be able to do by the end of a course.

• Why They Matter:
  • Helps students know what they are expected to learn and be able to do by the end of the course.
  • Serve as the foundation for course design and assessment.
  • Help instructors measure student learning.
  • Ensure courses meet institutional standards.

OER are free, openly licensed educational materials that instructors and students can use, adapt, and share. These resources help reduce costs and improve access to high-quality learning materials.

What They Include:

• Free digital textbooks and course materials
• Open-access research articles and journals
• Educational videos, simulations, and interactive modules
• Lesson plans, assignments, and quizzes that can be modified and reused
• Open-source software for teaching and learning

Why They Matter:

OER make education more affordable and accessible by eliminating textbook costs and providing flexible learning materials. Because they are openly licensed, instructors can customize content to better fit their courses, ensuring materials remain relevant and engaging. OER also promote collaboration among educators and institutions, leading to continuous improvements in course design and student learning experiences.

Pedagogy refers to the methods and strategies used in teaching, particularly in K-12 and traditional higher education settings. It focuses on how instructors facilitate learning for students.

What It Includes:

• Lecture-based instruction
• Active learning strategies
• Scaffolding and differentiation
• Student-centered learning approaches

Why It Matters:

Pedagogy helps instructors design effective learning experiences that meet students’ developmental and cognitive needs. It ensures that teaching practices are grounded in research and best practices.

QA in education ensures that courses meet high standards for design, content, and student experience. It involves regular review and improvement of instructional materials and teaching methods.

What It Includes:

• Course reviews and instructional design standards
• Student and faculty feedback loops
• Accessibility and usability checks
• Alignment with accreditation and institutional policies

Why It Matters:

QA ensures that students receive a high-quality education by maintaining consistency, effectiveness, and engagement in course delivery. It also helps institutions meet regulatory and accreditation requirements.

RSI refers to meaningful and ongoing communication between instructors and students in online or hybrid courses. These interactions go beyond passive learning and are essential for maintaining engagement and ensuring quality instruction.

What They Include:

• Direct instruction, such as recorded lectures or guided discussions.
• Feedback on assignments, assessments, or student questions.
• Facilitated discussions that encourage critical thinking.
• One-on-one or group interactions via email, chat, video conferencing, or discussion boards.
• Monitoring student progress and providing guidance or intervention when needed.

Why They Matter:

RSI is required by federal regulations to distinguish distance education from self-paced learning, ensuring students receive high-quality instruction. Regular and meaningful engagement helps improve student success, retention, and satisfaction while maintaining compliance with accreditation and financial aid policies.

Synchronous learning takes place in real time, meaning instructors and students interact live. This format can occur in-person or online through video conferencing and other tools.

What It Includes:

• Live Zoom or in-person lectures
• Real-time discussions or breakout rooms
• Virtual office hours
• Group activities with immediate collaboration

Why It Matters:

• Synchronous learning fosters real-time engagement, immediate feedback, and a sense of community among students. It allows for dynamic discussions and clarification of complex topics.

Pre-built structures that provide a consistent format for course materials.

What They Include:

• Canvas Course Templates: Ready-to-use course shells with placeholders for a welcome page, syllabus, modules, and CU resources.
• Syllabus Templates: Standardized syllabi that include essential course information.
• PowerPoint Templates: Branded, accessible slide decks for lectures and presentations.

Why They Matter:

• Saves Time: Reduces your workload by providing a framework.
• Ensures Consistency: Helps students navigate courses more easily.
• Supports Best Practices: Aligns with accessibility and instructional design standards.

Educational tools and materials provided by external organizations, such as publishers, bookstores, or Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) integrations, to support and enhance online course content.

What They Include / Common Third-Party Resources:

• Publisher Resources: Supplemental materials like e-textbooks, practice quizzes, and interactive activities designed to align with specific course content (e.g. Cengage Mindlinks, MacMillan Learning, and McGraw-Hill Connect)
• : Physical or online stores where students can access required course materials including textbooks and other supplies.Ìý provides degree-seeking undergraduate students access to all of their required course materials before the first day of class for a flat-rate price.
• : Tools that integrate directly into learning management systems (e.g., Canvas), providing access to additional features like interactive simulations or learning platforms.Ìý

Why They Matter:

• Third-party resources provide diverse, high-quality learning materials that can improve engagement, accessibility, and comprehension. They help institutions offer up-to-date content, reduce costs for students, and expand learning opportunities beyond traditional textbooks and lectures. When used effectively, they enhance both teaching and student success.

If you want to use a third-party tool that is not already approved, it must go through the approval process prior to use.

TheÌýUDL Guidelines are a set of tools designed to support theÌý. UDL focuses on improving teaching and learning for everyone based on research about how people learn.

Empower learners to take charge of their learning by being:

• Purposeful and Reflective
• Resourceful and Authentic
• Strategic and Action-Oriented

How UDL Helps:

• Encourages multiple ways to engage students, present information, and assess learning.
• Supports learners with diverse needs and preferences.
• Creates more flexible, inclusive learning experiences.

Short, engaging videos that deliver course content in a dynamic way.

Best Practices for Video Lectures:

• Keep it concise: Aim for under 10 minutes to maintain student attention.
• Enhance engagement: Use visuals, animations, and clear narration.
• Incorporate interactive elements: Add quizzes or reflection pauses to reinforce learning.

Why They Matter:

• Improves content retention.
• Appeals to different learning styles.
• Supports active learning through built-in engagement tools.