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Course Orientation and Module Outline UTSA Academic Innovation

https://provost.utsa.edu/academicinnovation/remote-teaching.html

Learning Technologies * Digital Learning * Video Production * Online Programs Teaching and Learning Services * Professional and Continuing Education

Today's Presentation Team

  • Kevin L. Williams, Instructional Designer - Quality Assurance, Digital Learning
  • Mayra Collins, Instructional Designer, Digital Learning
  • Rey Villanueva, Interim Teaching Consultant, Teaching and Learning Services
  • Shelley Howell, Interim Associate Vice Provost, Teaching and Learning Services

Online Course Design Checklist

Developed using Quality Matters standards.

The Plan for Preparation

  • Week 1: Designing Your Course
  • Week 2: Orientation and Module Outline
  • Week 3: Assessments
  • Week 4: Creating Active Content
  • Week 5: Course Management and Engagement

This week: Orientation and Course Module Outline

  1. Create a welcome message.
  2. Draft a welcome announcement.
  3. Create an orientation module.
  4. Work on your module prototype.
  5. Customize your navigation menu.

An effective online course design establishes and maintains instructor presence through...

  • A meaningful combination of course materials and activities.
  • Asynchronous student interactions and synchronous opportunities for direct contact.
  • Intuitive course navigation and organization.
  • Clear instructions and expectations.

Transparency.

1. Create a welcome message.

Your message should:

  • Welcome students to the course.
  • Introduce you to the students.
  • Explain your overall expectations.
  • Show how to navigate the course.

Video Message

  1. Shorter videos are better. Split the content into several videos if needed.
  2. Upload the video to another site and provide the link for students in Blackboard. (Note: Don't upload any videos directly to Blackboard.)
  3. Check your background, lighting and any noise that can interfere with the sound.
  4. Preparation is important. Write a script, rehearse, and check the timing of the recording.
  5. Include captions.

Examples

Spark Page

  1. Include photos of yourself and things that are important to you.
  2. Include screen shots or links to important sections of the course.
  3. Share examples of what success means in your course.

2. Draft a welcome announcement.

  1. Welcome them again to the course.
  2. Include an overview of the course components.
  3. Tell students how to get started.
  4. Include the UTSA accommodation statement.
  5. Post as a Blackboard Announcement (make sure you check "send immediately" so students also receive an email right away).
  6. Consider a similar message at the beginning of each week. (See a sample here.)

3. Create an orientation module.

  1. Include icebreaker activities that help students get to know each other.
  2. Make it fun and engaging.
  3. Help them see what they have in common.
  4. Begin building community.
  5. Help acclimate students to the environment.

4. Work on your module prototype.

What should an online module include?

  1. Learning objectives
  2. Class discussion
  3. Engagement - videos and activities
  4. Assessment

How much should you expect students to do each week?

Review the UTSA Handbook of Operating Procedures to better understand your responsibility for meeting contact hours in your courses.

  • Contact Hour: One contact hour is equal to a 50-minute period of classroom or direct faculty instruction.
  • A standard three semester credit hour face-to-face course meets for at least 45 contact hours.
  • The student is also expected to work at least an average of 6 hours outside of classroom instruction per week for each three credit hour class.
  • Online, hybrid, and individual instruction should make adjustments so that the total number of hours of work required by students is equivalent to that of a traditional face-to-face course.
45 contact hours/ semester + 90 hrs outside classroom (6 hours of outside classroom x 15 weeks) = 135 hours/ semester

Breakout by semester type:

  • 135 hours/15 weeks = 9 hours/week
  • 135 hours/10 weeks = 13.5 hours/week
  • 135 hours/8 weeks = 16.5 hours/week
  • 135 hours/5 weeks = 27 hours/week
  • 135 hours/4 weeks = 33.75 hours/week

Time on Task Example of One Week (15 weeks semester)

  • 30 min = Weekly module overview
  • 30 min = General course communications
  • 2.5 hrs = Readings
  • 2 hrs = Review the lecture and additional resources
  • 1.5 hrs = Assessment activities
  • 2 hrs = Review

Total Time on Task = 9 hours

A Sample Welcome Module

Image of module: Information on student accommodations, learning objectives, plan
Module image: Syllabus and schedule links, syllabus quiz, ice breaker activity
Module image: Ice breaker activity, link to next week's module

5. Customize your navigation menu.

Quality Matters Updates

Faculty Incentive

  • Offer your summer term course(s) in an asynchronous modality.
  • Commit to offering the online course for two more iterations in future terms.
  • Complete the Quality Matters Training: Applying the Quality Matter Rubric course and Self-assessment Review.

Strategy for Success

1. Follow the checklist.

2. Join our webinar every Tuesday.

3. Complete the activities each week.

4. Join a Q&A session each Thursday.

https://provost.utsa.edu/academicinnovation/remote-teaching.html

Credits:

Created with images by Kristina Paparo - "Welcome to Warehouse Church" • STIL - "to do list" • Taylor Simpson - "untitled image" • Jon Tyson - "Hola sign" • James Haworth - "I spotted this interesting staircase in the Apple Store and liked what the glass did to people using it." • Katie Moum - "untitled image" • Reiseuhu - "untitled image" • Aaron Burden - "Welcome chalkboard sign" • Valentin Antonucci - "Travel compass" • Volodymyr Hryshchenko - "Wood block stacking as step stair, Business concept for growth success process" • Kaleidico - "untitled image" • Austin Distel - "Model: @Austindistel https://www.instagram.com/austindistel/ Photographer: @breeandstephen https://www.instagram.com/breeandstephen/ This photo is free for public use. If you do use this photo, Please credit in caption or metadata with link to "www.distel.com"." • Ali Yahya - "Happiness is getting the job done!"