How we plan & design a course impacts how it functions and how students learn. A good design incorporates multiple theories, content, and critical thinking skills.
Critical Thinking & Bloom’s Taxonomy
- Bloom’s Taxonomy – Via Vanderbilt University, Bloom’s Taxonomy is a foundational framework of education and critical thinking. It has been used for over 60 years.
- Guest Post: Truth or Mere Comfort: What are We Really After? – Sometimes, one question can change your life forever.
Accessibility & UDL
- What is Web Accessibility? – Web accessibility is intended to ensure the web works for the widest possible audience.
- UDL Guidelines – Via CAST, the Universal Design for Learning Guidelines are a framework for improving teaching and learning for all.
Design a Course Backwards
- Designing Meaningful and Measurable Outcomes: A First Step in Backwards Design – Via Faculty Focus, also known as Understanding by Design, the article discusses how to design outcomes for effective assessments and ultimately content.
Finding Learning Content
- Digital Commons Network – The Digital Commons Network provides completely free access to articles and research from many colleges and universities around the world.
- Open Resources through MERLOT – MERLOT is a large group working to provide Open Educational Resources (OER), along with services and research, to the educational community at large.
Adding/Creating Graphical Media
- Unsplash – Unsplash is one of several sites that provides open access images for use.
- Canva – Canva is an online design and collaboration site that makes it easier to create presentations, social media posts, graphics, and more.
- Polotno Studio – Polotno Studio is similar to Canva however it relies fully on free and open access content for creation.
Leveraging Online Tools
- Timeline JS – A tool that enables anyone to build visually rich, interactive timelines. Relies on Google Sheets.
- Picking Useful Tools for Instruction – Technology tools, including Canvas functions, should only be used if they have a purpose for instruction.
Syllabus Design
- Liquid Syllabus – Via Michelle Pacansky-Brock, a ‘liquid syllabus’ is a way of ensuring students start their courses with a feeling of support.
Video for Effectiveness
- Using Panopto – Course – An internal Canvas course by Multimedia Services that walks through the use of Panopto in various circumstances.
- Using Panopto in Canvas – Important First Steps – A quick overview of how to get started using Panopto within Canvas.
- Pocket PD Guide to Creating Microlectures (Slideshow version) – Via the California Virtual Campus Online Network of Educators, defines and demonstrates the concept of microlectures.
Planning Activities
- To Learn, Students Need to DO Something – Via Cult of Pedagogy, a reminder and ideas that student learning is more likely to stick if students do something related to the lesson.
Humanize an Online Course
- What Is Humanizing? – Via Michelle Pacansky-Brock, defines the concept of humanizing for a course .
- Humanizing visual guide – Via Michelle Pacansky-Brock, a visual representation of humanizing a course and the needs involved.