From Chaos to Consistency
Standardizing online course design for the new normal future
Presenter: Cate Dowman, Sr. Instructional Designer
Division of Continuing and International Education, University of Miami
Chaos
Juan's Chaos
Lack of bandwidth
- 2 years remote/ hybrid learning
- random changes in class modalities
- mix of video tools
- online course navigation issues
- wants better consistency post covid
Sound Familiar?
How can teaching faculty ensure Juan successfully completes his studies?
Consistency Challenges
1
2
Templates Erode Academic Freedom
Faculty Know Best How to Design their Course
3
Standardization is a Frenemy
Faculty Know Best How to Design their Course
Challenge #1
- Faculty Training
- Student Experiences
throughout this session 'faculty' 'teaching faculty' and 'instructors' are used interchangeably
Faculty Online Teaching Training
123 fall 2020/ spring 2021 Rapid Training Workshops, 541 tenured & non tenured attended (from 3000 teaching faculty) University of Miami
113 biology faculty surveyed nationwide 40% remained untrained in ERT as of August 2020 (62% of research-intensive university faculty had received no training)
Problems: time & budget constraints, systemic adjunctification & little to no professional development
2015 Boston College faculty: 26% (432) never attend training, 40% unlikely
Student Learning Experiences
Problems with course design, wifi bandwidth, techology expectations (Voice of the Online Learner: Wiley 2021)
Time management, bigger workload, increased anxiety
(InsideHigherEd.com/Student-Voice 2021)
Inconsistency across courses, programs & edtech tools, more flexibility & teacher presence, overloaded with tech and coursework (UM Student Focus Groups 2021)
Carmen Common Sense: Tips for Instructors to use the LMS effectively - students @ Ohio State University 2019
- accessible content
- teacher presence
- community
- thoughtful edtech use
- flexibility
- rubrics
- consistency across courses
Helpful
Unhelpful
- inconsistent course design
- non-standardized courses
- non-transparent grading
- edtech tools with little purpose
Poll
Your online teaching training experience (faculty, instructor, tech staff, ID etc)
What would you do differently now?
Templates Erode Academic Creativity
Challenge #2
UOnline Program
I really prefer when professors take the time to organize their course. It makes it much easier to find assignments, videos, materials, etc. ... (student survey Wake Forest University 2021)
– Conrad Anker
When a templated course design works
UOnline Graduate Program
University of Miami Division of Continuing & International Education
It's been a busy two years
Pre 2020
OPM
June 2020
Standardized course template
ADA compliance
SME input
2022
LMS migration near completion
April 2020
Transitioned to DCIE
BB LMS migration completed
*Faculty more freedom
Jan 2021
Revise course & syllabus templates for new LMS migration
Menu
Learning
TAL706 2021 Blackboard ECP Award Built Course Template
Menu
Learning
TAL706 in Ultra Learn Template
- layout aids in efficiency for instructors & student help desks
- easier to update/revise existing courses
- increases content creativity
- fosters student success
Course Standardization
- enrollment policies & engagement requirements influences design
- stakeholder buy-in
- faculty training & development
- cookie cutter image
- unsuitable for some courses
How can templates enhance academic creativity?
In Chat
Standardization is a Frenemy
Challenge #3
But you can sway it in your favor
Boost Freedom Set Limits
Pre-written syllabus templates
Pre-established course templates: accessible & inclusive
Rubrics for transparency, improved grading practices, inclusion
Focus on layout not content design
Remember Juan?
Low bandwidth = different course layouts and design, feeling overloaded and frustrated,
- What advice could you offer to Juan's professors about their course design?
- Would you be prepared to talk to them about improving consistency by 'standardizing course design'?
- Ineffective faculty training = ineffective course design & student pain
- Template course design works in many cases
- Consistency aids instructors, support staff & students
- Instructors set limits on standardization & invest in creating content not course layout
Recap
Thank You!
Questions?
Contact: catedowman@miami.edu
Bair, B., Basanta, B., Dowman, C., Duran, E., Fife, H., & St. Rose, A. (2021). Student voices: Student focus group pilot. The Online Teaching Resource, 1(9).
Capranos, D., Dyers, L., Magda, A. J. (2021). Voice of the online learne r2021: Amplifying student voices in extraordinary times. Louisville, KY: Wiley Education Services.
Dan Donaldson, "The Role of Faculty Development in the Future of Online Education," The EvoLLLution, November 27, 2020.
Pesce, J. Professional development for teaching in higher education: Faculty perceptions and attitudes. Doctoral thesis. Boston College. 2015.
Ragupathi, K., Lee, A. (2020). Beyond Fairness and Consistency in Grading: The Role of Rubrics in Higher Education. In: Sanger, C., Gleason, N. (eds) Diversity and Inclusion in Global Higher Education. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-1628-3_3
Walsh L.L., Arango-Caro, S., Wester, E.R., Callis-Duehl,K., Training faculty as an institutional response to COVID-19 emergency remote teaching supported by data CBE-Life Sci Educ, 20 (2021), p. ar34
Websites
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/fostering-module-consistency-aid-learning
https://canvas.wfu.edu/2021/07/survey-says-consistency-please/
https://www.insidehighered.com/student-voice
https://u.osu.edu/carmencs/carmen-common-sense-top-10-tips/
References
GIF and Image Credits
Chaos gif by: All The Anime — Anime Limited
Full focus at a coffee shop photo by Tim Gouw for unsplash: https://unsplash.com/photos/1K9T5YiZ2WU
Chaos to Consistency
By Catherine Dowman
