Designing Online Instruction

Learn about the online instructional environment, envisioning your online course, developing a web course, phases of design and development, design guidelines, and more.

Discover the principles behind the adoption of technology innovation and the nature of the online learning environment. Then get tips for planning your online course, identifying resources and design guidelines.

Discuss the phases of design and development and models, motivating student-student interaction, and managing interaction.  Get the latest information on copyright issues, assessment and evaluation.

Your instructor is co-author of the book Faculty Guide to Moving Teaching and Learning to the Web.

Online, one week, May 3-7; Nov 1-5; $195, includes book; Rita Marie Conrad, instructor.

 outlineCourse Outline

Unit 1
Overview of the Online Instructional Environment

  • Internet basics
  • Principles behind the adoption of technology innovation
  • The nature of the online learning environment

Unit 2
 Envisioning Your Online Course

  • Types of web courses
  • Preparing for the move to the Web
  • Analyzing your current course
  • Planning your web course
  • Identifying resources
  • Design guidelines

Unit 3
Developing a Web course

  • Team vs. Individual approach to development
  • Phases of design and development
  • Models of web courses

Unit 4
Online Interaction

  • Online collaboration
  • Creating an interactive environment
  • Motivating student-student interaction
  • Managing interaction

Unit 5
Issues in the Web Environment

  • Managing email
  • Facilitating discussions
  • Class size
  • Copyright

Assessment and Evaluation

Question MarkAbout online learning

Online learning is a fun, enjoyable and very productive way to learn. Millions of people are learning online each year. You will engage with the instructor and other participants. You will get to know your instructor and other participants. You may make friends.  It’s easy. It’s fun. 

GearsHow the Course Works

It is easy to participate in your online course. After you register, you will be given a web address to go to get into your online classroom.  You will have a password and use your email address and password to gain access.

Once inside the online classroom, here’s what you can expect.

CalendarParticipate when you want

Participants can participate as little or as much as you want.
You can participate any time of day or evening. The online classroom is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
There are no live real-time requirements or meetings. You decide when you participate.
For the best learning, participants should log into the course on 2-3 different days of the week.

ChecklistWhat you will do

For each Unit, you will:

  • Read the print readings (about 20 pages a week)
  • Have the option of accessing the online readings
  • Listen to the audio presentation for the Unit and view the slides
  • Have the option of taking a self-quiz to see how much you have learned
  • Engage in written online discussion with your instructor and other participants

For best learning, you should make one or more comments at 2-3 different times each week.
The content (readings, audio lectures, slides) and self quizzes are accessible for the entire course, so you can work ahead, or go back and review again, at your convenience.

DiscussionDiscussion

The Discussion for each Unit lasts one week. All comments are made in writing and can be made at any time of the day or night.

Your instructor will log into the Discussion area at least once a day and answer questions, make comments, and respond to comments by you and the other participants.

We encourage you to make 2-3 comments each week to maximize your learning and enjoyment of the course.

It’s easy. It’s fun.

Next offering(s):
November 1-5, 2010

About Your Instructors

Dr. Rita-Marie ConradRita-Marie Conrad has been teaching, designing and consulting about online courses for the past decade. She has been the head of online instructional development and an online faculty member at the School of Information Studies at Florida State University as well as the founding online faculty member of FSU’s Master’s degree program in instructional systems in the College of Education.

She has also taught online courses for Capella University and Nova Southeastern University and classroom-based courses for Tallahassee Community College.

Conrad consults on the design and implementation of distance learning courses, the management of technology-related projects, the use of technology in the classroom, and has provided training to community college and university faculty. She is a frequent presenter on the topic of online instruction at various national forums such as the Learning Resources Network and the Annual Conference on Distance Teaching and Learning.

Rita-Marie Conrad is coauthor of Faculty Guide to Moving Teaching and Learning to the Web, which assists faculty nationwide with decisions regarding the move of a course to the Web and is also the coauthor of Engaging the Online Learner: Activities for Creative Instruction which provides activities to develop an interactive online learning community.

She holds a Ph.D. in instructional systems design, with a focus in distance learning, from Florida State University, a master's degree in educational media and computers from Arizona State University and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Illinois State University.

Directional ArrowsCourse Objectives

  • To provide participants with background information on the online environment and the principles behind the adoption of technology innovation with regard to the creation and growth of online courses;
  • To provide participants with an understanding of the nature of the online learning environment;
  • To give practical, how-to techniques for the design of online instruction, including the planning of online courses, identifying resources and design guidelines;
  • To provide the best information on the phases of design and development of online courses and models;
  • To provide expert experience and perspective to those already teaching online and to discuss advanced issues in teaching online.

Puzzle PiecesCourse Outcomes

At the end of the course, you will:

  • Possess the information necessary to understand the phases of design and development and design guidelines for online courses;
  • Know the key steps in how to design online instruction, including the planning of online courses, identifying resources and design guidelines;
  • Get answers to the most advanced questions about copyright issues, assessment and evaluation;
  • Have addressed and discussed the most commonly asked problems and issues related to online instruction. 
  • Have the knowledge necessary to successfully design an online course.