Instructional Design and Development provides training and professional, collaborative assistance to faculty planning and designing an online or hybrid course and to departments planning for an online program. Re-conceiving a course for online delivery involves designing active and collaborative learning activities that take full advantage of digital communication.

See also: Teaching an online course, structuring online discussion, and collaborative learning online

Strategies and Resources

Here are just a few strategies and resources to keep in mind while developing an outline course:

• Work with an instructional designer experienced with developing online classes. Contact an Instructional Design and Development consultant early in the design process.
• Design the course as an online learning community
• Create questions that encourage discussion and analysis. Online discussion is at the heart of the online learning environment. 
• Include an icebreaker assignment to both gauge student knowledge and also to serve as a get-to-know-you activity. 
• Select learning materials to take full advantage of the World Wide Web: check library resources for journal articles and graphic images; identify graphic, audio, or video materials to engage online learners.
• Provide clear assignment policies including, due dates and the policies if assignments are late, and expectations for discussion forum participation. Grading rubrics reduce student anxiety and focus student work.

Instructional Design and Development

• Consultation and resources on developing online, hybrid.
• Design and development of learning activities enriched by technology.
• Resources on developing multimedia curriculum resources.

Instructional Technology and Development (ITD)

• Blackboard training and quickguides for faculty and students
• Other instructional technologies