Plan/Prepare

Deciding on Your Instructional Materials

Last revised: 6/14/2022 by ess

Overview:

This article provides instructional material alternatives, with examples, for use in online, hybrid, and face-to-face courses.  Three options will be considered. Should you “make”, “buy” or look for “free” materials that support your learning objectives? Continue reading

Managing Your Online Course

Last revised on 8/29/2024 by KK

Overview

The Course Facilitation Plan (CFP) outlines the key steps to take before, during, and after your course implementation, presented in the recurring course life-cycle, as well as recognizing the four roles of an online instructor. Download a copy of the file to create your own customized version.

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Specifications Grading: A Method to Improve Student Performance

Last revised: 10/07/2021 by JP

Overview

Are you looking to increase student motivation and the quality of their academic work? If yes, consider specifications grading.  According to Linda B. Nilson, Ph.D. the traditional higher education grading method is broken and specifications grading offers a solution with benefits for both students and faculty. Nilson published her seminal work, Specifications Grading: Restoring Rigor, Motivating Students and Saving Faculty Time, in 2015.  Since then, faculty have adopted her method, including some at UConn.

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Competencies for Online and Hybrid/Blended Instruction

Last revised: 10/24/2022  by jap

Overview:

What does an instructor need to succeed with an online or hybrid/blended course? The UConn Competencies for Online and Hybrid/Blended Instruction provides twenty-seven competencies to inform and self-assess against. The UConn Competencies for Online and Hybrid/Blended Instruction tool serves as an instructor self-assessment. The second edition takes into account developments in higher education instruction since the COVID pandemic.

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Design: Using a Course Design Plan

Last revised: 02/03/2020 by jap

Overview:

This article introduces using a course design plan for the Design phase of the ADDIE (Analysis, Design, Develop, Implement and Evaluate) instructional design model. It also emphasis how using a course design plan can help meet Quality Matters’ design standards.

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