Course Development Path to Success
Weekly Update~Summer 2014 Course Development
February 3-February 9, 2014
Welcome!
Welcome to GSE's Course Development Path to Success. Over the next 10 weeks you will receive weekly emails that will guide you through the course development process.
Week 1 To-Do's
1. Log-in to UBlearns. Since the Summer courses are not yet available in UBlearns faculty that are scheduled to teach online have been set-up with a Practice Course to begin course development. If you do not see a Practice course in your UBlearns course list please click here to request one.
You will be able to copy all of the content that you develop in your Practice Course (or portions of the course) into your actual course site when it becomes available.
2. Open your Practice Course to begin to explore all that UBlearns has to offer. If you are an inexperienced UBlearns user please consider taking a workshop through the Teaching & Learning Center (see more info below). Or, schedule a one-on-one consultation with an Instructional Designer (Anne Reed).
3.Conceptualize your course. If you are developing a new course now is the time to begin to conceptualize your course. Start by imagining what you hope your students will gain from your class. If you will be teaching a course that you have already taught before perhaps you can use this time to consider what you might do differently the next time around.
Next week we will begin the development of your syllabus. If you already have a syllabus you might be able to use next week's tips to improve upon what you already have established.
You will be able to copy all of the content that you develop in your Practice Course (or portions of the course) into your actual course site when it becomes available.
2. Open your Practice Course to begin to explore all that UBlearns has to offer. If you are an inexperienced UBlearns user please consider taking a workshop through the Teaching & Learning Center (see more info below). Or, schedule a one-on-one consultation with an Instructional Designer (Anne Reed).
3.Conceptualize your course. If you are developing a new course now is the time to begin to conceptualize your course. Start by imagining what you hope your students will gain from your class. If you will be teaching a course that you have already taught before perhaps you can use this time to consider what you might do differently the next time around.
Next week we will begin the development of your syllabus. If you already have a syllabus you might be able to use next week's tips to improve upon what you already have established.
Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities
1. UBlearns: Overview
Friday, February 7, 2014 • 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
B2C Abbott Hall (HSL), South Campus
2.UBlearns: Communication Overview
Monday, February 10, 2014 • 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
212 Capen Hall, North Campus
Resources
The Best Practices Portal is an administrative site in UBlearns that houses useful information, tutorials, etc. pertaining to online teaching. You should see the BPP in your UBlearns course list. If you do not have access to the BPP please send an email to gseonline@buffalo.edu
View the UBlearns section of the Best Practices Portal (BPP). Here you will find extensive resources for using UBlearns, including:
View the UBlearns section of the Best Practices Portal (BPP). Here you will find extensive resources for using UBlearns, including:
- Creating folders, files, items, pages and links
- The Grade Center
- Discussion Board
- Assessments, and more!
Further Reading
- Designing for Learning: Ten Best Practices for Teaching Online. Quick Guide for New Online faculty. Here are ten best practices for anyone just getting started in the online environment. Research and experience suggest that these practices contribute to an effective, efficient, and satisfying teaching and learning experience for both faculty and students. Using these practices can help develop confidence, comfort, and experience in teaching online.
- Faculty Focus 10 Principles of Effective Online Teaching: Best Practices in Distance Education. The articles contained in the report will help you establish online instructor best practices and expectations, and includes principles of effective online teaching.