Inclusive Course Design

Before jumping into course design, it’s important to first consider who your learners are.

• Assess your learners, their content knowledge, their technical skills, and experience with online learning; use this information to inform your course design.
• Your teaching presence is a critical element to the success of your design. Online learning isn’t “build it and go” — rather your presence will be continued and sustained throughout the course.
• Universal Design for Learning principles suggest the importance of providing learning outcomes and objectives that are stated in ways that help students see the “why” — helping learners reflect on why they are learning and why you are teaching as you are.
• All effective learning relies on effective learning goals, outcomes, and objectives. Online, it’s even more important to provide consistent, related, aligned learning goals.
• An Outcomes Map will help you organize your learning goals into a coherent schedule for learners.