4 UMN Online Teaching & Design  Effective Practices and Guidelines

The University community has developed resources to guide the practice of online design and teaching. Introduced below, these resources provide a framework for the Online Design & Teaching Program. 

Each module in this program will indicate which Effective Practices are being addressed, and activities will allow you to apply the Effective Practices.

The Effective Practices were considered as the Guidelines were created. Both documents may be used as a resources at any time.

Effective Practices

Created by an interdisciplinary UMN team, the Online Design and Teaching Effective Practices (Links to an external site.) outline the skills needed to support a learner centered experience in today’s digital learning environment.

1. Learning Design Effective Practice
   Create a learning-centered experience where goals, assessments, and activities are in alignment.
2. Learning Environment Effective Practice
   Create a learning environment that facilitates a learner-centered approach using appropriate resources and technologies.
3. Online Teaching Effective Practice
   Facilitate learner engagement with the instructor, other learners, and course content.

Please refer the Effective PracticesLinks to an external site. as a resource throughout this course.

Guidelines

The Guidelines for Online Teaching and DesignLinks to an external site. assist members of the University community (e.g., faculty, instructors, administrators, instructional designers) in supporting student learning in online courses and programs. The Guidelines cover a range of topics and resources critical to providing an effective learner-centered online experience.

“Online teaching” can include a variety of course delivery types (e.g. fully online, hybrid, blended or face-to-face); in other words, the Guidelines for Online Teaching and Design are relevant whenever a course integrates online elements (e.g., Canvas) into teaching and learning.

Please visit and refer to the GuidelinesLinks to an external site. as a resource throughout this course.

University of Minnesota Online Course Development

The University’s resources for the Online Course Development ProcessLinks to an external site. include information on:

• Standards for an online course
• Attributes of quality online courses
• Instructional time, student work & credit hours.

Please take a moment to briefly scan these resources; we will refer back to them throughout this program.