Sample Syllabus

The syllabus is adapted each time for specific participant cohorts and course timelines.

General Information

Instructors: ATS instructional design staff
Office: 116 Pearson
Phone: 831-0640
Email: ats-info@udel.edu

Office hours: By appointment (in person or online)

Program Information

Program Description:

This program is designed to meet the needs of any faculty member in transitioning content to an online environment regardless of the delivery modality (F2F, Hybrid (Blended) or Online). It will provide you with an opportunity to learn about and experience from a students perspective learning in an online environment. To effectively create content to be used online, you need to have an authentic experience in this type of learning environment. While participating in both F2F and online activities, you will be considering and developing instructional and assessment techniques that you will incorporate into the design of your own course. You will be expected to write goals and objectives for your course, create learning modules, and prepare assessment techniques that will demonstrate how you will meet your goals. Throughout this course you will be guided by a team of people ready to assist you and help you make the most from this professional development experience.

Program Goals:

Participants will:

• Learn the strengths and weaknesses of online instruction in its many forms.
• Learn techniques to design course content for hybrid or fully online courses.
• Increase understanding of appropriate technologies for teaching online.
• Learn Instructional Design methodology.
• Develop a community with other faculty throughout the program and beyond.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this program, participants will be able to:

1. Apply instructional design principles to the creation of new content/courses by:
   1. Analyzing their course as it is currently taught and identifying any barriers to effective instruction.
   2. Analyzing the needs of their learners and what they need to succeed in their course.
   3. Creating course goals and learner-centered objectives.
   4. Identifying clear learning outcomes.
   5. Assessing various teaching strategies, their strengths, weaknesses and applicability to a hybrid or online situation.
   6. Developing/revising a course syllabus.
   7. Creating at least one learning module (includes readings, assignments, assessment criteria, instructor’s notes) that effectively demonstrates the successful integration and cohesiveness of teaching in both the online and F2F format.
2. Recognize and develop a plan for any potential problems a student could have learning in a hybrid or online environment and strategies for coping with them.
3. Determine when a particular technology tool is appropriate for use in helping to meet course goals and objectives.
4. Develop a written plan for completing their project (i.e. new course design, online modifications to an existing course, sample new online learning modules).

Instructional Format:

This program has a hybrid format consisting of planned face-to-face (F2F) sessions and online activities and assignments with a focus on sound pedagogy. There will be a mix of discussion (both F2F and online), hands-on activities and self-paced activities throughout, while you begin developing different aspects or components of your own course. Our role as instructors is to guide you through the course design process and facilitate your learning of the skills necessary to complete the design of your course.

Texts and resources:

No textbook required. Suggested readings will be provided via a site in Canvas.

Requirements:

Course or University Requirements:

Acceptance to participate in the program, support of your department head if needed.

Computing Requirements:

• Email – valid UD email address
• Have access to the Internet (will be using Canvas)
• Have a web camera and microphone to participate in online web conferencing

Program Policies:

You are expected to attend all F2F sessions and participate in all the online sessions or activities. Each of the assignments or activities is meant to help you progress in the completion of your projects. This program is meant to give you an authentic experience in a hybrid or online environment. Its success depends on the full participation of all its participants.

Protocols:

• What we expect from you
• What you can expect from us
• E-mail protocol
• Discussion Forum protocol
• Chat protocol
• F2F sessions protocol
• Web-conferencing protocol

Accommodations Due to Disability:

If anyone needs any special assistance or accommodations due to a disability, please let ATS know immediately so that proper arrangements can be made.

Grading

Evaluation and Feedback:

Besides feedback from the staff, you will be strongly encouraged to give constructive feedback to your peers. It is our expectation that all participants will benefit from the interactive activities that will be experienced both in the F2F sessions and in the online environment. Faculty enjoy learning from each other and each others experiences.

 

A post survey will be given to help us continue to evaluate, revise and improve the program.

An important aspect of learning in an online environment is to be able to develop a sense of community with all participants. Since you will be relying on your fellow faculty for ideas and feedback, attendance is strongly recommended.

Sample Assignments Schedule