Course Development

Steps to Develop a New Distance Education Course for Approval

1. Request to develop a new course.

The first step is submitting the Distance Course Development Application.

Keep in mind

• Courses are not approved in advance. They are added to the schedule upon completion of this development process.
• Each Special Topic must also be approved. We cannot just approve the course number, because the course content and assessments change based on the course topic.

Application Deadlines

• offered during the Spring term: August 1st
• offered during the Summer term: February 1st
• offered during the Fall term: February 1st

*If faculty prefer a designer build the course, the course content in its entirety (discussion questions, test questions, assignment information, course syllabus and schedule, etc.) is due by the above deadlines.

 

2. The Chair and Dean will sign the application.

The “Request to Develop” application you submitted will automatically trigger the rest of the process, including the required signatures from Chair/Dean.

 

 

 

3. Develop the Course Shell.

A development course will be created for you with a checklist. To work with a designer, start with drafts of the basic course components for development: (1) syllabus, (2) course schedule, (3) course content. Use Marshall’s H.O.M.E. framework as a guide.

Basic Components

• Syllabus, including course description, policies, grading schema, and instructor contact information.
• Course schedule with up-to-date due dates.
• Course content to include, but not limited to:
  • Instructional materials: Lecture material and/or video lecture, textbook content.
  • Course assessments: formative assessments (practice) that align with summative assessments.
  • Learner engagement materials, such as Discussion Board prompts.
  • Any additional media or materials to be used in the development of the course.

 

4. Review and Revise.

The course will be reviewed by the instructor’s Chair/Dean and the Online Learning Team. If any edits are required, the faculty member will be notified and supported through the necessary adjustments. The Collaborative Checklist is a helpful document to facilitate these communications regarding our new Course Development standards here at Marshall: the H.O.M.E. framework.

 

 

 

 

5. Approval.

The course will be approved, added to the Master List of Approved Courses, and the Registrar will be notified that the course is available to be scheduled.