c d course design rubric - uaf elearning & distance education

Center for DistanCe eDuCation

Course Design

This course design rubric is meant to be a tool for evaluating course renewal as well as new course de-velopment. This rubric focuses on the dynamics of electronic communication, particularly web-based opportunities, but does not presuppose any specific technology. Purposeful selection of course delivery methods enhances the quality of distance courses and provides effective learning outcomes.

The course rubric is segmented into three distinct course facets: Course organization, student Assess-ment, and enriched Learning environment. Within each facet are identified various individual features to be evaluated for each course. each feature is to be rated as either Advanced, Proficient, or Developing ac-cording to the outlined criteria.

Advanced: only a few courses in the inventory will fall completely in the Advanced column.

Proficient: All courses offered to students will attain Proficient status in 95% of the features.

Developing: A course either on the way up the develop-ment process or about to be dropped from the catalog. These courses will not be open to student enrollment.

All the Features share a similar philosophic continuum from Developing to Advanced. in the developing col-umn features may be completely absent, not addressed, or not mentioned in the course syllabus. in the Profi-cient column the feature is something done to the stu-dent, described to the student, in a single mode, or de-rived from stock resources. in the Advanced column, the feature is done with the student, explained to the student, repeated in multiple modes, or customized to the specific student in the class.

Traditional correspondence distance classes (via print, audio/teleconference) are strongly encouraged to in-corporate web-based components where they would most appropriately enrich the learning experience.

Course number

Course title

rubriCVersion 1.2 - October 17, 2006

except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/)


Course rubriC

university of alaska fairbanks

WelcomeCreate encouraging context.

Visual layoututilization of two-dimensional presentation to create a coherent learning context.

audience specifiedsituate course with student aca-demic goals.

course objectiVesrelation of course objectives to program requirements.

Proficient

Developing

Advanced

Proficient

Developing

Advanced

Proficient

Developing

Advanced

Proficient

Developing

Advanced

advanced:instructor welcome letter to students personalized for academic term.Welcome and introductory information available in alternate formats.proficient:syllabus contains a standardized introductory letter to the student.developing:no introductory statement of welcome.no statement of course learning outcomes.

comments:

advanced:Visual and textural elements on course pages linked directly to learning objectives.proficient:Visual presentation is clear and uncluttered on the page.organization and layout of lessons is consistent.developing:Preponderance of text only on pages.

comments:

advanced:Program-specific statement identifying the course as part of a degree/certificate programproficient:statement identifying the course as a core or elective of specific university programs.developing:no statement identifying course as part of any program plan.

comments:

advanced:Course objectives customized to meet individual learning needs.proficient:Clearly stated overall course learning objectives to program standards and graduation require-ments.developing:no stated overall course learning objectives.

comments:

Course organization


Course rubriC

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pre-existing KnoWledgeLearning constructed on pre-existing knowledge.

computer sKillsAwareness of the variation in com-puter skills among students.

Proficient

Developing

Advanced

Proficient

Developing

Advanced

Course organization

course materialsAfford pre-planning for access to course materials.

Proficient

Developing

Advanced

advanced:Lesson/Module objectives related to outcomes.Lesson/Module objectives related to post course utilizations.proficient:Clear brief statements of lesson/module objectives.developing:no unit objectives evident.

comments:

advanced:Course materials adapt to pre-existing knowledge.Pre-existing knowledge is routinely assessed at the lesson/module level.proficient:Pre-existing knowledge recognized with alternative resources/enrichment available.developing:no mechanism to ascertain pre-existing knowledge of course content area.

comments:

advanced:Assignments customized to student skill levels with links to tutorials and self-assessments.proficient:Clear expectations provided of necessary hardware or software skills with links to tutorials.developing:no description of needed skills or equipment.

comments:

advanced:Alternative materials and sources are identified.Participant-generated resources are encouraged and shared.proficient:Comprehensive list of necessary materials.Clear directions how to obtain materials.developing:no course material list.

comments:

lesson/module objectiVesintentional link of lessons to over-all objectives.

Proficient

Developing

Advanced


Course rubriC

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course scheduleVisibility of successful course completion pacing.

instructor contact informationease of instructor contact.

Proficient

Developing

Advanced

Proficient

Developing

Advanced

Course organizationadvanced:Course specific grading policy in the syllabus.Clear directions for students to check their grades.Hyperlink to online grade checking location in the syllabus.examples provided for legitimate grade appeals.proficient:CDe standard grading policy in the syllabus.instructions for test proctoring.developing:no grading policy.no late assignment policy.no participation policy.

comments:

advanced:Detailed, inter-linked schedule of due dates and exams.Customized course completion contract.proficient:Completion in the semester or yearlong mode are clear.Lesson pacing expectations provided.developing:no course completion schedule or timeline.boilerplate schedule information from parent organization.

comments:

advanced:Automated response to all student contact to confirm receipt.Virtual office hours or iM addressproficient:Multiple & preferred methods to contact instructor in the syllabus.developing:no instructor contact information provided.

comments:

grading policystudent access to grade informa-tion.

Proficient

Developing

Advanced


Course rubriC


ethical/legalexpectationsAwareness of professional ethical nuances.

Proficient

Developing

Advanced

organizationalpolicies & guidelinesexplanation of the learning context.

Proficient

Developing

Advanced

Course organization

disability accommodationsrecognition of the validity of dis-ability accommodation.

Proficient

Developing

Advanced

advanced:Mention in the syllabus that announcements will be regularly used throughout the course.Announcements mailed out to correspondence students.Contact plan involves all students, including addressing “missing” and at-risk students.proficient:Course announcements sent to students according to plan.Course announcements placed on a web site available to all enrolled students.developing:no contact plan.

comments:

advanced:Departmental policies are available from multiple sources with explanations of necessity.Custom policies and extended info available from instructor for individual course/program.proficient:Department policies and guidelines are conveniently available.developing:no department policies or guidelines posted.

comments:

advanced:Course syllabus provides explanatory scenarios to illustrate ethical decisions specifically related to the course content areas.Personal letter from instructor and/or personal student contractproficient:university legal and ethical expectations clearly identified regarding plagiarism, test taking, copy-right laws, and confidentiality.developing:no ethical or legal guidelines evident.

comments:

advanced:non-threatening procedure provided for candidates to notify the instructor for accommodation needs.proficient:university policy cited in syllabus.developing:no disability accommodations is course tasks.no procedures for students to notify instructor of special needs.

comments:

student contactplaneffort to contact students while course is underway with broad an-nouncements.

Proficient

Developing

Advanced


Course rubriC

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advanced:Procedure in place to aggregate course evaluations over multiple semesters and return that infor-mation to the instructor and course design team.proficient:Course evaluation procedure has a mechanism to return aggregated student response to instructor.developing:Course evaluation instrument is not specific to distance courses.

comments:

comments/suggestions:

course assessmentProcedure for utilization of course evaluations in formative feedback loops.

Proficient

Developing

Advanced

Course organization summaryoVerall organizationA cumulative rating based on orga-nizational features evaluated.

Proficient

Developing

Advanced


Course rubriC

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advanced:instructor to provide feedback on activities using examples.Multiple assessment types utilized.student self-evaluation.Peer evaluation (online only).proficient:regular feedback on course progress. Performance-specific rubrics and criteria for grading (eg. class projects; papers; online forums; participation; surveys; communication to instruction; quizzes/exams.developing:grades communicated to students.

comments:

advanced:Course grade determined using multi-modal performancesproficient:grades communicated to students with meaningful feedback that refers to rubrics and scoring criteria.developing:Final grade assigned without feedback.

comments:

advanced:short written discussion associating available communication channels with course competenciesuse of multi-modes of interaction.proficient:Clear criteria outlining communication expectationsopportunity for peer interactions as process of knowledge acquisitionexamples of successful student workdeveloping:Minimal to no communication expectations

comments:


formatiVe assessmentsChannels for continuous commu-nication.

Proficient

Developing

Advanced

student Assessment

student Assessment summaryoVerall course ratingA cumulative rating based on all evaluated course features.

Proficient

Developing

Advanced

summatiVe assessmentsFinal assessment communication to students.

Proficient

Developing

Advanced

communication channelsMake communication choices vis able

Proficient

Developing

Advanced


Course rubriC

Page �


professional communityFamiliarity with a community of practitioners.

Proficient

Developing

Advanced

learning communityease of practice of community building skills.

Proficient

Developing

Advanced

enriched Learning environmentdesigned discourseinteractive activities other than performances.

instructor/studentinteractionease of contact between student and instructor.

Proficient

Developing

Advanced

Proficient

Developing

Advanced

advanced:Multiple channels of interaction available.Customized communication channels relate to the course learning objectives (eg. group collabora-tion or computer supported group work)open-ended collaboration and creation of meaningproficient:instructor-led or pre-defined interactions tied to course materials and objectives.developing:no explicit course interaction features.

comments:

advanced:Course syllabus specifies multiple communication methods (synchronous, asynchronous, near-syn-chronous) between students and instructors for routine and non-routine interactions.proficient:Course syllabus specifies methods for routine contact between student and instructor such as discussion boards, reflective activities, and virtual office hours.developing:no specific instructor interaction with students other than returning graded assignments.

comments:

advanced:students practice networking with other students through course learning objectives using mul-tiple synchronous and/or asynchronous tools (eg. blogs, pictures, personal files).proficient:Course syllabus gives specific methods for students to network with other students.developing:no clear way for students to network with other students.

comments:

advanced:guest experts are invited into the course.students are encouraged to join in professional activities as a course objective.The class embeds the Community of Learners in the existing Community of Practice.proficient:Course contains a discussion of a variety of schools of thought within the content area with link-ages to professional associations.developing:no specific linkages to professional resources in the course content field.

comments:


Course rubriC


modalitiesValidity of multiple pathways for processing information to memory.

situated learningrecognition that students are only partially embedded in the class.

Proficient

Developing

Advanced

Proficient

Developing

Advanced

enriched Learning environment

actiVity Varietysituating the textbook in context.

Proficient

Developing

Advanced

learning stylesAvailability of content and resourc-es for multiple intelligences.

Proficient

Developing

Advanced

advanced:Assessment methods tied to multiple modalities to allow student success based on student prefer-ences.Content customized according to preferred/optimal modalities.proficient:Course uses multiple information processing methods (eg. problem-based collaborative groups, role playing, active learning aimed at visual or auditory learners).developing:Course relies on a single modality for processing information (eg. didactic lecture or reading book chapters).

comments:

advanced:A variety of assessment methods are available and customized to promote multiple intellectual performances and demonstrations both verse and diverse.proficient:Multiple performance types are prescribed including those demonstrating inter- and intra-per-sonal intelligences.developing:Course relies on a single type of multiple intelligence with limited performances by students.

comments:

advanced:Diverse learning activities customized to student choices.proficient:Course includes a variety of types of learning activities.developing:Textbook/readings or other single entity are single learning resource.

comments:

advanced:students share their place-based experiences with other students.Place-based experiences retained as resource for later students.proficient:Materials and activities linked to student exploration of their own place-based examples.developing:no references to student’s place as a relevant learning tool.

comments:


Course rubriC


frequently asKed questionsFAQ as a community building tool.

Proficient

Developing

Advanced

enriched Learning summaryoVerall course ratingA cumulative rating based on all evaluated course features.

Proficient

Developing

Advanced

enriched Learning environment

Course evaluation summaryoVerall course ratingA cumulative rating based on all evaluated course features.

Proficient

Developing

Advanced

advanced:FAQ maintained online for enrolled students.FAQ has dated entries to place the questions in a historical context.proficient:FAQ is part of the course syllabus.Customized policies distinguished and explained.developing:no information provided about questions from previous students.

comments:



c d course design rubric - uaf elearning & distance education

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