Designing and Teaching for Learning (DT 101) focuses on the presentation of evidence based pedagogical approaches for student learning that promote success and satisfaction in all course modalities. The course, once completed, gives faculty the resources necessary to design and teach their courses within the Canvas Learning Management System and in the virtual and/or campus based classroom. This self-paced course was designed by Indiana University and adapted for use by the division of Teaching & Learning at Vanguard University. This certification course is for anyone developing and/or teaching any courses here at Vanguard and completion of the course with a score of 100% is required for certification.
Course Learning Objectives
Module 1: Getting Started With Canvas/Designing a Course
- Apply basic strategies for navigating and effectively using Canvas tools.
- Apply Backward Design to the development or revision of a course
- Write 2-4 measurable learning outcomes for that course
Module 2: Assessment and Active Learning
- Identify learning activities with different types of interaction (student↔content, student↔faculty, and student↔student).
- Plan a mix of active learning activities leveraging different types of interaction to enhance your course.
- Differentiate between authentic and traditional assessments and between formative and summative assessments.
- Identify the components of a balanced, comprehensive assessment strategy.
- Create appropriate ways to assess whether students have achieved the learning outcomes for your course.
Module 3: Course Content and Structure
- Explain how content supports your desired learning outcomes instead of leading the course.
- Begin to curate your own content and content from other sources based on your outcomes, assessments, and learners’ prior knowledge.
- Organize your course using the Modules tool.
- Use the course Home Page and/or a “Getting Started with the Course” page to welcome and orient your students.
- Write a readable, accessible syllabus that includes the information necessary for all students.
Module 4: Usability
- Explain the ways in which usability – including findability and visual design – can support student success.
- Make a plan to enhance usability in your course.
Module 5: Accessibility
- Recognize why it is important to make a course accessible.
- Begin work on strategies to enhance accessibility in your course.
Module 6: Multimedia
- Evaluate third-party video for engagement and applicability.
- Weigh the pros and cons of creating your own videos and if you choose, make an engaging, reusable video.
- Create presentations that are engaging and use tools in addition to or instead of PowerPoint.
Module 7: Instructor Presence
- Understand and describe the three types of online presence.
- Leverage each type of online presence to enhance your overall course.
Module 8: Teaching Online
- Plan and manage different types of participation in your course.
- Draft your expectations for your students and yourself in your course.
- Develop a realistic plan to balance your time while teaching your online course