One Shell Model

For those of you who have taught IUOnline and or ACCEL® (accelerated) module-based courses in the past, this course shell – what we are calling the “One Shell” model – is the new “master shell” or “module” moving forward.

This new course design allows facilitators and learners – regardless of which instructional format they are engaging in (online or in class) – to have a consistent and balanced experience across those formats. The curriculum for each delivery type has been aligned so that we make best use of the course materials and avoid unnecessary duplication of content, resources, and use of online storage space. It also allows both the Office of Curriculum and Instruction as well as the academic departments a more efficient means of managing the course content, regardless of how a course is being delivered.

All students enrolled in accelerated, classroom-based courses will access their learner materials via Moodle. Learners no longer use a Learner Guide for the face-to-face classroom: the syllabus for this course covers both the classroom and online delivery methods. While the posted discussion activities for the online students will not necessarily be part of the classroom course, facilitators will make sure that students can see the Weekly Overviews, course resources, and assignment drop boxes as resources for both the face-to-face and online courses.

Similarly, facilitators no longer use a Facilitator’s Guide for the face-to-face classroom: this course overview, the course facilitator resources in the master (including publisher resources, when available), and all of the online content will help you deliver your course, regardless of delivery method (online or in class).

Facilitators, regardless of the delivery format of their course section, are encouraged to review this document and all of the loaded course materials carefully so that they can be ready to use any provided resources, as needed, to support student learning.

The standard/one-shell model also allows for an easy transition if one night of an off-site class has to be cancelled due to weather or instructor emergency. In such cases, instructor can make portions of the online class visible (for instance, discussion forums) so that class content is covered via Moodle for that week. When class reconvenes the following week, then, facilitator and students will have already covered the previous week's content online and the class continues with out compromising or sacrificing critical course content.

Following the module in a College of Adult Professional Studies (CAPS) course, either in an ACCEL^® or IU Online course is required of all faculty teaching in the program – be they full time or part time. While instructors are expected to bring their own expertise and awareness of recent developments in their fields to the class, the module is the primary guide for the course. If an instructor sees room for improvement in a module, he or she should address those concerns to the appropriate academic department representative or to the Director of Curriculum and Instruction.

Each academic department oversees the development of its accelerated program and IU Online curriculum, and the Office of Curriculum and Instruction (C&I) assists each department in the development of the course materials. Once the department has approved curriculum materials, the C&I office oversees future updates and edits in conjunction with the departments. Modules are normally edited for one (or more) of the following reasons:

• • Textbook updates (new editions/changes in texts)

  • Departmental decision

  • Suggestions from instructors and student evaluations