Online Course Production with the School of Professional Studies

OVERVIEW

The course development process is a 15-week-long collaborative partnership with the faculty member serving as a subject matter expert (SME) and the instructional designer (ID) as the online learning expert and project manager. The goal of the process is a complete, student-ready online or blended course guided by the School of Professional Studies' Students First Framework.

What does Students First mean? It means a course experience designed for students that is flexible, engaging, accessible, inclusive, aligned, and relevant.

SMEs will work with an ID to design courses that meet the needs of UNC Charlotte's adult learners but also are easier and more sustainable to teach from an instructor perspective.

NOTE: Faculty SMEs for the course development process are recruited and selected by the School of Professional Studies in collaboration with programs and departments. Please complete the interest form if you would like more information.

RESPONSIBILITIES

SME

The majority of SMEs report spending 2-5 hours per week on the process

Meet with ID throughout process (meetings are included in reported time)
Provide drafts of course elements
Consult with ID on look & feel of course
Collaborate with ID on revisions to course elements

Digital Learning Production Team

Outline existing course and provide feedback and revision suggestions on course elements
Fine tune alignment
Identify OER resources
Produce media
Build Canvas shell with template
Build all modules, pages, assignments, and materials in Canvas
Format documents and media for accessibility
Set due dates, assignment settings, and complete gradebook setup
Complete final checks to ensure readiness

TIMELINE & MILESTONES

The course development process closely spans the length of the academic semester in fall, spring, and summer. The development process runs 15 weeks, with course celebrations scheduled a few weeks after the end of the process.

Spring 2025 Cohort Dates

Intake Meeting: October - December

Discuss course goals, confirm modality, brainstorm big challenges.

⭐ Process Start: 1/13 ⭐

IDs will reach out to schedule a first meeting, learn the details of your development process, and explain the process in more detail.

Course Planning: January - February, Weeks 1-6: 1/13 - 2/21

Plan overall course design and structure with ID.

Course Development: February - April, Weeks 7-12: 2/24 - 4/4

ID builds course in Canvas.

Course Polishing: April, Weeks 13-15: 4/7 - 4/25

Collaborate with ID to polish and revise course.

🎉Course Completion: 4/25🎉

Course is done!

Summer 2025 Cohort Dates

Intake Meeting: March - May

Discuss course goals, confirm modality, brainstorm big challenges.

⭐ Process Start: 5/12 ⭐

IDs will reach out to schedule a first meeting, learn the details of your development process, and explain the process in more detail.

Course Planning: May - June, Weeks 1-6: 5/12 - 6/20

Plan overall course design and structure with ID.

Course Development: June - July, Weeks 7-12: 6/23 - 8/1

ID build s course in Canvas.

Course Polishing: July - August, Weeks 13-15: 8/4 - 8/22

Collaborate with ID to polish and revise course.

🎉Course Completion: 8/22🎉

Course is done!

Fall 2025 Cohort Dates

Intake Meeting: May - July

Discuss course goals, confirm modality, brainstorm big challenges.

⭐ Process Start: 9/2 ⭐

IDs will reach out to schedule a first meeting, learn the details of your development process, and explain the process in more detail.

Course Planning: September - October, Weeks 1-6: 9/2 - 10/10

Plan overall course design and structure with ID.

Course Development: October - November, Weeks 7-12 : 10/13 - 11/21

ID builds course in Canvas.

Course Polishing: November - December, Weeks 13-16: 11/24 - 12/12

Collaborate with ID to polish and revise course.

🎉Course Completion: 12/12 🎉

Course is done!

A course closeout celebration party will be held in person in Fall 2025 to celebrate course completions for the Fall 2024, Spring 2025, and Summer 2025 cohorts. Fall 2025 cohorts will be celebrated in Fall 2026.

EXPECTATIONS

By the end of the process, you will have a complete, student-ready course. Your course should:

Align with Students First Framework guidelines as established by Course Production Team and course development process
Meet the Quality Matters Student-Ready Checklist requirements as evaluated by the instructional designer
Contain accessible files, documents, presentations, videos, and Canvas pages

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