Embedded Files
From the Quality Framework
From the Quality Framework
Orientation of the Virtual Space
How an online course is set up matters to students. A course that is clearly outlined and is easy to navigate creates a welcoming and encouraging atmosphere for students to thrive in. Consider what the ‘landing page’ on your course learning management system (LMS) looks like and how a student might feel whilst navigating various modules in your course. Provide synchronous and asynchronous spaces for students to ask general and course-specific questions, ensuring that they can do so in a safe and supportive environment.
Guiding questions
Can students find their way around the course easily and intuitively?
Have you labelled course content with helpful names such as “Introduction to Animal Behaviour; Week One”, “How Animals Learn; Week Two”, etc.?
Do students have a designated place to go to for asking questions and seeking clarification?
Main Components
Main Components
Welcome Message
Welcome Message
A good welcome message will contain at least the following:
An over arching description of the course
Expectations for success
Details on how to navigate the course
Here are two examples of welcome messages that meet these requirements. Feel free to download and adapt these for your own courses.
Course Navigation
Course Navigation
No matter how you want to organize your course, you should provide details to students on what sort of content can be found where. Usually, this will take your main left hand Blackboard menu and explain what is found in each section.
You can either do this by creating a video, a PowerPoint presentation, or a document (with screenshots).
See the Ideas section for an example of a course structure that is intuitive, easy to navigate and clear.
If you'd like to up your content creation game, consider taking the 'Developing Online Materials for your Course' professional development course offered by The Teaching & Learning Centre team.
Instructor Information
Instructor Information
Seneca's default Blackboard shell contains a menu item called, 'Faculty Information'. In here you'll want to make sure the following information is present:
Time and date of virtual office hours
Your e-mail
Ideal e-mail response time (24 or 48 business hours for example)
Any other method of communication (MS Teams message for example)
Managing Expectations
Managing Expectations
One significant purpose of orienting students in the virtual space is to set expectations for them, and to provide instructions for how they can meet those expectations. Ensuring that you start off in a communicative, respectful, and clear way will set the tone for the rest of the course.
Different instructors will have different styles and tools that they use. As a result, a student might have to navigate numerous tools and teaching styles in one semester. Doing what we can to ensure that our courses are clearly and intuitively laid out goes a long way to promote academic success.
We also want to make clear what learners can expect from us and we expect from them. Making sure everyone is on the same page is an important step to ensure learners have a rewarding experience. We want to emulate the values that we expect from students.
3 important values are:
Professionalism
Promptness
Presence
As a result, these three Ps are important for us as instructors to embody right from the beginning of our classes. Make sure these values are incorporated into your teaching practice from day 1.
For more information, view the Nutshell, Managing Virtual Expectations in a Virtual Course by Seneca's Teaching & Learning Centre. See it here.
Ideas
Ideas
Create a Landing Page
Create a Landing Page
Seneca's default Blackboard shell uses the Announcement section as it's homepage. If you frequently use announcements to provide updates to the course, it can be helpful to create a stand-alone landing page that doesn't change with all the introductory information about the course.
Select the "+" icon on the left side menu
Select 'Content Area'
Give it a name, such as 'Welcome Page' or 'Course Home'
Inside, you can add whatever introductory information you'd like
Once you've created the Landing Page area, find 'Customization' in the lower part of the left side menu.
Under 'Customization', select 'Teaching Style'.
This will take you to a Blackboard page with various options to customize your course.
Under 'Select Course Entry Point' you can change the course's landing page.
Here you can also add a banner to the course as well. This banner will only appear over the Course Entry Page.
Course Menu
Course Menu
Seneca's default course shell can be changed to create a menu that better aligns to your course. Taking advantage of this is a great way to make your course structure intuitive and easy to navigate.
At The Teaching & Learning Centre, we suggest the following structure:
Course Home Page
Announcements
Course Information
Put things like the course outline, syllabus, a link to a calendar, netiquette guidelines alongside any important general course information
Weekly Learning Content
This is a more intuitive name for what is by default the 'Course Documents' section
Tutorial/Office Hours
This could be named 'Online Classroom' depending on how you use it. In either case, it should be a 'Tool Link' to Big Blue Button or Zoom. See here for how to create a tool link.
Discussion Boards
If you don't use discussion boards as part of your class, you might want to rename it as, 'Ask a Question' to allow students to ask general course questions. You can also use it as a general discussion area for students to discuss topics without being marked. You could also make a web link to a Padlet instead. See here on how to create a web link.
Whatever method you use, just remember to check it regularly!
Seneca Resource
Place links to Counselling and Accessibility, Learning Supports, and other Seneca Resources
Faculty Contact Information
My Grades
Structuring the 'Weekly Learning Content' Folder
Structuring the 'Weekly Learning Content' Folder
Whether you call it, 'Weekly Learning Content' or 'Lectures', it should be well organized.
A well organized Content Area in Blackboard will make good use of either folders or modules.
Folders are simpler than modules, but either work.
To the left is an example of a well structured 'Weekly Learning Content' section using folders.
It has a separate folder each week and lists the title of the content. Within each folder is a set of items that comprise that week's content.
Make a folder by selecting 'Build Content' and then 'Content Folder'. See here for an image of this process.
Create a 'Course Story'
Create a 'Course Story'
A 'Course Story' is a short visually appealing way to communicate a lot of general information about your course.
It's a great piece to add to your 'Course Home Page'!
Download a copy here to customize for your own course.
Credit: Valerie Lopes from Seneca's School of English and Liberal Studies.
Liquid Syllabus
Liquid Syllabus
Credit: Michelle Pacansky-Brock
Usually our syllabi are written documents in PDF formats. The Liquid Syllabus is a different approach where the syllabus is hosted online. A great user-friendly free option to create these syllabi is Google Sites.
There are many advantages to using a syllabus like this:
It is not hidden behind the login requirements of an LMS.
It can easily be shared as a link via e-mail.
It will display equally well on mobile and desktop devices.
Welcome videos can be added in.
Colours can be utilized to make it more aesthetic and visually appealing.
More information can be added in, allowing you to add useful information that isn't traditionally part of the syllabus.
It helps gets students excited for class!
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse