Advancing Learning 2018

Course development challenges, there are many. Differing understandings of course quality, academic terminology, and available college resources. Timelines being missed. Differing visions of expectations and what the course product will look like. Subject matter experts (SMEs) developing learning materials that have to be re-done. Don't start with PowerPoint! Sometimes the course development process can seem like 2 steps forward and 10 steps back. These challenges have been faced by external SMEs, faculty, instructional designers, curriculum development specialists, administrators, and others involved in the course creation process.

This interactive session will illustrate how Mohawk College's Centre for Teaching & Learning and Continuing Education department have teamed up to continually refine course development activities and overcome pain points that have become ingrained in the process. The presenters will share the story of a new, fully online program that was developed over the period of one year. Discussing how the development process was assessed and modified after each round of course development to better reflect each team members challenges and needs. While the journey of continual improvement never ends, successes have been realized: courses are of higher quality, timelines were hit, frustrations have been lowered, and SMEs have been better supported. Various perspectives will be shared, including different members of the development team, as well as the external SME.

The presentation will draw on the audience's experience with course development to shape how the story is told by kick-starting with polling (via smartphone) of the audience to identify who is in the room and the type of course development experiences they've encountered.  The audience will continue to engage by sharing their own challenges, questions, and alternate strategies throughout the presentation/discussion. The session will conclude with increased awareness of processes and options available to all who are involved in course development.