Online Course Design Institute

The Online Course Design Institute (OCDI) is a five-week, asynchronous online experience for K-State instructors who are currently teaching or plan to develop an online course in the next year. Optional synchronous sessions may be offered and will be recorded for later viewing.

We plan to offer the OCDI each term. In Fall 2024, the OCDI will be offered from Sept. 3 through Oct. 4, 2024.

About the Program

This program is based on a Backward Design course building model that walks participants through drafting course goals and objectives, course mapping, and assignment and assessment design. You will be engaging in five modules.

Module 1: Teaching Persona, Philosophy and Practice
Module 2: Fundamentals of Online Teaching and Learning
Module 3: Integrating Technology into Teaching and Learning
Module 4: Student Success in Online Teaching and Learning
Module 5: Assessment in Online Teaching and Learning

Required Prerequisite

Basic knowledge of Canvas is required for participation. If you need Canvas training prior to the OCDI or have any questions about the program, please contact the  Center for Academic Innovation instructional designers at gcid@ksu.edu, or  Lisa Shappee  at K-State Salina at lshappee@k-state.edu.

Cost-Free

The OCDI is provided at no cost, but limited seats are available. Faculty completing all requirements will earn a certificate of completion.

Frequently Asked Questions

What benefits can participants expect to receive from this program?

Participants will walk away being able to demonstrate a wide range of competencies. Other benefits include engaging with colleagues across disciplines, receiving feedback on course design elements from instructional designers, and receiving access to a guided pathway for course design using research-based principles. All elements included in the course are purposeful and build on one another, and participants will see a range of methods demonstrated throughout the program that they can include in their own course designs.

Who is the primary audience for this program?

This program fits a range of audiences since its primary focus is walking instructors through the course design process using the Backward Design method. Participants new to online teaching will certainly benefit, and experienced instructors should walk away with new ideas. This program is meant to offer a step-by-step guide for course design, so instructors who are feeling overwhelmed by the idea of designing an online course from scratch will benefit from this “guided tour” of course design. The instructors will work to continually improve the program based on faculty needs and requests as we gather participant feedback.

How much time can participants expect to spend on a weekly basis?

Participants should anticipate at least 3-5 hours of engagement each week, depending on how deeply they want to go into the course design activities. The time commitment will also depend on whether the instructor is building a course from scratch, or if they are transitioning a course that they have previously taught (i.e., they have a syllabus, ideas for assignments, assignment rubrics already created, etc.).