This document discusses best practices for designing exemplary online courses using Blackboard. It describes Blackboard's Catalyst Award Program which recognizes innovative online courses and programs. There are four award categories: Exemplary Course, Student Impact, Staff Development, and Innovation. The Exemplary Course Program uses a rubric to evaluate courses in four areas: course design, interaction/collaboration, assessment, and learner support. Sample attributes are provided for each area. The presentation includes an example course and encourages attendees to view exemplary course tours, review courses for the program, and submit their own courses.

1. Designing Exemplary Online Courses
in Blackboard

2. Presenter
Jason Rhode
Email: jrhode@niu.edu
Phone: 815.753.2475
Twitter: @jrhode

3. Overview
Sample
Courses
Practical
Tips
Best Practices

4. What Constitutes Quality Online?

5. Blackboard Catalyst Program
The Blackboard Catalyst Award Program honors those who push
the boundaries of their educational programs and technology in
order to delivery innovative and effective learning experiences.

6. Catalyst Award Categories
exciting and
innovative
courses that
represent the
very best in
technology and
learning
individuals
and/or
institutions that
successfully
increased levels
of student
engagement or
retention
Exemplary
Course
Award
Student
Impact
Award
Staff
Development
Award
Innovation
Award
those who
support and
enhance faculty
and professional
development
skills
those that think
outside the box in
such areas related
to teaching and
learning practices,
online program
management, etc.

7. Exemplary Course Program
Blackboard.com/ecp

8. Exemplary Course Program Rubric
Developed based on research and best practices, used for evaluating in four areas:
Course Design, Interaction & Collaboration, Assessment, and Learner Support

9. Exemplary Course Program Rubric
j.mp/bbecprubric14

10. Course Design
• Elements of instructional design, including
aspects including:
– Structure of the course
– Learning objectives
– Organization of content
– Instructional strategies

11. Interaction & Collaboration
• Interaction: communication between and
among learners and instructors,
synchronously or asynchronously
• Collaboration: subset of interaction, referring
specifically to those activities in which groups
are working interdependently toward a shared
result
Learning Community = sense of belonging to a
group, rather than each student studying
independently

12. Assessment
• Assessment focusing on instructional activities
designed to measure progress towards
learning outcomes, provide feedback to
students and instructor, and/or enable grade
assignment

13. Learner Support
• Learner Support addresses the support
resources made available to students taking
the course.
• Resources may be accessible within or
external to the course environment.
• Specifically, learner support resources address
a variety of student services.

14. Major Areas & Sub-Categories
Course
Design
• Goals &
Objectives
• Content
Presentation
• Learner
Engagement
• Technology Use
Interaction &
Collaboration
• Communication
Strategies
• Development of
Learning
Community
• Interaction
Logistics
Assessment
• Expectations
• Assessment
Design
• Self-assessment
Learner
Support
• Orientation to
Course and LMS
• Supportive
Software Plug-ins
• Instructor Role and
Information
• Policies & Support
• Accessibility
• Accommodations
• Feedback

15. Sample Course
• ETT 510 – Instructional Media & Technology
• 10-week, online course with initial f2f meeting
• Graduate course in Technology Specialist
online cohort program, NIU Department of
Educational Technology, Research &
Assessment
• Developed and taught for first time in
Blackboard, Fall 2013
• Presenter plans to submit for consideration as
ECP, available for NIU faculty to be enrolled

16. ETT 510: Instruc. Media & Tech.

17. Example Attributes to be Shared
Course
Design
• Goals &
Objectives
• Content
Presentation
• Learner
Engagement
• Technology Use
Interaction &
Collaboration
• Communication
Strategies
• Development of
Learning
Community
• Interaction
Logistics
Assessment
• Expectations
• Assessment
Design
• Self-assessment
Learner
Support
• Orientation to
Course and LMS
• Supportive
Software Plug-ins
• Instructor Role and
Information
• Policies & Support
• Accessibility
• Accommodations
• Feedback

18. Welcome – Start Here

19. Goals and Objectives
Easily Located

20. Goals and Objectives
Available in a Multiple Areas

21. Content Available or “Chunked”
in Manageable Segments

22. Consistent Unit Structure

23. Navigation Intuitive
Info needed at beginning of the course
Course news and updates
Social connections for building sense of community
Course content, activities, and assessments
Interaction
Reflection, feedback, & self-paced assistance
Collaboration in group

24. Content Flows in
Logical Progression

25. Content Presented in Variety of Appropriate
Mechanisms

26. Content Enhanced with Visual
& Auditory Elements

27. Guidance for Learners to Work with Content

28. Tools Available in LMS to Engage Students
with Course Content

29. Wide Variety of Delivery Media Incorporated
into the Course

30. Effort Made to Use Low-Cost or No-Cost
Materials When Available

31. Plentiful Opportunities for Synch. and/or
Asynch Interaction

32. Asynchronous Communication Promote
Critical Reflection

33. Asynchronous Communication Promote
Critical Reflection

34. Synchronous Communication Activities,
Real-Time Interactions

35. Communication Activities Designed to Help
Build Sense of Community

36. Student-to-Student Interactions Required

37. Collaboration Activities Reinforce Learning
Outcomes

38. Guidelines Explaining Required Levels of
Participation

39. Rubric or Equivalent Grading Document is
Included

40. Instructor Actively Participates, Including
Providing Feedback

41. Instructor Uses Communication Tools to
Provide Course Updates

42. Instructions Written Clearly and with
Sufficient Detail

43. Assessment Activities Occur Frequently
Throughout Course

44. Multiple Types of Assessments
are Used

45. Opportunities for Self-assessment Provided

46. Contact Information for Instructor Easy to
Find

47. Links to Institutional Policies

48. Course Materials are Accessible
Transcript provided for videos
YouTube videos captioned

49. Supportive Mechanisms for Learners with
Disabilities

50. Learners Have Opportunity to Give
Feedback on Course Design

51. View Exemplary Course Tours
j.mp/bbecptours13

52. ECP Winners Gallery
ecpgallery.coursesites.com

53. Volunteer to Review
• Explore in-depth a variety of different online
courses and get ideas and inspiration for your
own online courses
• Apply lessons learned from the Exemplary Course
Rubric to your own courses or those you are
helping to develop
• Share your knowledge and experience with
others by providing feedback on their course
designs
• Gain professional development experience and
recognition for your accomplishments and
participation in the program
j.mp/bbecpreviewer14

54. Request Access to Sample Shared
Send email to: jrhode@niu.edu

55. Submitting Your Course
Blackboard.com/ecp

56. Questions?

57. Contact Me
Jason Rhode
Email: jrhode@niu.edu
Phone: 815.753.2475
Twitter: @jrhode