Implementation of an D2L Course Template across an Entire State System
Gary StortsTennessee Board of Regents
The governing body for the Public Colleges and Universities of Tennessee
47 Institutions
180,000 Students
Tennessee Board of Regents
A state-wide collaborative online program across all 47 institutions within the state.
Started in 2001
More than 400 different courses.
Offering more than 800 sections
Enrollments of more than 15,000
Regents Online Degree Program
Course Proposals are initiated by faculty from across the system.
Courses being developed have already been approved at the institution developing the course.
Proposal goes through an RODP Curriculum Committee & Subcommittee
Course Approved
How Does it Work?
Course Syllabus is approved by an RODP Curriculum Committee
Course must fit an approved design template
All sections are taught from the same copy of the course.
How Does it Work?
RODP & D2L Training Required
Course Template provided to Instructor
Course must pass RODP Quality Review
How Does it Work?
Course put into inventory and offered through all institution’s registration systems
Developing Institution guaranteed the first 6 sections being taught.
How Does it Work?
Students must be accepted to a TBR institution through normal process.
Students choose a Home Institution
Enroll through Home Institution, regardless of where course is being taught from.
Home Institution grants degree or certificate
Students Enrolling
Sections show up as one RODP section in Registration software.
Designated with an “R” ie, R-50 All students are placed into one enrollment
section. Students are broken into multiple sections
just before the beginning of semester Limited to 25 students per section.
Enrollment Process
Developing Institution paid $6,000 Developing Institution guaranteed the first 6
sections being taught. Teaching Institution receives Tuition Students Home School receives FTE Teaching Institution receives 30% of RODP
course fee.
Financial Aspects
The RODP led to a common calendar across all colleges and universities in the system.
Interesting Outcome
Courses are filled with students from different schools, taught by different faculty from different schools
Created a need for consistency of design and content across all sections
Need for a Template
WebCT
Template consisted of specific tools and color design.
Faculty not restricted in the presentation of their content
Where did we start?
WebCT contract expiring in Dec of 2007
Statewide RFP for a Course Management
Three CMS’s consideredAngelBlackboard/WebCTDesire2Learn
Desire2Learn
Conversion of WebCT Content required considerable reworking of content into D2L
State had been looking at the Quality Matter Initiative
Desire2Learn Opportunity
A peer-based review process of online courses that focuses on the design of courses, as it relates to the success of students.
Has an extensive 40 point rubric for the evaluation tool.
Supported by academic research in the area of online education.
Quality Matters
Quality Matters
www.qualitymatters.org
Quality Matters Model$250 for Lead Reviewer$150 for two (2) additional Reviewers
$550 per course to Review
$550 x 400 = $220,000 over 3 years.
QM was too expensive!
Conrad (2002) found that learners judge instructors … on how clearly online course materials present the details of the course. A well organized course with a clear overview … clear timeline…
Swan (2001 cited clear and consistent course structure as one of three factors which “contribute significantly to the success of asynchronous online courses.”
Quality Matters Research
Navigational instructions make the organization of the course easy to understand.
◦ Lanicki and Liegle (2001); Swan (2001); Shriathudding, Hassan & Landoni (2003)
Quality Matters Research
There is a statement introducing the content to the course and how student learning is structured.
A self-introduction by the instructor is appropriate
Students should understand what it is that they are about to learn.
Quality Matters Research
Required Elements Course Information Course Description Welcome Calendar list all course
due dates Grade book complete Grade book linked to
assessments Instructions
Getting Started Module
Content in Sample Module Format
Use of the title “Module
Multiple forms of Assessment
Dropbox linked to gradebook.
Quiz dates in quiz tool
Getting Started Module
Overview Learning Objectives Key Words and Terms Content Assessments Additional Resources Reflection/Summary
The RODP Sample Module
Getting Started Module
Allowed us to separate content (academic freedom) from course design.
RODP Template