Distance Learning

Intent to Offer an Online or Hybrid Course

Intent to teach a new or existing course as an online or hybrid course in its inaugural semester must be communicated by the instructor to the department chair. The instructor will submit a rationale to the department chair that includes a description of how online instruction will provide a benefit to the student’s learning experience.

• Check with your department to make sure the course can be offered online or hybrid
• Contact Instructional Design and Distance Learning to communicate your intent to teach online or hybrid and to determine professional development opportunities. If in need of online teaching credentials, the instructor should begin this process at least one year prior to teaching online or hybrid.

Online Teaching Credentials

All faculty teaching an online or hybrid course must document credentials in this delivery method (e.g., completion of online course development series, prior experience and credentials from an outside institution or reputable organization in online teaching and learning) which should be on file within Academic Affairs.

• Earn online teaching credentials by successfully completing the Online Course Development Series offered by Instructional Design and Distance Learning.
• Faculty who have earned online teaching credentials from another institution or organization (such as the Online Learning Consortium) should provide these credentials to Instructional Design and Distance Learning so they can be filed.

Course Design and Development

Online or hybrid course development must be completed prior to the semester in which it will be taught to allow time for a course design review. This will help ensure that during the semester the course is taught, the instructor is using effective instructional delivery, ensuring active engagement between students, instructor, and content, and providing substantive feedback to students.

• Consult with an instructional designer as you're designing your course and planning the assessments, learning activities, and content.
• After you have mapped out the design of your course, consult with an instructional designer develop to the assessments, learning activities, and course content in Brightspace. If needed, request a development shell in Brightspace to work on your course structure.
• The OSCQR tool can be used as a guide while developing your online or hybrid course.
• Courses must be developed in Brightspace before requesting a Course Design Review (OSCQR).

Review of Online and Hybrid Course Design

Once the course is developed, the instructor will engage in a course design review through Academic Affairs. The course design review process focuses on how pedagogical best practices can be applied to online or hybrid courses. Feedback from this collaborative review will be provided to the instructor and the chair of the department.

Instructors should begin the Course Design Review (OSCQR) process at least 4 months prior to the Banner preview date.

• Once the course is fully developed in Brightspace, faculty can request a Course Design Review (OSCQR). 
• The Course Design Review uses the Open SUNY Course Quality Review (OSCQR) rubric to focus on how instructional design and pedagogical best practices can be applied to online or hybrid courses. The Course Design Review (OSCQR) process is outlined below:
  • Gain departmental approval of course modality
  • Request a Course Design Review (OSCQR)
  • Meet with instructional designer to discuss each phase of the process
  • Complete instructor self-review with OSCQR
  • Complete peer-review with OSCQR (if requested)
  • Complete instructional designer review with OSCQR
  • Instructor and instructional designer discuss reviews
  • Instructor updates course design based on OSCQR reviews
  • Final review to ensure all OSCQR standards are sufficiently present in course design
  • Feedback shared with department chair, associate dean, and/or dean