A course in which instruction is conducted solely online within The Citadel’s approved learning management system (Canvas). Students complete coursework “asynchronously,” meaning not at the same time, but within deadlines.
- The course must go through The Citadel’s Online Course Review Process, which includes completion of The Citadel’s Parity Table. In compliance with the US Department of Education credit hour definition, the online instructional time must remain equivalent to a traditional face-to-face course as evidenced by completion of The Citadel’s Parity Table.
- Participation in discussion boards is required every other week as evidence of active participation and regular and substantive interaction.
- All course materials, syllabi, grades, handouts, video lectures, assignments, etc. must be posted online within The Citadel’s approved learning management system (Canvas).
- All student work must be submitted via Canvas including work done in a third-party vendor.
- Faculty will post online office hours in the course syllabus.
- Days/times/room locations are NOT listed in the course schedule as there are no meeting times.
- Course info will highlight course requirements and must be included in the syllabus: Asynchronous Online classes are 100% online with no scheduled face-to-face or required online class sessions.
Banner Code
OAS- Online Asynchronous
Key Principles for Success
- Course Introduction that explains how Canvas will be used to facilitate learning.
- Syllabus that is up to date and reflects the current semester.
- Easy to follow navigation.
- Organized course content by topic or order of expected access and learning resources that are easy to find.
- Functional content, such as working videos, no broken links, and content that is accessible to all learners.
- Outcome-Based Design, made evident by providing course-level and module-level objectives.
- Adequate content. Develop and curate content that is sufficient for students to achieve the learning objectives.
- Regular assignments and feedback. Ensure that each week contains at least one learning activity or assessment with detailed instructions on requirements and expectations.
- Planned interaction. Develop a plan for communicating regularly with your students, per the federal guidelines.
Course Mapping
Your course should contain a mix of both formative and summative assessments.
Pacing
Most academic online courses follow a typical full-semester or 7-week schedule. Students can take the course from wherever they are, but with the expectation that they will make regular progress and complete the course within the allotted semester time frame. Students can be expected to login regularly and participate in online discussions and group work.
The pace of your course is an important aspect in promoting student success. It should not feel too slow for students, resulting in boredom and decreased motivation. Likewise, it should not be too fast, leaving students feeling anxious and overwhelmed. In a traditional course, you read the expressions on students’ faces to determine when you need to speed up or slow down. You do not have that opportunity in an online course.
Content, activities, and assessments will comprise your learning modules. Set a realistic goal for how much work can be completed in a week. Remember you are an expert in this area, your students are still developing their skills and may take longer than expected to complete activities. Build up starting with low stakes assignments and aim to have students turn something in at least once a week. For discussions and big projects, remember that additional time is needed to read responses and use technology tools.
Consider using a visual tool, such as a calendar, to help pace the course. Write in due dates for activities and assessments. If there is too much overlap or too heavy of a workload, students will not be able to devote adequate time to each assignment. In addition, think about your role as the instructor. Will you be able to provide timely and specific feedback for all work?
Best practice in online course delivery is to have the entire class published at the beginning of the semester. This way students can see a big picture view of what they will be learning and can better plan for heavy weeks during the semester.
Course Design
Because students will be relying solely on the online material in Canvas, it’s import that the content is organized, easy to navigate, and complete.
Recorded Lectures
Media is an effective tool to simplify complex concepts or reinforce essential content. It’s also a great way to meet the federal Department of Education’s requirements for “direct instruction” in online courses.
You can use media in a variety of ways in the online classroom, and there are several options to consider. However you choose to use media, it is important to be aware accessibility requirements.