Managing Your Course

Course development provides you the opportunity to plan your course delivery to students, including the design and delivery of content, the pacing of course material, and assessment strategies. However, it is just as important to consider how you will manage the course as you engage with students throughout the semester, and ensure students are able to successfully achieve the learning objectives of your course.

Online course management is almost always about people management. While there may be technological challenges, there is a support structure through IT and ID&D to support you.  However, as an instructor, your management efforts will help students complete a worthwhile learning experience which contributes to their personal and academic development.

The success of any course often hinges on the opportunity for interaction, whether it be interactions between you and the students, among the students, or between students and the course materials.  Independent of the mode of delivery for your course, management of the online course environment plays an important part of providing students the structure and support they need to be successful.

In managing your course, consider the following as important steps you can take:

• Publish your course in MyClasses a week early and use the course to provide pre-week content, such as course information, an intro video, an introduction discussion, or a syllabus quiz, to allow students to become familiar with the course structure. 

• Set up or use announcements to communicate regularly with your students. You can create automated messaging that helps them keep track of their learning responsibilities and due dates.

• Ensure the course calendar accurately reflects the activities within your course, and does not have “carryover” activities from previous offerings.

• Track and monitor student engagement in the course, whether through attendance or course analytics, reaching out to those who appear to be disengaged or at risk of academic failure.

• Utilize groups and collaborative  activities to engage students on an ongoing basis throughout the semester.

Managing your course will be influenced by the pedagogical philosophies you hold and the choices you make. Review these ID&D articles for ideas and guidance on activities that will help you manage and guide your students through a successful learning experience.

• As You’re Teaching

• Engaging Your Students from the Start

• Entrance and Exit Tickets

• Reflect and Refresh

• Rethinking your Syllabus

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