Modern Practices for Online Program Development
- April 23, 2024
The rapid growth of online programming has transformed the higher education landscape, making it imperative for academic leaders to embrace this shift in what modern learners are looking for. Leading institutions in Canada are realizing this demand potential and setting a strategic direction towards expanding programming to include purpose-built online offerings from degrees, diplomas, certificates, short-courses to other credentials.
At Boreal, we work with institutions across Canada to help design and deliver new online programs, either as a modification from an existing offering or as a new program, while maintaining the same level of quality and teaching excellence. Below, we share five best practices for adapting your curriculum for this audience.
1. Audience-driven learning objectives
Well-defined learning objectives are crucial for guiding the design and delivery of any course material. When designing a purpose-built online learning program, institutions should consider the primary audience for these types of offerings. If looking to attract working professionals and adult learners, this audience seeks out reputable programs that are flexible to their work and family commitments. For this reason, we recommend designing programs that can be taken fully online on a part-time basis to allow learners to continue to work while enrolled.
We also recommend conducting a learner needs assessment at the beginning of the program design process, factoring in a thorough analysis of the target audience to understand diverse learning needs, including accessibility requirements, cultural backgrounds, and prior knowledge. Working learners have high expectations for the quality of the student experience so University leaders must recognize the importance of creating engaging and interactive online learning environments that clearly articulate and promote wraparound support, active collaboration, and critical thinking throughout.
2. Technology-enabled learning
When we work with faculty and program leadership on a new program design, we always align on a set of principles that ensure flexible course design while providing pathways for learning, assessment, and participation to accommodate diverse preferences and abilities. We typically recommend the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework, which encourages equitable design that is usable by all learners.
Moreover, a robust technological infrastructure is essential for delivering an effective online curriculum. Universities must invest in a user-friendly learning management system (LMS) and other tools that facilitate seamless content delivery, communication, and collaboration. Leveraging tools like Articulate Rise for authoring, Kaltura for media hosting and Zoom/Teams for synchronous session conferencing can help establish that high-quality learning experience this audience seeks out. As LMS providers expand their suite of artificial intelligence-enabled tools, we would encourage your institution to consider the use of these resources to create personalized learning paths, simulated practice and classmate engagement in your courses.
3. Stackable by design
We recommend building stackable pathways into the initial design of a program. Whether you are modifying an existing offering or creating a new program, we suggest modularizing courses into groups of core courses and elective courses that can be nested within the broader learning program. Breaking down the curriculum into manageable modules helps students navigate the course material more effectively. Modular design enables learners to focus on specific topics, provides flexibility in scheduling, and promotes mastery learning, allowing students to proceed at their own pace.
The creation of these certificate, diploma, short course, or micro-credential options should meet the defined requirements at your institution (ex. Board, Senate). As part of this process, we also recommend identifying PLAR and credit-transfer options be built into the program structure to attract the right learners for your programs.
4. Efficient delivery models
When designing an online program with significant course development costs, it is important to model the program’s enrolment projections to determine the viability, size, and demand of the program. Assuming the revenue picture is strong, we typically recommend running a scenario analysis that ensures all aspects of each program are optimized to efficiently contribute to your bottom line, keeping the student experience, financial sustainability, and return on investment in mind.
One of the best ways to facilitate efficiency in course scheduling for your online program is through a course carousel. Carousels are not cohort-based, and have the advantage of multiple intakes per year, while allowing students to enter and exit in a non-linear track. This model is also highly predictable for instructional resource planning and course development.
5. Faculty enablement and support
University leaders play a pivotal role in supporting faculty members as they transition to online teaching. Ongoing training and support are crucial to ensure instructors feel confident and capable in delivering high-quality online instruction. Investing in faculty development programs, providing resources and coaching, and fostering a community of practice can contribute to the success of your online programs and ensure that the diverse needs your learners are met.
Providing timely and constructive feedback is essential in online programs. Instructors should establish a feedback loop that allows students to monitor their progress and make adjustments accordingly. Regular feedback promotes student motivation, guides learning, and helps build a strong instructor-student relationship.
In the rapidly changing higher education landscape, purpose-built online programs play a crucial role in meeting the diverse needs of students and ensuring their success. As your leadership teams embrace these practices, they contribute to the advancement of the education system and the empowerment of modern learners to thrive in the new world of work.