During this presentation by Jason Rhode at the 12th annual SLATE Conference on 10/23/14, we explored suggested best practices included in the Blackboard Exemplary Course Program Rubric for designing engaging online courses. Jason shared practical tips from his experience building a course in Blackboard that meets the established ECP quality benchmarks. We also covered the steps and associated deadlines for faculty interested in submitting their course for consideration as a Blackboard Exemplary Course. This session was geared toward an audience already familiar with the basic online teaching tools available in Blackboard Learn. While the examples shared were specifically of courses in Blackboard, the principles can be applied to developing quality online courses in any learning management system. Links to resources shared are available at http://www.jasonrhode.com/exemplarycourse

1. Designing Exemplary Online Courses
in Blackboard
jasonrhode.com/exemplarycourse
@jrhode

2. Presenter
Jason Rhode, Ph.D.
Director
Faculty Development and
Instructional Design Center
Northern Illinois University
Email: jrhode@niu.edu
Phone: 815.753.2475
Twitter: @jrhode

3. Overview
Best Practices
Practical
Tips
Sample
Courses

4. What Constitutes Quality Online?

5. Blackboard Catalyst Program
The Blackboard Catalyst Award Program honors those who push
the boundaries of their educational programs and technology in
order to delivery innovative and effective learning experiences.

6. Catalyst Award Categories
Exemplary
Course
Award
Staff
Development
Award
Student
Impact
Award
Innovation
Award
exciting and
innovative
courses that
represent the
very best in
technology and
learning
individuals
and/or
institutions that
successfully
increased levels
of student
engagement or
retention
those who
support and
enhance faculty
and professional
development
skills
those that think
outside the box in
such areas related
to teaching and
learning practices,
online program
management, etc.

7. Exemplary Course Program
Blackboard.com/ecp

8. Exemplary Course Program Rubric
Developed based on research and best practices, used for evaluating in four areas:
Course Design, Interaction & Collaboration, Assessment, and Learner Support

9. Exemplary Course Program Rubric
j.mp/bbecprubric14

10. Course Design
• Elements of instructional design, including
aspects including:
– Structure of the course
– Learning objectives
– Organization of content
– Instructional strategies

11. Interaction & Collaboration
• Interaction: communication between and
among learners and instructors,
synchronously or asynchronously
• Collaboration: subset of interaction, referring
specifically to those activities in which groups
are working interdependently toward a shared
result
Learning Community = sense of belonging to a
group, rather than each student studying
independently

12. Assessment
• Assessment focusing on instructional activities
designed to measure progress towards
learning outcomes, provide feedback to
students and instructor, and/or enable grade
assignment

13. Learner Support
• Learner Support addresses the support
resources made available to students taking
the course.
• Resources may be accessible within or
external to the course environment.
• Specifically, learner support resources address
a variety of student services.

14. Major Areas & Sub-Categories
Course
Design
Interaction &
Collaboration
Assessment
Learner
Support
• Goals &
Objectives
• Content
Presentation
• Learner
Engagement
• Technology Use
• Communication
Strategies
• Development of
Learning
Community
• Interaction
Logistics
• Expectations
• Assessment
Design
• Self-assessment
• Orientation to
Course and LMS
• Supportive
Software Plug-ins
• Instructor Role and
Information
• Policies & Support
• Accessibility
• Accommodations
• Feedback

15. Sample Course
• ETT 510 – Instructional Media & Technology
• 10-week, online course with initial f2f meeting
• Graduate course in Technology Specialist
online cohort program, NIU Department of
Educational Technology, Research &
Assessment
• Developed and taught for first time in
Blackboard, Fall 2013
• Presenter submitted for review, awarded as
ECP, available for NIU faculty to be enrolled

16. Exemplary Course Award
Instructional Media and Technology – more info at jasonrhode.com/ett510exemplarycourse

17. Exemplary Course Award
Perspectives on Disability MOOC – more info at http://facdevblog.niu.edu/mooc-award

18. ETT 510: Instruc. Media & Tech.

19. Example Attributes to be Shared
Course
Design
Interaction &
Collaboration
Assessment
Learner
Support
• Goals &
Objectives
• Content
Presentation
• Learner
Engagement
• Technology Use
• Communication
Strategies
• Development of
Learning
Community
• Interaction
Logistics
• Expectations
• Assessment
Design
• Self-assessment
• Orientation to
Course and LMS
• Supportive
Software Plug-ins
• Instructor Role and
Information
• Policies & Support
• Accessibility
• Accommodations
• Feedback

20. Welcome – Start Here

21. Goals and Objectives
Easily Located

22. Goals and Objectives
Available in a Multiple Areas

23. Content Available or “Chunked”
in Manageable Segments

24. Consistent Unit Structure

25. Navigation Intuitive
Info needed at beginning of the course
Course news and updates
Social connections for building sense of community
Course content, activities, and assessments
Interaction
Reflection, feedback, & self-paced assistance
Collaboration in group

26. Content Flows in
Logical Progression

27. Content Presented in Variety of Appropriate
Mechanisms

28. Content Enhanced with Visual
& Auditory Elements

29. Guidance for Learners to Work with Content

30. Tools Available in LMS to Engage Students
with Course Content

31. Wide Variety of Delivery Media Incorporated
into the Course

32. Effort Made to Use Low-Cost or No-Cost
Materials When Available

33. Plentiful Opportunities for Synch. and/or
Asynch Interaction

34. Asynchronous Communication Promote
Critical Reflection

35. Asynchronous Communication Promote
Critical Reflection

36. Synchronous Communication Activities,
Real-Time Interactions

37. Communication Activities Designed to Help
Build Sense of Community

38. Student-to-Student Interactions Required

39. Collaboration Activities Reinforce Learning
Outcomes

40. Guidelines Explaining Required Levels of
Participation

41. Rubric or Equivalent Grading Document is
Included

42. Instructor Actively Participates, Including
Providing Feedback

43. Instructor Uses Communication Tools to
Provide Course Updates

44. Instructions Written Clearly and with
Sufficient Detail

45. Assessment Activities Occur Frequently
Throughout Course

46. Multiple Types of Assessments
are Used

47. Opportunities for Self-assessment Provided

48. Contact Information for Instructor Easy to
Find

49. Links to Institutional Policies

50. Course Materials are Accessible
Transcript provided for videos
YouTube videos captioned

51. Supportive Mechanisms for Learners with
Disabilities

52. Learners Have Opportunity to Give
Feedback on Course Design

53. View Exemplary Course Tours
j.mp/bbecptours13

54. ECP Winners Gallery
ecpgallery.coursesites.com

55. Volunteer to Review
• Explore in-depth a variety of different online
courses and get ideas and inspiration for your
own online courses
• Apply lessons learned from the Exemplary Course
Rubric to your own courses or those you are
helping to develop
• Share your knowledge and experience with
others by providing feedback on their course
designs
• Gain professional development experience and
recognition for your accomplishments and
participation in the program

56. Access Sample Shared Course
jrho.de/ett510ecp

57. Submitting Your Course
Blackboard.com/ecp

58. Questions?

59. Contact Me
Jason Rhode
Email: jrhode@niu.edu
Phone: 815.753.2475
Twitter: @jrhode