The document outlines the general stages of the course writing process, which typically takes 4 months to complete. It involves: 1) Front-end analysis where the Academic Director reviews feedback and visions for the new course. 2) Planning where the Course Writer and Instructional Designer collaborate on course details. 3) Course writing where instructional components are prepared for each unit. 4) Review where the Academic Director ensures standards are met. 5) Development and launch where the course is edited, loaded to Blackboard, and launched.

1. Overview of the Course Writing Stages
READING 1.2

2. Introduction
There are many steps involved in creating or revising a course.
Consideration must be given to student and faculty feedback,
current trends in the respective program or discipline, and editing
and website standards, as well as the passions and visions of those
on the team.
Please use the navigation buttons below to learn about the
general stages of the course-writing process.

3. Timeline
From planning, through writing, review, editing, and launch, the
entire course-writing process typically takes four months to
complete. For a Course Writer specifically, the writing process
generally lasts eight weeks; however, the CW may be called during
the editing and review stages as well. It is important to note that
meeting your weekly course writing deadlines is essential in
ensuring the smooth operation of the entire process.

4. Front-End Analysis
The Academic Director completes a front-end analysis with faculty
before a new or revised course project begins. Once the project
has been assigned to an instructional designer, the AD kicks off the
project with the course revision team by reviewing the data from
the front-end analysis and providing the vision for the new course.
This information typically includes previous course material, end-
of-course survey data, ticket system reports, course completion
reports, and faculty feedback.

5. Textbook Committee Meeting
With the guidance from the Learning Resource Coordinator (LRC)
and support from the Academic Director, the Course Writer and
Instructional Designer review textbook options before convening
with the entire committee, which includes the LRC, the CW, the ID,
the Director of the Bookstore, and a Lab Specialist. The members
of the committee review all of the details of the recommended
textbook(s) to make the decision that will provide the best benefit
for our students.

6. Planning
Under the direction of the Academic Director, the Course Writer
and Instructional Designer collaborate in order to plan for the
project by brainstorming details for the course, deciding on
communication methods, and preparing an outline for the course.

7. Course Writing Process
The Course Writer and Instructional Designer collaborate to
prepare the instructional components for each unit of the course
(Units I through VIII) by inserting the instructional components
into the unit template. Each unit will generally include at least the
following five components: outcomes, lesson, reading assignment,
discussion board, and either an assignment or an assessment.

8. Review
The Academic Director reviews the course by completing the APD
Checklist form. After completing the APD Checklist, the Academic
Director forwards it to the Instructional Designer along with any
final recommendations and updates for the course.

9. Development
Once the course has been approved by the Academic Director, the
Instructional Designer emails the course to editing along with a
launch schedule. After editing, the course is forwarded to a Course
Technologist who loads the course into Blackboard.