The use of a tool to assist in the design and development of a new online module as well as act as a guide for course improvement is a now a much required component of most 3rd level colleges. However, despite the various methods and models available, there is a need for a flexible self-service and guided tool that is relative to the institute, its choice of technology and the VLE they are using.
Instructional designers try to guide and show exemplars of best practice in quality course design but it is also vital that academic staff understand how to assess their own online courses and make gradual manageable improvements during the academic year in their own time, parallel to their teaching. Reviewing the design of an online course requires an understanding of what to review, how to review it, and how to action and implement what has been learned.
The aim of this presentation is to describe a tool developed in Moodle by IT Sligo Instructional designers. This tool can be used to review and outline good practice in terms of module layout and design. It leads to a full description and recommendation of a technology or tool for a specific purpose, how to implement that tool as well as a link to a set of training resources which teaches someone how to use that tool in their teaching practice.
The Course Improvement tool provides a template or framework for an academics Moodle page. By using the VLE’s course completion tick boxes it works well as a live online checklist which is individual to that person and their review plan. It is hoped that the resultant improvements in course design and layout will lead to more satisfying teaching experiences, improved student outcomes and consistent quality design across all online modules within a programme.
