Abstract
Objective
This presentation shared five practical, faculty-informed strategies designed to improve online course development by centering pedagogy, reflection, and collaboration. The goal was to move beyond course building as a technical task and instead position it as a faculty development opportunity—one that builds confidence, strengthens teaching practice, and supports long-term course quality.
Context
Many faculty are asked to design online or hybrid courses with limited pedagogical support before development begins. While they are strong in disciplinary knowledge, uncertainty often arises around how to teach that content effectively online. This session drew from the presenter’s doctoral research on faculty experiences with course design, as well as field-based work through Courage to Learn Consulting. Across both contexts, faculty repeatedly named the same needs: early instructional guidance, space for reflection, and design partnerships that feel collaborative rather than corrective. When these needs are met, both design quality and faculty satisfaction increase.
Key Insights
The session outlined five strategies that can be applied immediately in any institution:
- Embed Pedagogical Support Early: Provide just-in-time design guidance before development begins.
- Normalize Reflective Practice: Use short, guided prompts that help faculty connect prior teaching experience to design choices.
- Foster Collaborative Design Partnerships: Use a “Co-Pilot Model” where faculty and instructional designers share expertise and decision-making.
- Apply Adult Learning Principles Simply: Translate theory into realistic, accessible teaching moves.
- Plan for Scale with AI and Automation: Use tools, templates, and workflows that extend support while preserving human connection.
Together, these strategies reframe course design as a partnership-driven process—not a checklist—grounded in intentional pedagogy and faculty growth.
Future Directions
Future work includes expanding these strategies through faculty development programs, scalable instructional design partnerships, and AI-enhanced workflows that balance efficiency with meaningful human interaction in teaching and learning.