Get Prepared: Online Course Readiness Essentials

The Learning and Educational Center is committed to empowering instructors with the tools necessary for the development and enhancement of their courses. As a new semester begins, it is vital to ensure that all fundamental course components are thoroughly prepared and aligned with quality standards. Our comprehensive checklist serves as a valuable guide through various aspects of course design, encompassing elements such as course objectives, instructional materials, assessments, technology integration, learner interactions, and accessibility.  

This Online Course Design and Readiness checklist, an evolution of a previous iteration adapted from Western Kentucky University’s foundational work, now aligns with the seventh edition of the Quality Matters Rubric. We also incorporated elements from a checklist created by the NSU Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice that we found relevant across disciplines. Our instructional design team reviewed each checklist item and implemented a three-tier rating system for efficient preparation for the start of the term. Fundamental course elements receive one thumbs up, enhancements that are advantageous to the learning experience receive two thumbs up, and components that contribute to a comprehensive course receive three thumbs up.  

We encourage instructors to review and refine their courses using this checklist to ensure they are well-structured, engaging, and conducive to effective student learning.  

Thumbs Up Ratings 

👍Fundamental – Represents the essential components required for the online course. The level provides a necessary foundation for the course.  

👍👍 Advantageous – Exceeds the essential components needed for an online course. This level provides additional improvements to enhance the quality of the course along with increased support for learners.  

👍👍👍 Comprehensive – Demonstrates a desire to provide a complete course that seeks to create a more enriching experience for students.

A preview image of the PDF file included below: This checklist is guided by the Quality Matters (QM) higher education rubrics, a set of review standards used to evaluate the design of online and blended courses. It covers essential components such as learning objectives, assessment strategies, instructional materials, and learner support mechanisms to ensure that courses meet high standards of quality and effectiveness. Within the checklist you will also notice a star rating system, which suggests that some items may be crucial for course quality. The star ratings are not a requirement, just guidelines informed by our instructional design team's experience.
Download the Online Course Design & Readiness Checklist

If at any point you find yourself in need of advice or assistance in course design, don’t hesitate to reach out. Our instructional design team is always ready and eager to connect with you. Consider us your partners on this journey. We’re here to support you, so let’s work together to make this semester a rewarding experience for everyone. Remember, every step you take is a step towards creating an enriching learning environment for our students. Here’s to a successful semester ahead!

Book a time to meet with one of our Instructional Designers – DesignLink – Empowering Faculty-Instructional Designer Collaboration (nova.edu)