The Course Guide: Step-By-Step
The following steps may apply whether the final course is print,
web, or CD-ROM.
Step ONE: Outline the guide using your course syllabus.
a. Consider each week of study to be about 1 to 2 lessons.
b. Determine reading assignments for each lesson.
c. Consider whether these lessons might be grouped into units of study.
Step TWO: Determine the learning objectives for each unit or
lesson.
Step THREE: Devise assignments for each lesson.
a. Consider assignments from the distance learner's point of view.
b. Consider the student's time and your own grading load; some of the assignments
might actually work well as self-graded quizzes.
c. Make assignments as "real" as feasible; incorporate experiential
learning.
Step FOUR: For each unit or lesson write a brief (half-page
to 2 pages) discussion based on your classroom comments/discussions, such as
a. further explanation of difficult concepts
b. emphasis of the most important concepts
c. information not in the text
d. personal experience or "current events" that make the material
more real or practical to the student
Step FIVE: Write the overview based on your classroom introduction
to the course:
a. why the subject is important to the student
b. what the student will learn in the course
c. how to handle or prepare the lessons, especially readings and assignments
d. how you evaluate coursework (give your grading scale and expectations)
Step SIX: Construct the exams.
a. Generally, match the style of questions on the exams to the written assignments.
b. Devise two different versions of each exam.
c. Write the page "About the Final" (and "About the Midterm,"
if applicable), explaining what the exam will cover and how to prepare.
Step SEVEN: Reread/polish and submit course manuscript to IDL
on disk or via e-mail attachment in WordPerfect or Word. Contact the IDL editor
about graphics.
