Online Course Review Process

Issue/Question

  • What is the process for reviewing online courses at Black Hills State University (BHSU)?

Resolution

Important information to refer to about BHSU & SDBOR guidelines for online courses

  1. BHSU Online Course Quality Standards   
  2. More resources are available at the BHSU Center for Faculty Innovation (Authentication required)
  3. According to Item 2 of the South Dakota Board of Regents (SDBOR) Online Course Quality Assurance Guidelines, BHSU is required to review
    • any course not previously offered online
    • an existing online course with an instructor who has not previously taught online for a BOR institution 

As it is not always possible to comply with Policy 4.1 - C 3.3, we would prefer to be able to review the entire course in D2L by the end of the 4th week after the semester start date.

  • By the end of Week 4, complete the entire structure of the course with the first 4 weeks’ worth of course materials, including general instructions and assessment items for review.
    • This will provide an understanding that the rest of the course will follow the same pattern based on the Course Schedule in the Course Syllabus.

Steps to prepare the online course for review:

  1. Complete the course design and development in D2L using the BHSU Online Course Quality Standards
    • If you wish to work with Prasanthi Pallapu, the Instructional Designer, email to schedule a time to meet on Zoom/in-person.
  2. Review the course using the self-review document (download, fill in, and return to the Instructional Designer)
    • Update the course, if needed
    • Update the self-review, if needed
  3. Return the completed self-review to prasanthi.pallapu@bhsu.edu 
    • We will use this document during the scheduled meeting to complete the course review
  4. Schedule a time to meet (Zoom/in-person) with Prasanthi Pallapu (approximately 1-1.5 hours)  

Items required for the course review:

  1. Completed self-review document 
  2. Course in D2L  
    • Include "About the Instructor" and "Week 1 Student Introductions"
      • The Week 1 Student Introductions item could be used as a Pre-census activity.
  3. Course Syllabus
    • Student Learning Outcomes with Measurable Action Verbs (Required Standard II.1.a)
    • A transparent Grading Criteria (Required Standards III.2.a & III.2.b)
    • A Course Schedule that will provide students with an idea of the structure of the online course  (Required Standard 1.2.a)
    • Resources:
      • Online Syllabus Template With Standards (download and customize) 
        • Use of the syllabus template (fillable form) is optional. However, if used, it ensures compliance with most of the Quality Assurance Rubric standards.
        • If it is not used, please make sure that all required standards identified are addressed either in the course syllabus or in the course online in D2L.
        • Note: BHSU Academic Affairs requires Emergency Notification; hence, it is added to the online course syllabus with an additional statement
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