Introduction
In light of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), and in order to prepare faculty for the uncertainties that lie ahead in Academic Year 2020-21, the SDSU Flexible Course Design Summer Institute will provide participants with pedagogical strategies to teach in a hybrid (blending online and face-to-face) or fully online environment. For SDSU faculty teaching in the Fall 2020 or Spring 2021 Semester and who are new to hybrid/online teaching, this multi-track program offers customizable experiences to enhance your skills and knowledge.
For common questions, please see the Flexible Course Design Summer Institute Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page.
The application period for the Flexible Course Design Summer Institute has passed. The link for the self-paced, self-enrolled version will be linked to this page in August 2020 for those who were unable to participate in the first 3 sessions of the Institute.
Click here to view our other training resources.
Institute Dates
There are three different three-week cohort opportunities to participate in this summer:
Session 1: June 8 – June 26, 2020 (Full)
Session 2: July 6 – July 24, 2020 (Full)
Session 3: August 3 – August 20, 2020 (Full)
Purpose
The Institute will provide support for faculty as they:
- Compare course design in varied modalities (face-to-face, hybrid, fully online)
- Align goals, activities, and assessments to optimize for online learning
- Develop active learning strategies that transcend modalities
- Investigate inclusive and equity-minded framework while designing for the online learning environment
- Explore when they may want to leverage the use of asynchronous learning objects
- Participate in a well-designed Hybrid-Flexible (HyFlex) course
Institute Summary
This is a three-week online program led by experienced online instructors. The program kicks off with a synchronous (live online) session. The kick-off is the only time-based component. After the kick-off session, you will gain access to the program’s Canvas course to construct elements of the course(s) you are designing. What makes the Institute special is that it made up of SDSU faculty helping other SDSU faculty in order to provide a high-quality learning experience for our students in Fall 2020 and beyond. In collaboration with ITS instructional designers and ITS staff, SDSU faculty who have extensive experience teaching in hybrid and online modalities have prepared these modules and will mentor participants as they work through the course. At its heart, this Institute is about colleagues helping colleagues.
Time Commitment
The Institute will involve approximately 20-hours of participation across three weeks. This includes attending the kick-off session and completing eight modules.
Institute Compensation
Faculty who complete all requirements of the program can earn compensation, $1,000, in the form of a stipend, (you will complete four required modules, plus four ‘elective’ modules).
Institute Modules
The Institute includes eight modules (four required, four elective) that are focused on developing skills in teaching online as well as expanding participants’ knowledge of tools that are used to provide content and to increase student engagement. The recommended pace for module completion is two or three modules a week, but the deadlines are flexible to accommodate varying schedules. Each module takes approximately two-hours to complete and will include engagement with content (reading and/or video), a quiz, an applied activity, and a discussion board reflection. Within the first week, you will consult with your faculty peer mentor (PM) to determine the best set of optional modules to address your needs. Click here full list of modules and their descriptions.
Institute Requirements
The completion of the Institute includes meeting the following requirements:
- Attend the Zoom kick-off session
- Complete all activities required for eight modules (four required, plus four of the options)
- Connect with faculty peer mentor or instructional designer in virtual office at least once
- Final Reflection (after completing the eight modules)
Differences from SDSU’s semester-long Course Design Institute (CDI)
This Institute familiarizes participants with the principles of online course design and offers a menu of modular options catered to faculty interest and experience. In contrast, CDI participants complete a semester-long experience which culminates with a fully-designed online course, having completed ALL these modules, in a way that their newly-designed course meets expectations of Quality Online Learning and Teaching (QLT) rubric.
Institute Team and Questions
The Institute is a cross-campus collaboration among Instructional Technology Services (ITS) and the Center for Inclusive Excellence (CIE). In addition, the Institute will include campus experts on various topics, instructional designers, along with faculty peer mentors, who will work with a cohort of faculty as they develop their courses. Institute Facilitators are Professor Elizabeth Pollard (History, CAL ITS Faculty Fellow) and Andrea Saltzman Martin (Instructional Designer, College of Education and ITS). For questions about the Institute, please email Michelle Peterson <michelle.peterson@nullsdsu.edu>.
