Course Design Institute
Since 2008, the Course Design Institute (CDI) has provided opportunities for faculty to work with peers from different disciplines as they design and develop fully online or hybrid courses with a focus on pedagogy and student interaction and engagement.
Courses are selected for inclusion in the CDI based on evidence of student demand as determined in consultation with Enrollment Services and the Provost’s Office. Faculty participants receive reassigned time (one course release) to commit to an intensive, semester-long training experience as they design pedagogically sound, fully online courses.
CDI Canvas Course
The CDI course is based on three pillars of course design:
- California State University (CSU) Quality Learning and Teaching (QLT) rubric: Provides guidelines for developing your online or hybrid course; identifies exemplary practices for the design and delivery of courses in all modalities.
- Community of Inquiry (CoI): Measures social, cognitive and teaching presence in online courses.
- Universal Design for Learning (UDL): Uses a framework to improve and optimize teaching and learning for all people.
Each module in the CDI course incorporates these three pillars into a focused examination of various elements of successful course design. Explanations, examples, resources, and related learning activities support participants’ success in meeting QLT, CoI, and UDL criteria in their courses.
CDI Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the CDI, participants will be able to:
- Create a course syllabus to facilitate online learning.
- Align course activities and assessments with course learning outcomes.
- Develop instructional materials and learning activities that engage online students.
- Identify resources to facilitate learning.
- Implement activities for student interaction with one another and with you that facilitate the development of a learning community.
- Select and practice using appropriate technologies to facilitate learning activities.
- Use course materials, resources, and activities that are accessible to all students.
- Optimize Canvas and other applications to support your teaching and students’ learning processes.
Other Course Design Program Options
To meet the demand for faculty who do not participate in the CDI to receive support in developing and reviewing online or hybrid courses at SDSU, ITS offers the Self-Paced Online Training (SPOT) program. The SPOT course provides a fully online, synchronous option for faculty to develop or review their online or hybrid courses on a voluntary basis.
Another option, offered by the CSU Online Course Services, provides 3-week, asynchronous courses on a year-round basis.
The “Placement by Pathway” tree below can help colleges and faculty determine which program best fits their needs for training and support in developing online and hybrid courses.
Instructional Technology Services
Adams Humanities, 1st Floor
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Dr.
San Diego, CA 92182-8114