Design4Online is a cohort-based faculty development opportunity offered each fall through Distance and Online Education. This comprehensive program assists instructors at all experience levels in the design or redesign of an online course through the implementation of effective online teaching and learning practices and pedagogy.
Faculty Development Program
This faculty development program offered by Distance and Online Education empowers instructors to:
- Create student-centered online learning environments.
- Design engaging course materials and media.
- Explore strategies to build instructor presence.
- Align courses with national quality assurance standards for online learning.
- Engage in conversations that shape online teaching and learning practices at IOWA.
Program Components
Design4Online includes three main components that encompass instructor learning, course development, and community building.
- Design4Online Course Experience – The Design4Online course is an 8-week online course experience where faculty interact with online pedagogy and practice. The course includes weekly zoom meetings where faculty members address topics related to online learning strategies and challenges. Meetings are complemented by required online learning modules with content and activities faculty complete to implement effective online pedagogy.
- 1-1 ID Consultations – Participants are assigned an instructional designer who will provide individual course consultations to facilitate online course design and development.
- Community of Practice – Engage in a collaborative community of practice to explore leading online pedagogy, practices, and research.
Become part of this innovative professional community! Watch this quick video to see what prior participants have to say about their D4O experience.
Program Requirements
Requirements for acceptance in the Design4Online program include:
- Completion of an application form, which includes a Statement of Interest.
- DEO approval to teach a fully online course in the upcoming academic year.
- Commitment to develop a new online course or revise an existing online offering.
- Commitment to offer the developed course online a minimum of three times.
- Commitment to actively participate in the 8-week program, to attend each of the virtual (zoom) training sessions, and to complete all assigned online activities.
| Week 1 – Online Orientation | Tuesday, September 10 | 1:00-2:30 pm |
| Week 2 – Begin with Learning Objectives | Tuesday, September 17 | 1:00-2:30 pm |
| Week 3 – Online Instructional Strategies | Tuesday, September 24 | 1:00-2:30 pm |
| Week 4 – Assessment Approaches | Tuesday, October 01 | 1:00-2:30 pm |
| Week 5 – Mapping your ICON Course | Tuesday, October 08 | 1:00-2:30 pm |
| Week 6 – Digital Media in Online Courses | Tuesday, October 15 | 1:00-2:30 pm |
| Week 7 – Inclusive Mindset in Online Education | Tuesday, October 22 | 1:00-2:30 pm |
| Week 8 – D4O Project Presentations | Tuesday, October 29 | 1:00-2:30 pm |
Program Rewards
Upon program completion, participants:
- Receive a $1000 taxable program stipend (paid in full following program completion).
- Receive leadership and mentoring opportunities through continued engagement in the Design4Online Community of Practice.
- Collaborate with an instructional designer to complete the development of your online course.
Application Process and General Timeline
Instructors are selected to participate in each fall cohort. Participants are notified of selection and confirm participation by email.
All Iowa instructors interested in online teaching may apply. Priority is given to instructors who plan to teach a fully online course during the upcoming academic sessions. Applicants who are not chosen to participate in the 8-week program can still request Instructional Design Consultation Services for their online course and/or apply for future Design4Online offerings.
| Application Period Opens | Application Period Closes | Instructors Will be Notified | Faculty Confirm Participation by: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-March | Mid-April | Early May | Mid-May |