Set the stage for active participation  

Your course site is more than a collection of content. It is an extension of your online instructor presence, and it shapes student expectations for you and your course. As students review your ICON site, they are asking themselves questions like “Is this instructor approachable?”and “Will I have a good experience in this course?” Your organized, easy to navigate ICON site demonstrates fundamental care and support needed to nurture trust and connection with your students that is essential for a lively online course. 

Why this matters 

Modules act as your stand-in to support student learning. Include prompts inside modules that guide and reassure students as they move through your course. Online learning can be isolating and confusing when students are working through course materials by themselves.Humanize online learning by using ICON to invite students into deeper engagement.  

How it helps 

A thoughtful ICON site helps you overcome barriers to connection in online learning. It can show students who you are, why you care about this course, and why they should care. Students are more likely to trust and value your course and participate more fully in activities when their ICON experience feels welcoming, personal, and intentional.  

Structure modules to support student independence 

Weekly modules shape the student experience of your course. Successful modules show students what to focus on, why it matters, and how ideas connect. Intentional module organization transforms your course design into a structured learning experience. Aim to ensure all students can understand what you're asking them to do and access the necessary materials and activities to accomplish learning objectives. Include clearly labeled steps to guide students from one learning stage to the next. As students gain confidence, gradually reduce this scaffolding to encourage greater independence.  

Why this matters 

Since online students often complete ICON modules on their own, they rely on your thoughtfully placed guidance to deepen their learning. Provide models, visual aids, and guiding questions to help students close the gap between their prior knowledge and the enduring understandings and skills of your discipline. Write clear assignment instructions and transparent grading criteria so students know how to demonstrate understanding and apply what they learned. 

How it helps 

A clear online learning path gives students the structure to look ahead, manage their time, and become self-directed learners. Students will focus less on figuring out what to do next and more on engaging deeply in discussions, group work, and office hours. You will receive fewer logistical questions, giving you more time to guide meaningful student learning. 

Reduce overload and strengthen understanding with focused lecture videos 

Your online lectures give students insights and guidance that only you can provide. This is especially true when your videos focus on clarifying explanations, demonstrations, and stories that speak to student experiences and goals. Supporting text and handouts listed alongside your videos provide definitions, charts, and data to help students apply what you’ve taught them.  

Why this matters 

Effective lectures show students what to focus on, why it matters for their lives and careers, and how understanding the topic prepares them to achieve learning objectives. Short, conceptually related videos paired with supporting documents and onscreen text reduce cognitive overload. Shorter, segmented videos help students retain important details that can be lost when a single video attempts to convey all module content. Chunk lecture videos into discrete topics so students can focus on learning one step at a time. As you build content, use your Anthology Ally report to ensure it is accessible to all students. 

How it helps 

Video is one of the clearest ways to infuse online courses with your voice and presence. This makes online learning more human and connected for students. A multimodal approach that supplements videos with text, documents, and visuals reduces your time spent maintainingcourse content. When details change, it's easier to update these supporting materials instead of re-recording entire videos.