Online Course Design Institute

The Online Course Design Institute (OCDI) is an asynchronous online experience for K-State instructors who are currently teaching or plan to develop an online course in the next year.

We plan to offer the OCDI each term. In Fall 2025, the OCDI will begin on September 2, 2025.

"Participating in the Online Course Design Institute was a fantastic experience! Using a backward design framework, the program helped me align learning objectives, activities, and assessments to create a cohesive and engaging course. Having the accountability to ensure all aspects of my class were aligned with best practices was a true gift. My favorite outcome from the program was gaining the ability to clearly share how each assignment connects to specific learning objectives which I think really increased my students' interest and motivation to complete the projects."

Megan McCoy, Ph.D., LMFT, AFC®, CFT™, Associate Professor Personal Financial Planning

About the Program

This 8-week program uses a Backward Design model to guide you through drafting course goals and objectives, course mapping, and designing assignments and assessments. You will engage in three weekly modules, and then you will work one-on-one with an instructional designer to fully design and develop your online course. This will provide opportunities for personalized feedback.

Module 1: Course Goals and Objectives
Module 2: Teaching Philosophies and Communication
Module 3: Technology and Teaching
Module 4: Course Development

Required Prerequisite

Basic knowledge of Canvas is required for participation. If you need Canvas training prior to the OCDI, Canvas 101 training is available online. If you have any questions about the program, please contact the  Center for Academic Innovation instructional designers at idteam@k-state.edu, or  Lisa Shappee  at K-State Salina at lshappee@k-state.edu.

Cost-Free

The OCDI is provided at no cost, but limited seats are available. Faculty completing all requirements will earn a certificate of completion.

Register Here

Frequently Asked Questions

What benefits can participants expect to receive from this program?

Participants will walk away being able to demonstrate a wide range of competencies. Additional benefits include engaging with colleagues across disciplines, receiving feedback on course design elements from instructional designers, and receiving access to a guided pathway for course design using research-based principles. All elements included in the course are purposeful and build on one another, and participants will see a range of methods demonstrated throughout the program that they can include in their own course designs.

Who is the primary audience for this program?

This program fits a range of audiences since its primary focus is walking instructors through the course design process using the Backward Design method. Participants new to online teaching will certainly benefit, and experienced instructors should walk away with new ideas. This program is meant to offer a step-by-step guide for course design, so instructors who are feeling overwhelmed by the idea of designing an online course from scratch will benefit from this “guided tour” of course design. The instructors will work to continually improve the program based on faculty needs and requests as we gather participant feedback.

How much time can participants expect to spend on a weekly basis?

Participants should anticipate at least 3-5 hours of engagement each week, depending on how deeply they want to go into the course design activities. The time commitment will also depend on whether the instructor is building a course from scratch, or if they are transitioning a course that they have previously taught (i.e., they have a syllabus, ideas for assignments, assignment rubrics already created, etc.).