Best practices for online and blended or hybrid courses were drafted using the Blackboard Exemplary
Course and Quality Matters Rubric.
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Best Practices
Online and Blended or Hybrid Instructors
Department of Distance Learning
I. Course Design
QM Standard 1, QM Standard 4, and QM Standard 6, BB Goals and Objectives, Content
Presentation, BB Learner Support, BB Course/Institutional Policies & Support
Instructor contains a Start Here module, unit or week with course introductory materials.
Explain course format or structure.
Identify and provide instructions on how to access course tools and technology.
Clearly explain netiquette expectations for all forms of communication in the course.
Provide information regarding relevant institutional policies and student success
resources (i.e. technical help-desk, accessibility, plagiarism, cheating, and library).
Provides review of required prerequisites for course and technical competencies.
Instructor introduction provided to students in course.
Course is organized in manageable segments such as by learning modules, units or week.
A course calendar is provided with syllabus and denotes recommended dates for completing
learning module, unit or weekly activities.
Course content is presented in a variety of formats or learning activities.
II. Course Navigation
QM Standard 6, BB Content Presentation, BB Technology Use
Course navigation is logical and consistent by module, unit or week.
All course links provided (internal/external) are working and functional.
Required and supplementary activities or course materials are clearly denoted.
Publisher materials and other course content resources are integrated with institutions learning
management system to support streamlined navigation.
III. Course Objectives
QM Standard 2, BB Goals and Objectives
Overall course objectives and individual course objectives for individual learning units are
provided.
Overall course and individual module, unit or week course objectives align and reflect desired
outcomes and are clearly written and measurable.
Individual module, unit or week learning objectives are easily visible and accessible within their
respective folder.
IV. Course communication
QM Standard 5, BB Learner Engagement, BB Communication Strategies, BB Interaction
Logistics, BB Instructor Role and Information