1. UNM Learn
  2. Faculty Documentation for Learn
  3. Get Started with Your Learn Course
  4. Proposing New Online Courses

Proposing New Online Courses

Approval Process

Online course proposals are reviewed by Department Chairs. They, in turn, work to incorporate approved courses into a three year plan. After the approval process is complete, Extended Learning Faculty Services handles scheduling and works with faculty to develop their course.

Timeline

After approvals, an assessment meeting is scheduled in which the faculty receives an overview of online support, tools, and course examples. This meeting is an opportunity to answer questions and concerns. This is an opportunity for Extended Learning Faculty Services to assess the needs of the faculty and assign a designer with the experience and skills needed for that course.  Through this discussion, Extended Learning Faculty Services staff offer their expertise and experience with:

Tools

  • Assessment
  • Communication
  • Instruction

Strategies

  • Best Practices
  • Building a Learning Community
  • Overcoming Challenges
  • Supporting Online Student Needs
  • Time Management

Student Resources

  • Learning UNM Learn
  • Technical Support
  • Managing Assignments
  • Completing Assessments

The instructor is assigned one of Extended Learning’s course designers and notified by email. The faculty member and designer will then meet to start the online course development process. The designer assists in customized course planning and structuring; provides strategies on pedagogical best practices; and delivers resources and assistance for learning tools.

It is very useful to bring a syllabus from the face-to-face course and a proposed instructional schedule to this initial meeting. Together the instructor and the designer will review the course as a whole and work to develop a module/week model for the course’s structure. Depending on the faculty’s technical experience and desires, the designer can assist with the look and feel of the course, developing effective tools, (assessment, communication, instruction), and offering tips on grading and timing.

Design and production assistance depends on the faculty member’s comfort level. Faculty is encouraged to let the designer know the topics they would like supported. They include:

  • Syllabus language needed for online students
  • Instructional tools
  • web pages
  • voice over PowerPoint type recordings
  • audio Podcasts
  • asynchronous discussions
  • synchronous Web Conferences
  • video taped demonstrations
  • and others
  • Graphics
  • Publisher Content
  • Media
  • Assessments and Assignments
  • Use of External Resources
  • Construction of Learning Modules
  • Communication with students
  • Structure of course based on best practices
  • Document Compression
  • Surveys (Demographic, MidCourse, IDEA)
  • Grading
  • Student Orientation
  • Accessibility Issues
  • CAPS In-the-Course Tutors
  • CAPS Online Services
  • Tutorials for UNM Libraries

Once an online course begins, EL staff provides ongoing support as needed. This support includes assistance with the tools used to teach the course as well as student support.

Often, as the semester progresses, the instructor wants to make changes to the course. EL staff will provide support through the process and empower faculty to comfortably make such changes. Extended University asks that an online course be offered by the department for three semesters. Typically, online instructors take full ownership of their course by the third semester, knowing that EL is there, just in case.

Scheduling and Student Services

The EL Scheduling and Students Services group works with online students from the time the student asks about your course until the first day of the semester. Their services include:

  • Course Scheduling
  • Enrollment Services
  • Registration Services
  • General Academic Advisement
  • Admissions
  • Course Surveys