Best Practices Checklist for Online and Hybrid Courses

To Be Completed by the Online or Hybrid Course Instructor

Please complete the following form to demonstrate that quality standards in online learning are being met at our university in compliance with SACSCOC and THECB requirements.

For information on the sources of the Best Practices Checklist, visit the Best Practices Sources page.

Instructional Faculty Information

First Name: *

Last Name: *

E-Mail Address *

Title: *

Department: *

Highest Degree Earned *

Doctorate

Master's

Other

If you selected "Other," please list your Highest Degree Earned:

0/100

List other electronically delivered or online courses that you have taught:

0/500

List additional OLC training, specific Quality Matters courses, or other training activities not indicated above:

0/500

Course Information

Course Prefix (e.g., BIO): *

Course Number (e.g., 1330) *

Course Title (within Texas State's inventory of approved courses and taken directly from the Undergraduate or Graduate Catalog, e.g., Functional Biology) : *

0/200

Semester: *

Year: *

Fulfills course requirements for Texas State programs / area: *

Course Level: *

Pre-Collegiate (Developmental)

Undergraduate

Graduate

Other

Credit Type: *

Academic

Continuing Education / Professional Development

Other

If "Other" Credit Type was selected, explain in the text field below:

Not all items below will apply to all online and hybrid courses.

Section 1: Introductory Course Materials *

1.1 I provide clear, detailed instructions on how to begin and navigate the course.

1.2 I provide a course schedule that clearly communicates assignment and assessment deadlines.

1.3 I introduce myself to students as the instructor of the course using, at minimum, text and photograph.

1.4 I offer students the opportunity to introduce themselves to each other.

1.5 I have posted a syllabus.

Specific information included in the syllabus about Texas State University includes the following (Select all that apply):

1.5.10.1 University Honor Code

1.5.10.2 the Office of Disability Services

1.5.10.3 technical support

1.5.10.4 student privacy

1.5.10.5 financial aid

1.5.10.6 career services

1.5.10.7 other appropriate student support services

Section 1 (cont.): Introductory Course Materials - My syllabus also includes information on the following (Select all that apply):

1.5.11 The student's prerequisite knowledge and relevant competencies.

1.5.12 Testing procedures.

1.5.13 If hybrid, the syllabus reflects expectations for required face-to-face meetings.

1.5.14 Rules or standards for appropriate online behavior.

Section 2: Course Content

2.1 My online course is complete and coherent.

2.2 My course includes unit/lesson/module-level objectives.

These unit/lesson/module-level objectives are

2.2.1 clearly, explicitly stated.

2.2.2 prominantly displayed.

2.2.3 measurable.

2.2.4 consistent with course objectives.

2.2.5 aligned to activities and assessments.

2.2.6 written from the learner's perspective.

Section 3: Learner Activities *

3.1 The unit/lesson/module-level objectives, activities, assessments, and course content are clearly aligned and communicated throughout the course.

3.2 Activity/assessment due dates, expectations, and instructions are detailed and clearly tied to course grading policies.

3.3 The resources needed for completing instructional activities are easy to find.

3.4 All learning activities promote the achievement of the stated unit/lesson/module-level learning objectives.

3.5 Learning activities promote active learning.

3.6 I have clearly articulated the timeframe in which and the level of feedback with which I will return student assignments.

3.7 I offer students multiple opportunities to evaluate the effectiveness of this course and their own learning progress.

3.8 I offer assessment criteria in sufficient detail, including rubrics where appropriate.

3.9 I assess student learning using a variety of assessment strategies.

The assessment strategies I use include the following (Select all that apply): *

3.9.1 Quizzes

3.9.2 Projects

3.9.3 Discussions

3.9.4 Essays

3.9.5 Exams

3.9.6 Presentations

3.9.7 Other (explain below)

If "Other" was selected, please explain in the text field below:

Section 3: Learner Activities, cont.

3.10 Any exams given in this course require student identification authentication.

Section 4: Communication and Interaction *

4.1 I provide timely and sufficient interaction between myself and students and among students.

4.2 I clearly state my communication policy, which includes information on what students can expect in terms of the timeliness of replies as well as my expectations for respectful communication.

4.3 When teaching the course, I am available to support and communicate with students and oversee student projects and evaluation.

4.4 I spend at least one hour per week in direct instructional activities for every credit hour associated with my course (i.e., spend 3 hours per week in instructional activities for 3-hour credit course).

4.5 I interact with students.

If "Other" interaction with students was selected, explain in the text field below:

Section 5: Course Technologies *

5.1 The technologies used in the course support the course learning objectives.

5.2 The technologies used in the course are current and effective.

5.3 My course has been tested to ensure it is viewable in the current major release of Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari, and on Macs and PCs, and the course meets minimum technology requirements.

5.4 I am delivering my course on the university's approved learning management system (Canvas), which requires a secure login and passcode.

Section 6: Accessibility and Copyright *

6.1 I use accessible technologies in my course and provide guidance on how to obtain special accommodations, if necessary.

6.2 I have provided equivalent, text-based alternatives to all auditory and visual content.

6.3 My course design accommodates the use of assistive technologies such as screen readers.

6.4 If using external tools other than adopted Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI tools)*, I provide links to vendor accessibility pages.

6.5 There is no aspect of my course that would not allow for a reasonable accommodation to be made for a student with a verifiable disability.

6.6 I have obtained and met all copyright permissions as appropriate to course content.

6.7 I have confirmed that any course materials not developed by me or the course's designer meet the "fair use" standard or comply with the TEACH Act** and exempt me from liability of infringement.

* For information on the Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI tools) adopted by the university, including a list of tools that have been adopted, visit the External Apps in Canvas website.

**For information on the TEACH Act, visit the TEACH Act LibGuides website.

Comments or explanation why some Checklist items do not apply to my online or hybrid course:

0/500

Signature and Certification Statement

Name: *

By entering my name in the field above and by checking the box below, I certify that *

I am the faculty member indicated, and the information above is truthful and accurate. All efforts have been made to ensure that copyright permissions have been obtained. All efforts have been made to comply with institutional policies regarding technology and other learning resources.

If you happen to see this, do not fill this field.