Converting Courses to Online Format

CETL has developed online course materials about principles, tips and effective sample materials to help UNB instructors convert their classroom-based materials to online format in Blackboard.

The online course is intended for UNB instructors who are:

• Creating online components for a classroom course
• Converting a classroom course (or section of a course) to an online format, whether as completely online or hybrid (meet one or more times face-to-face and work online otherwise)
• Currently using Blackboard in any of the above formats and are looking for new ideas for enhancing their current Blackboard course
• Just curious about online learning in Blackboard

Companion workshops will be conducted as demand warrants in which instructors bring materials for a specific course and reformat them for online presentation, following the principles elucidated online, with assistance from the CETL instructional designer and Blackboard technical training specialist.

The online course and workshop is primarily about effective online instructional design, not training on using the Blackboard features, although there is no neat dividing line and the workshops will provide sufficient technical training to complete instructional design tasks.

Instructors can also use the online instructional design principles to convert their course materials on their own, and contact Bev Bramble, the CETL instructional designer, with questions or for coaching (bbramble@unb.ca and 447-3080). We can meet at your convenience.

The online course has a “Timbucks Coffee Shop” on the course home page in which you can post questions and comments. Bev will be monitoring them to provide feedback. You may also use the Blackboard email to ask questions, or use the email or phone number above.

The online course topics include:

• Course approach and organization
• Content Presentation vs. Content Processing (creating meaningful application exercises online)
• Facilitating online interaction
• Online assessment best practices.

To self-enroll in the course, go to https://eservices.unb.ca/datatel/blackboard/autoenroll/, log on, and click in the appropriate column to enroll. Or, you can email Bev Bramble at bbramble@unb.ca to be enrolled.