Course Development Process for Center-Delivered Courses

There are numerous and varied steps that are involved in the creation of an online course. Even after the initial production is complete and the course is deployed, there is always fine-tuning to be done. We have outlined the Course Production and the Course Revision processes for you so that you can get some idea of what is required and the timeline.

Course Production

An instructional designer is assigned to work with a faculty member throughout the course production process. The course production process can be roughly divided into three phases. There are often activities from each phase going on at any given time and, in addition to those items listed below, there are other activities such as required training, securing copyright permissions, etc., which are necessary.

Phase 1	Phase 2	Phase 3
Content and Course Planning/Design	Development	Review Process
course content course structure media elements tests and assessments interactions and activities	create media elements (video, graphics, etc.) format course content create trial lesson upload content	faculty review content CDE revises and uploads media and content internal and external course reviews

Course Revisions

Once a course has been deployed, it will require periodic updates or revisions. It is suggested you keep a problem/change log as you teach the course so you can be sure to include them in your revision request. Revisions may range from simple to complex. For simplicity's sake, we have divided revisions into three levels, reflecting increasing amounts of content change and time required. If you have questions about the information below, please feel free to ask CDE staff how this applies to your particular course. First, two important points to keep in mind:

Faculty are responsible for requesting changes and submitting content additions/revisions by the deadlines indicated in the table below in order for desired changes to be instituted for the upcoming semester.
Course changes that are requested during the semester will be made at the end of the semester unless the content must be changed to ensure course integrity or there is a failure of course functionality or media content.

Level 1: Reflects changes that are made every semester. For example:

calendar
typos/spelling errors
dead links
e-mail change
grade book
discussion board categories

These changes are requested by CDE staff according to the deadlines below.

Level 2: Reflects minor revisions to courses that do not significantly impact course content. For example:

instructor information
test errors
syllabus changes which do not result in major course content changes
adding external links

These changes are requested by faculty according to the deadlines below.

Level 3: Reflects substantial changes to the course that impact course content or structure. For example:

content addition/update/removal, which impacts a significant portion of the course as determined by CDE staff
adding/removing tests or test questions
adding/updating content in a fixed media (video, zipped web files, Flash, PDF's)
restructuring/reordering course content

CDE staff may recommend revisions to a course due to obsolescent technology, improved functionality, compliance issues, etc. Generally, however, faculty are responsible for requesting Level 3 changes. Faculty and CDE staff will set up a timeline for completion of requested changes based on the scope of changes and available resources. Please contact CDE staff for more details if you feel your revisions fall into this level.

Level 1 & 2 Revision Deadlines	Fall	Spring	Summer
Level 1 changes requested by CDE. Level 2 changes requested by faculty.	May 1	September 1	February 1
Changes due into CDE. CDE staff begins making revisions to the content.	June 1	October 1	March 1
Course sent for editorial and technical review. Suggested corrections made by the CDE staff.	July 1	November 1	April 1
Course completion deadline.	August 1	December 1	May 1