High-Impact Design for Online Courses (HIDOC) Framework

Refining Your Course Over Time 

Online courses should evolve based on student feedback, assessment data, and instructor reflection. The HIDOC model encourages ongoing evaluation and revision to ensure that course content, assessments, and learning activities remain effective, engaging, and aligned with best practices. 

Key Considerations 

• Use student insights to guide improvements. Collecting feedback throughout the course helps identify challenges related to workload, navigation, and engagement. Understanding student perspectives can highlight areas where adjustments may enhance their learning experience. 
• Examine course data for patterns. Trends in student performance and participation can reveal where learners struggle or disengage. Regularly reviewing this data ensures that instructional adjustments are based on concrete evidence. 
• Stay informed on evolving best practices. Continuous learning through faculty teaching development programs, professional networks, and research keeps instructional approaches relevant and effective. Incorporating new strategies can improve student outcomes. 
• Balance consistency with innovation. While core learning outcomes provide consistency, refining instructional strategies, course materials, and technology keeps content engaging and aligned with students’ needs. 
• Take a structured approach to course updates. Having a clear plan for revising course elements ensures that improvements are intentional and aligned with student needs, course outcomes, and institutional goals. 
• Seek external perspectives on course quality. Input from colleagues and CTE instructional designers can provide valuable insights into areas for enhancement that may not be immediately apparent. 
• Engage in reflective teaching practices. Self-assessment tools and structured reflection help instructors evaluate their course from a broader perspective, ensuring continuous growth and refinement. 

Why It Matters 

Continuous course improvement keeps content relevant, enhances teaching strategies, and strengthens student outcomes. Regular updates ensure materials align with current research, industry trends, and accessibility standards. Refining assessments, activities, and instructional materials helps address learning barriers, improve engagement, and create a more effective learning experience. 

Action Steps 

Teaching Calendar 

• Create a teaching calendar. 
  • Develop a structured calendar for the semester to ensure a realistic and balanced course schedule. This helps manage workload and maintain timely interactions with students. 
• Map out student assignments. 
  • In the teaching calendar, list all major assignments, discussions, and assessments students will complete throughout the course. Ensure deadlines are evenly distributed to prevent overwhelming students. 
• Schedule grading and feedback.  
  • In the teaching calendar, outline when you will review student work and provide feedback. Allocating specific time for grading ensures consistency and timely responses. 
• Adjust as needed. 
  • Review the calendar for feasibility. Make adjustments to workload, pacing, or deadlines as necessary to support both student learning and instructor efficiency. 

Course Alignment 

• Review course structure.  
  • Ensure your course alignment map and module details are accurate and cohesive.  
• Align content with assessments. 
  • Verify that instructional materials support assessments and activities by providing students with the necessary resources to succeed. Prioritize opportunities for students to apply their knowledge.  
• Ensure accessibility. 
  • Confirm that all course content meets accessibility standards and is usable for all students.  
• Validate Module Learning Objectives (MLOs). 
  • Check that MLOs accurately reflect the module’s activities and assessments.  
• Confirm MLO and Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) alignment. 
  • Ensure that MLOs support and align with broader CLOs.  
• Evaluate the course holistically.  
  • Review all module components to ensure they work together to provide clear takeaways, key highlights, and next steps for students. 

You Try It 

Use the Step 8 - Revision Roadmap, Step 8 - Teaching Calendar, and HIDOC Student Feedback Survey Questions documents from the HIDOC library to refine and organize your course for effective instruction and continuous improvement. The Revision Roadmap helps identify necessary fixes, plan future enhancements, and document additional ideas based on feedback. The Teaching Calendar provides a structured weekly schedule, including assignments, feedback timelines, office hours, and announcements. Together, these resources support a well-structured, adaptable course that enhances clarity and student engagement. 

The HIDOC Student Feedback Survey Questions document offers sample questions to gather student input throughout the course. It covers topics such as workload, course design, instructional strategies, technology, tools, navigation, and online teaching effectiveness.