High-Impact Design for Online Courses (HIDOC) Framework

Helping Students Succeed in Online Learning 

Online students require structured support systems to navigate course materials, assignments, and technology effectively. Faculty play a critical role in fostering a sense of community, providing timely guidance, and ensuring students feel connected and supported throughout the course. 

Key Considerations 

• Online learning differs from in-person learning. In an asynchronous environment, students don't attend class at specific times. Instead, they typically work independently with due dates for assignments. To succeed, students must be self-directed learners, and strategies can be implemented to support their development in this area. 
• Create a clear learning path. Help students connect new material to their previous experiences, prior courses, and other relevant class content. This context will help them better understand and engage with new topics. 
• Establish measurable module learning objectives (MLOs). MLOs define the specific skills, knowledge, or values students should demonstrate after completing a module. These objectives should align with the broader course learning outcomes and guide the skills students are expected to develop within each module. 
• Design well-organized modules. Break down the course into manageable segments to help students navigate the material. By sequencing the content thoughtfully, you provide clarity and structure so students can easily follow a logical learning path. 
• Include key elements of assignments. Identify assignments and provide a brief description explaining what students will do in the assignment and how it supports their learning. 
• Explain how assignments will be evaluated. Create rubrics or include a detailed checklist to ensure students understand how their work will be assessed. 
• Specify how students will submit work. Provide clear instructions for submission methods and any required steps to ensure a smooth submission process. 
• Check assignment for clarity. Ensure that instructions are clear, concise, and free from ambiguity to avoid confusion. 
• Stagger due dates throughout the week. Break up assignments into smaller, manageable deadlines to prevent overwhelming students with too much work at once. 
• Include reminders in announcements. Use course announcements to remind students of upcoming due dates and important instructions. 
• Set up regular check-ins to maintain engagement. Use weekly announcements, reminders, and progress updates to keep students on track, host virtual office hours via Zoom for real-time support, and send personalized messages to students who may be struggling or disengaged. 
• Offer prompt and constructive feedback on assignments.Provide timely, actionable feedback to guide student progress, use rubrics and annotated comments to clarify expectations and areas for improvement, and offer opportunities for students to ask follow-up questions on feedback. Clearly state communication and feedback turnaround time to students. Provide information on how students should communicate with you. 
• Create a “Start Here” or “Getting Started” module. Provide key course details, navigation instructions, outcomes, policies, and support resources to help students get started. This section should be available from day one and guide students through essential course components. 
• Introduce yourself. A text, audio, or video introduction helps establish connection. Include your name, photo, teaching philosophy, background, and research interests to make your presence more visible in the course. 
• Provide a detailed syllabus. Ensure the syllabus is easy to find and includes course outcomes, academic integrity and other expectations, course policies, the grading scale and policies, and a schedule of modules. Use the CTE syllabus template as a guide. 
• Outline a clear course schedule. Organize modules, readings, assignments, and deadlines by chapters, units, weeks, or topics. A structured schedule helps students plan and manage their coursework. 
• Encourage student introductions. A discussion board or introductory activity helps build community. Provide prompts or icebreaker questions to encourage meaningful interaction. 
• Offer an open discussion forum. A space for general questions and informal discussions allows students to seek clarification and support from peers. 
• Include content descriptions. Provide a short description for each resource explaining what it is, why it’s relevant, and how students should engage with it. 
• Encourage student sharing. Use surveys, private journals, or written assignments to allow students to share their background, goals, or concerns at the start of the course. 

Why It Matters 

Online students often navigate coursework independently, which can lead to feelings of isolation, uncertainty, and difficulty managing their learning. A well-structured course with clear expectations, regular communication, and opportunities for engagement helps students stay motivated, organized, and connected. Thoughtful design and support strategies enhance retention and success by providing the guidance and resources students need to thrive in an online environment. 

Action Steps 

• Identify the module and related Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs). 
  • List the CLOs associated with the module. Since CLOs are broad, it's unlikely that a single module will fully meet one, but it should contribute to achieving the overall outcomes. 
• List and describe module assessments and activities.
  • Provide a brief (1-3 sentence) description of each assessment or activity, explaining its purpose and how it supports student learning. 
• List and describe module content and instructional materials. 
  • Include only the content and materials that directly support students in completing assessments and activities successfully.  
•  Create a “Start Here” or “Getting Started” module.
  • Provide clear guidance to help students get started, including an overview of the course structure, how work will be submitted and returned, and where to find key components such as the syllabus, schedule, policies, procedures, and student resources. 
• Create a module introduction. 
  • Write a paragraph that introduces the module and describes the key activities students will engage in and what they will accomplish.
• Review the module overview for alignment.  
  • Ensure that the module overview accurately reflects the content, assessments, and activities included within the module.  
• Create Module Learning Objectives (MLOs).  
  • Define clear, measurable learning objectives for the module. These should describe the specific skills, knowledge, or abilities students will gain. Use measurable action verbs for clarity.  

Example Module Learning Objectives (MLOs) 

Module learning objectives (MLOs) break down course learning outcomes (CLOs) into specific, measurable skills. They guide students’ progress and ensure each module builds toward the overall course outcomes. 

Below is an example of MLOs aligned with a CLO on persuasive oral presentations. 

CLO: By the end of this course, students will be able to deliver a persuasive oral presentation, using logical arguments, credible evidence, and effective public speaking techniques. 

MLOs: Upon completion of this module, you will be able to: 

• • • Identify key principles of persuasive communication, including ethos, pathos, and logos. 
    • Develop well-organized arguments supported by logical reasoning and credible evidence. 
    • Assess the credibility and relevance of evidence used to support persuasive claims. 
• Draft your module summary and next steps. 
  • Summarize the key concepts and takeaways from the module. Explain how students will apply this learning to future activities or assessments. 

You Try It 

Use the HIDOC Course Blueprint and Step 7 - Assignment Prompts documents from the HIDOC library to design a well-structured online course that supports student engagement and success. The Course Blueprint document provides a framework for aligning learning outcomes and objectives, assessments, instructional materials, and technology to create a cohesive learning experience. It includes a Course Alignment Map for organizing the overall structure and a Detailed Module Layout to guide the development of individual modules. The Assignment Prompts document helps refine assessment instructions by ensuring clarity in expectations, evaluation criteria, and submission guidelines. Together, these resources support the creation of an organized, student-centered course that enhances clarity, coherence, and accessibility.