Body
QA Course Overview
Required
The Quality Assurance Rubric, for the Course Overview Section 1.1 states:
Navigational instructions make the organization of the course easy to understand.
From the SD Board of Regents
Expectations
- This should be found in the introduction to the course. An effective way to drive the students to this is to label an icon on your D2L course's homepage with something to the extent of "Start Here," or "Read Me First."
- In this introduction, you should simply outline where things are in your course. For example, tell the students that if they want to check their grades, they should click on the "Assessment → Grades" link.
- Instructions provide a general course overview, guide the new student to explore the course website, and indicate what to do first, rather than list detailed navigational instructions for the whole course. It's a good idea to provide some of the same information in the syllabus.
Examples
- A course video tour, describing the major features of the course. (Please label with the term "Navigation Instructions.")
- A written detailed course overview of where students can find the major features of the course. (Please label with the term "Navigation Instructions.")
References
Other Examples
Here are three written example statements that provide navigational instructions to make the organization of the course easy to understand:
Example 1:
Welcome to [Course Name]! To help you navigate through this course, here are some key points to keep in mind. The course is organized into weekly modules, each accessible from the course homepage. On the homepage, you will find a navigation bar on the left side that includes links to the Syllabus, Modules, Assignments, Discussions, and Grades. Each module contains a series of video lectures, readings, and activities that you should complete sequentially. Make sure to check the Announcements section regularly for updates and important information. If you have any questions about the course structure or navigation, feel free to reach out via the Help Forum.
Example 2:
Hello and welcome to [Course Name]! This course is designed to be intuitive and easy to navigate. From the main dashboard, you will see tabs for each section of the course: Syllabus, Modules, Assignments, Discussions, and Grades. Begin by reviewing the Syllabus to understand the course objectives and expectations. Each week, access the corresponding module, which includes all necessary materials such as video lectures, readings, and quizzes. The Discussion tab is where you can engage with your peers and participate in weekly discussions. The Assignments tab will keep track of all your tasks and due dates. Be sure to regularly visit the Announcements section for updates. If you encounter any issues, please contact me directly.
Example 3:
Greetings, and welcome to [Course Name]! To ensure you can easily navigate and make the most of this course, here’s a quick guide. The course is structured into clearly defined weekly modules, accessible from the Modules tab on the main course page. Each module includes video lectures, reading materials, and assignments. You will find all the course materials in the Modules section, arranged in the order you should complete them. The Discussions tab is where we will have our weekly forums, and the Assignments tab lists all tasks along with their deadlines. Check the Announcements section frequently for important updates. For any navigation assistance or course-related queries, use the Help Forum or send me a direct message.
Feel free to adjust these examples to fit your course layout.