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The Digital Learning team in CTLI provides leadership in the design and development of intuitive, engaging, and beautiful learning experiences and environments for faculty and learners. We accomplish this through integration of:
Our team of Instructional Designers, Digital Media/Graphic Design specialists, and Learner Experience Researcher strive for excellence in online, hybrid, HyFlex, and in person learning through coaching, modeling, and strategic partnerships with the Mohawk College community.
The Digital Learning team at Mohawk College is guided by the following Policies:
Our Design & Development Process
The Digital Learning team's design and development process is based upon the User-Centred Design Process found at Usability.gov, and includes five phases:
Learner Experience
This collaborative, team-based approach places the learner and teacher needs at the centre by leveraging elements of Peter Morville's User Experience Design Honeycomb, and applying it to the learner experience at Mohawk College. He noted that, in order for there to be a meaningful and valuable user experience, information must be:
An accessible version of the Online Design and Development Process Map (WORD) is available (WORD).
Course Design and MyCanvas Templates
Course Outline
Each course contains a course outline, which is a contract between the college and the student that provides information on the curriculum and learning students will experience in a course. It articulates the specific outcomes students will achieve, identifies how those outcomes will be measured and assessed, and includes information about course-specific resources and policies.
Learning Plan
A Learning Plan is the critical complement to a Course Outline. It translates the broad, overall synopsis of the course into manageable weekly or modular chunks. It communicates covered content/concepts, expected contributions, and related assessments for each section of the course (week or module).
Module Overview (download opens as PDF, 470 KB)
This is the first template students view when beginning each new module in a course. The template provides students with a mini agenda of every module, including a module introduction, topics covered, learning outcomes and elements of performance that will be met, what students are responsible for reading, watching, completing, and attending, a module summary, and list of references. This template organized in a very coherent, aesthetically pleasing way, allowing learners to have a very clear understanding of their expectations each week.
Assignment (download opens as PDF, 242 KB)
All assignments in a single course share the same template and appear in the same format. For each assignment, instructions are stated in paragraph format followed by expectations (length, APA reference guide, spacing, and number of references required), submission requirements (file type, nomenclature for submission, and submission settings), a rubric outlining how students are evaluated, and finally, which course learning outcomes will be met after completion.
Quiz (download opens as PDF, 150 KB)
Every quiz and test in a single course share the same template: quiz instructions that outline the question format and how much time students have to complete it, followed by helpful guidelines to quiz writing (remove all distractions, find a quiet space, etc.), important items to remember (academic integrity, stable internet requirement, and recommended browsers), and finally, course learning outcomes that will be met after completion.
Online Discussions (download opens as PDF, 366 KB)
Within every course, there are four standard discussion boards designed to assist students in their learning: Introduce Yourself (allows students to meet their classmates), Course Questions and Answers (students can post questions about course content), The Water Cooler (students are encouraged to socialize and get to know their classmates), and Technical Errors and Course Content Issues (students can report technical glitches, user experience frustrations, typographical errors, broken links, etc.). For course-specific discussion postings, each board contains instructions including any necessary secondary resources, a rubric, and course learning outcomes that will be met after completion.
Connect (download opens as PDF, 433 KB)
The connect section for each module acts as a catalyst to connect the intended module learning outcomes or elements of performance with real life/work experiences. This allows students to make a better connection between the module content and their industry.
Instructor Information (download opens as PDF, 323 KB)
In the Course Information module of each course, the instructor's name is provided alongside their professional headshot. In paragraph format, the instructor's training, teaching philosophy, and life experience relevant to the course is explained. As well, their communication channels are listed (email, Skype, phone, office location), how to communicate with him/her (where they are best reached, in-person/virtual office hours) and any additional information they wish to share with students regarding their availability.
Design & Development Resources
How to Write Course Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) are central to a courses curriculum. This resource provides direction, rationale, and steps for writing effective CLOs.
Universal Design for Learning
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a curriculum design, development, and delivery framework used to create accessible and inclusive learning environments. This resource provides guidelines and resources for the effective implementation of UDL.
Experiential Learning
Experiential Learning is a theory and concept based on the idea of learning-by-doing. This resource provides information on Kolb's theory, definitions, and applications of Experiential Learning.
Rubrics
Rubrics are relevant, user-friendly, benchmarks, for reinforcing instruction and cultivating success.
Credit Hours Conversion Chart
This is a chart for converting course hours to credits.
Principles of Multimedia Learning (download opens as PPT, 28 KB)
This is a short presentation deck used to provide an overview of Mayer's Principles of Multimedia Learning.
Experiential Learning at Mohawk College - Faculty Handbook (download opens as PDF, 2.3 MB)
Mohawk College's Faculty Handbook for Experiential Learning.
eCampus Ontario Open Library
eCampus Ontario's home to Open Educational Resources (OERs). This resource provides an overview, resources, and support in details for the effective use of rubrics in course design.
The Learning Portal
The Learning Portal, from College Libraries Ontario, is a valuable resource for students and faculty who endeavour to be successful in college Mohawk College's Library.
Library @ Mohawk
Mohawk College's Library.
TeachOnline
TeachingOnline.ca, by Contact North, provides a wealth of information regarding innovation, tools, and trends, webinars and interviews, training opportunities, and upcoming conferences, all related to teaching in technology-mediated environments.
Government of Ontario: Published College Program Standards
The Ontario Government's online resource for Published College Program Standards.
Government of Ontario: Essential Employability Skills
The Ontario Government's online resource for the Essential Employability Skills that are required of all graduate of College Certificates, Diplomas, and Advanced Diplomas.
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