Course Design Review (OSCQR)

Service Description

The Course Design Review process promotes continuous improvement in the instructional design of online and hybrid courses to support the Online and Hybrid Course Offering DOPS policy. This research-based course design review and enhancement model uses the OSCQR tool to assist in a team approach to the application of instructional design principles to course design. More information about the Course Design Review and OSCQR tool can be found on the Instructional Design and Distance Learning website.

Instructional Design and Distance Learning is prioritizing course design reviews for courses and programs nominated for SUNY Online Plus Programs and SUNY Online Signature Programs.

Timeline

To ensure completion of the course design review process, course design review requests should be completed according to the following schedule. This schedule was developed using dates from the Academic Calendar.

Requesting a Review

Before requesting a Course Design Review, please ensure that you have:

• participated in Brightspace training or are comfortable utilizing Brightspace features;
• earned online teaching credentials (referenced in the Online and Hybrid Course Offering DOPS policy);
• requested a Brightspace development shell to work on course development or redesign;
• developed your course in the Brightspace development shell.

Once a review has been requested, you will receive a link to your OSCQR tool and instructions for completing your self-review. In addition to the best practices and links within the OSCQR tool, an OSCQR Tips and Resources guide is available to guide you through the OSCQR standards. Once the self-review has been completed, an optional peer-review can begin (if requested), and IDDL will then assign an instructional designer to complete the instructional designer portion of the review.

Once the instructional designer review begins, feedback will be provided to faculty within 4 weeks. The instructional designer will reach out to you to meet to discuss the reviews and identify course updates. Multiple meetings may occur during this phase to discuss course design. Instructors will update course design as needed based on reviews to ensure OSCQR standards are present in course design. This revision period may include several cycles of updating the course design, checking these updates based on the OSCQR standards, providing updated recommendations, meeting to discuss course design, and implementing updates to course design.

Depending on the current number of requests, the instructional designer portion of the review may not be able to occur outside of the respective semester's timeline. IDDL reserves the right to modify the timeline based on number of requests that are currently in progress. Requests will be cancelled after 1 month if no action is taken or if there is no response from the requestor. We recommend going through this process for one course at a time. If you have more than one course that needs to be reviewed, please take the timing into consideration when requesting your reviews and plan to start the process prior to the deadlines.

Standard Features

• Course Design Review – For online and hybrid courses
• Faculty should request a development shell in Brightspace before beginning the Course Design Review
• Copy of Buffalo State's OSCQR tool via OneDrive
• Individualized support from an instructional designer

Optional Features

• Participation in Online Course Development training or other related workshops

Roles and Responsibilities

Instructional Design and Distance Learning

• Create and share OSCQR tool with instructor (via OneDrive)
• Complete course design review and provide feedback to instructor
• Ongoing consultations and meetings with instructor to complete course design review process
• If department/school policy is in place, communicate with instructor's department chair and/or associate dean about review process

Faculty

• Request a development course shell in Brightspace for course design review
• Update the "semester to be taught" if this changes
• Develop course to be reviewed in a development shell within learning management system (it is our policy to only complete the course design review process in a development shell)
• Update the development course with dates, assignments, etc. for the semester in which the course will be taught
• Complete self-review of course using OSCQR tool (via OneDrive)
• Optionally, faculty can request a peer review in addition to an instructional designer review
• Once the self review is complete, the instructor will update the ticket to inform IDDL it has been completed.
• Participate in consultations and meetings with instructional designer
• Implement instructional strategies and best practices into course design and facilitation based on review and OSCQR standards

How to Request:  

Click the Open a Ticket button and complete the request form. 

Service Audience:

Faculty and staff

Service Level Agreement

Response and resolution times are based on operational hours (Monday through Friday from 8:00AM to 4:00PM).

Instructors must begin the course design review process according to the schedule outlined on this page.

Once review has been requested, requestor will receive the OSCQR tool to complete a self review. Once self review has been completed, IDDL will then assign an instructional designer to complete the ID portion of the review. Feedback will be provided to faculty within 4 weeks after the instructional designer review begins. IDDL reserves the right to modify the timeline based on number of requests that are currently in progress.

Institutional Policies

• DOPS IV:07:00 Distance Learning Policy
• DOPS IV:07:03 Instructional Modalities
• DOPS IV:07:04 Online and Hybrid Course Offering
• Admin Policy Library: Campus-Supported Learning Management System Policy
• School of Arts & Sciences - Initial Practices and Procedures Online Course Scheduling
• School of Education - Online and Hybrid Review Process
• School of the Professions - Online/Hybrid Course Offering Policy