Established Course Policies: Practical ways to create clear and consistent course policies that support student learning.
- Be specific about your course objectives and standards. It may be important for you and OARS to know which aspects of your course are fundamental and which aspects allow for some flexibility.
- Be clear on assignment deadlines (and any policies related to late submission).
- Be clear on attendance requirements.
- Establish course materials (e.g., textbook requirements) early on for students to obtain an accessible copy of all materials.
Cognitive Load & Information Processing: Practical ways to create a clear and predictable learning experience.
- Use Blackboard modules or folders to organize weekly or topic-based content consistently.
- Provide a course roadmap or timeline so students can anticipate what’s ahead.
- Post in advance test dates, due dates and assignment details in multiple places (syllabus, calendar, announcements).
- Keep navigation consistent across all course materials to reduce cognitive load.
Time Management & Flexibility: Practical ways to design courses that accommodate diverse learning paces and schedules.
- Offer flexible deadlines when appropriate.
- Break large assignments into smaller milestones.
- Record lectures for review and self-paced study.
- Build in catch-up weeks or reflection periods to prevent overload.