Instructional Design Online Learning- 5318
​In this course, we explore how to design meaningful online and blended learning experiences that go beyond just using technology. We focus on aligning learning goals, activities, and assessments to create student-centered environments that support deeper learning. Through collaboration, reflection, and hands-on design, we develop practical strategies for building engaging, accessible instruction while growing as leaders in digital learning.
Instructional Design Assignment- 1
In this assignment, I designed a student-centered instructional plan for an online or blended learning environment. The goal was to intentionally align learning outcomes, activities, and assessments to create a meaningful learning experience that supports all learners, including those in a special education setting.
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This process pushed me to think beyond simply delivering content and instead focus on how learning is structured, supported, and experienced by students. I explored key components of effective instructional design, including outcome-based education, student-centered learning, deeper learning, and the use of assessment of, for, and as learning. I also considered the role of the teacher as a facilitator, coach, and mentor, while creating opportunities for students to take ownership of their learning.
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Throughout this design, I developed a comprehensive plan that includes a Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG), a 3-column table aligned with Fink’s Taxonomy, and a 5-week implementation schedule that gradually releases responsibility from teacher-led instruction to student independence. This work reflects my commitment to creating learning environments that are intentional, engaging, and accessible.
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You can view my Instructional Design Plan HERE.
Implementation Overview
Assignment 2
The last 2 week’s lessons have deepened my understanding of what it truly means to move from design to implementation. While designing a course requires intentional planning, this assignment pushed me to actually build and visualize how learners will experience the course in real time. In developing my Start Here module and first instructional modules, I focused on creating a clear, student-centered learning path where expectations, goals, and outcomes are visible and accessible from the beginning. My Overview module serves as the foundation of the course by introducing myself, establishing a welcoming learning environment, and setting the tone for collaboration and engagement, which aligns with quality standards for effective online course design (Quality Matters, n.d.).
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As learners move into the instructional modules, my design approach is evident through the intentional alignment of outcomes, activities, and assessments, a key principle emphasized in instructional design frameworks and backward design models (MIT Digital Learning Toolkit, 2017). The course is structured as a blended learning experience, incorporating asynchronous learning with opportunities for interaction, while positioning me as a facilitator and coach rather than solely a presenter. This shift reflects the need to create learning environments where students actively engage in meaning-making rather than passively receiving information (Bates, 2019).
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Additionally, I was intentional about addressing accessibility, support, and infrastructure needs to ensure all learners can successfully engage with the content. This includes clear navigation, consistent structure, and access to resources that support independent learning. Overall, this process reinforced that implementation is not a final step, but an ongoing, iterative cycle of reflection, feedback, and refinement, which is essential for creating meaningful and effective learning experiences.
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You can find my Implementation Overview Assignment HERE.
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References
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Bates, A. W. (2019). Teaching in a digital age: Guidelines for designing teaching and learning. https://opentextbc.ca/teachinginadigitalage/
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology. (2017). Online course design guide. http://dltoolkit.mit.edu/online-course-design-guide/
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Quality Matters. (n.d.). Quality assurance begins with a set of standards. https://www.qualitymatters.org/qa-resources/rubric-standards
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