Quality Course Design

Welcome to the Course Success Self-Review:

SUCCESS FACTORS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE INSTRUCTION


The Course Success Self-Review is an anonymous and quick survey tool for instructors. It is intended to help instructors strengthen the design and delivery of their courses, leading to better learning and student satisfaction. These recommendations are relevant to instruction regardless of modality: online, face-to-face, and blended. The Self-Review identifies six success factors (also listed on this page), with supporting recommendations for each factor. Based on your answers, you will receive targeted feedback and resources that can help you put these recommendations into practice.

Note: We highly recommend taking the Self-Review first before reviewing the website links so you will be directed to specific and actionable resources and will not need to search through all of the recommendations.

Accessibility and Title II

In April 2024, the Department of Justice updated the regulations for Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to include specific requirements for the accessibility of online content, including public higher education institutions. Starting in April 2026, all digital course content must conform to higher standards of digital accessibility (specifically, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA) to ensure that course materials are accessible to all students and ensuring equitable access to education.

All content that you provide to students digitally in the LMS (Canvas) or by other digital methods should meet current accessibility standards. Please visit the Title II, Digital Accessibility and Instruction at UWSP website to review the requirements, enroll in the trainings, and learn what you should do to ensure your course content meets the requirements.

Taking the Self Review

faculty member working at laptop
  1. Start the Self-Review: The Self-Review will take 20 to 60 minutes, depending on the number of success factors you select. You may take the survey as often as you like.

  2. Choose the specific success factors in the Self-Review that you would like to strengthen. It is possible to choose all six, though we suggest focusing on two to four that are most important to work on for your course.

  3. Read the recommendations and rate how effectively you feel you are achieving each of these recommendations. If you choose “Somewhat” or “Not effectively,” you will receive feedback on that particular recommendation. If you choose “Very effectively,” you will not receive feedback.

  4. After completing the Self-Review, you will be provided a report that will point you to resources that can help you put these ideas into practice. If you supply your email address, this report can also be emailed to you, which also makes it easy for you to share the results with a designer or consultant.

A note on privacy and anonymity: This tool is built in Qualtrics and collects aggregate information about areas of need selected by its users. This information may be used to improve the Self-Review tool, develop additional resources, or identify needs for professional development. No identifying information is recorded. You do not need to provide your email to view the final results of this Self-Review, which you may save directly to your computer. As a convenience, you have the option to provide your email address in order to receive an emailed copy of your report. Note that doing so will make your responses identifiable; however, this information will not be shared.

Start Here: Take the Self-Review

Next Steps

After completing the Self-Review, you can browse the resources related to any of the success factors and recommendations. You may choose to act on the recommendations yourself, or share the Self-Review report with a designer or consultant, taking advantage of the different forms of instructional support available (depending on your school or college).

For more information on consultation and design services available to you, contact the Center for Inclusive Teaching and Learning: citl@uwsp.edu

Feedback: After taking the Self-Review and reviewing the provided recommendations, we would love to hear your feedback or suggestions. Please use this Feedback Form to share any problems you encountered or any suggestions for this Course Success Self-Review Tool. Thank you.

Success Factors

The following are six success factors and supporting recommendations aimed at helping strengthen instruction. The Course Success Self-Review asks if you feel that these success factors are currently effective in your course.

students in a classroom
  1. Course Planning: The amount of time a student spends learning reflects the university’s guidelines for credit hours (lectures, discussion, reading, assignments, studying, etc.). The definition of a credit hour is based on federal rules and ensures students receive the enriching and engaging education they deserve without demanding more effort than is required.

  2. Supporting Students: An inclusive learning environment is established when all students are supported in adapting to the structure, schedule, expectations, and technologies used in the course. Supporting students requires thorough communication about how the course is set up, what they have to do, how the course is run administratively, and what resources and services are available to help them succeed.

  3. Instructor-Student Interaction: The course is designed to include regular and substantive interaction and communication between the student and instructor. Regardless of modality, a fully-realized educational experience provides students with ample opportunity to ask questions, receive answers, and obtain feedback and guidance from instructors.

  4. Student-Student Interaction: The course is designed to include regular and substantive interaction among students. A fully-realized educational experience provides students with ample opportunity to actively engage and collaborate with their peers.

  5. Materials & Media: Lectures and course materials are accessible, multi-faceted, varied, and aligned with course learning outcomes.

  6. Assessment & Feedback: Methods for assessment, grading, and feedback are planned and clearly outlined for students. Assessment methods should be carefully chosen, should reflect principles of alignment, equity, transparency, rigor, and integrity, and may challenge conventional approaches to quizzes and exams.

Start Here: Take the Self-Review