Sustainability of Online Courses during covid-19: Experiences of an Online Learning Unit
Abstract: With the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, higher education institutions were forced to move course delivery to an online learning format. Along with creating one-time use courses, the move resulted in the production of quick-fix courses with little attention paid to factors that could hamper student learning and engagement. This paper outlines the experiences of a team of instructional designers who support instructors in transitioning high-enrollment courses. Based on Community of Inquiry framework, the paper describes critical components of online principles, course development, and the preparedness tools that guide the transition effort. Additionally, the paper showcases four exemplary courses. The experiences shared could help the community of online course instructors and designers optimize their resources in creating sustainable online environments that support student learning.