Instructional design (ID) is a systematic process that is used to develop education and training programmes in a consistent and reliable way. A key challenge faced by educators is selecting an ID model by deciding which ID model will be more suitable in order to achieve an effective digital teaching and learning process. The objective of this…

Research has illustrated the role visual design plays in effective communication and instruction. However, more research has yet to investigate how online course designers (i.e., anyone who designs online courses) add visual appeal to online courses. This study explored the visual design process in online course development. It examines how…

We propose a set of guidelines called the Three-Tier Design Process (TTDP), providing a pathway for faculty and other higher-education professionals who intend to design and develop a course in a Learning Management System and to promote learner-centered experiences. This paper includes detailed discussion about each tier of the TTDP, its…

Virtual schools have gained popularity by providing students with the flexibility to learn anytime, anywhere. The appeal of virtual education lies in its capacity to enhance student choices and improve the efficiency of public education (Molnar et al., 2019). Online learning, with its adaptable and personalized approach, proves more effective than…

The demand for virtual learning environments in K-12 educational systems has grown exponentially in the past twenty years. The need for model K-12 learning environments became evident when the Covid-19 global pandemic caused an unparalleled closure to in-person learning environments that sent traditional school settings on a tailspin trying to…

Offering online courses can be seen as a way of enhancing the three essential "presences" (teaching, cognitive, and social) of the Community of Inquiry (CoI) model. Creating and enhancing cognitive, teaching, and social presences require an innovation for teachers during planning, implementing, and evaluating their online courses. As…

This article explores the design and development of a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on inclusive teaching. Released in the Fall of 2023, the MOOC is particularly unique because of its intentional use of ethnically diverse voices and multimodal content to include art, music, spoken word, and storytelling. Modules range from Self and Empathy to…

The use of online courses has expanded dramatically at institutions of higher education over the last several decades. Appropriate design of an online course is instrumental in determining the quality of the student experience and the amount of material students retain from the class. However, the instructor has a tremendous amount of freedom when…

We designed, developed, and researched a virtual and in-person curriculum for how to explore computational thinking using dance choreography, focused on engaging upper elementary and middle school girls. However, this paper explores our observations and interactions with our young participants who identified as boys through a series of vignettes.…

The last class session of the academic term represents an excellent opportunity to solicit meaningful feedback from students who have just completed the course. To capitalize on the students' first-hand knowledge of their own experiences with our course and maximize the impact of the last class for our Canadian graduate-level genetics course, we…

Project OCCAMS (Online Consortium for Accelerating Middle School) developed and piloted an accelerated curriculum through a design-based research approach combining the Integrated Curriculum Model, principles of culturally responsive instructional design, and extensive compacting. The program created a pathway for diverse middle school students to…

Disruptions have direct implications on the curriculum of higher education. Some disruptions are more subtle yet chronic such as longer-term impact from ideological changes to the national agenda and societal values relating to the purpose of higher education. There are also disruptive events such as the recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)…

For the first time, the OECD Future of Education and Skills 2030 project conducted comprehensive curriculum analyses through the co-creation of new knowledge with a wide range of stakeholders including policy makers, academic experts, school leaders, teachers, NGOs, other social partners and, most importantly, students. This report is one of six…

This article presents an analysis of a five-year study on the implementation of a technology-supported distance programme in Swedish firefighter training. Based on activity theory and four interview studies, the attention is directed to firefighter instructors' perceptions and use of digital technologies with a focus on challenges, contradictions…

This design case includes the challenges, considerations, and decisions associated with the design, development, and delivery of a master's level educational technology course on teaching and learning with games and simulations. A master's level course, Digital Games and Simulations in the Classroom, faced redesign in order to add a gamification…