This developmental study explores the process and outcomes of creating an active learning classroom within a higher education setting. To support student success, institutions have increasingly redesigned their learning spaces to promote active learning. Early initiatives often aimed to facilitate collaborative learning and reduce reliance on…

As higher education institutions increasingly expand their online course offerings, the role of instructional designers in enhancing instructional quality and effectiveness becomes critical. This study surveyed practicing instructional designers to explore the specific tasks they perform performed in higher education and identifies factors that…

Drawing on the authors' extensive experience and robust survey data, this critical resource unpacks the inner workings of one of the most powerful mechanisms for improving teaching and learning in higher education: the course design institute (CDI). CDIs are intensive, often multi-day facilitated experiences where instructors design or redesign a…

Design-based research is a methodological approach that has been applied in the field of educational technology since the beginning of this century. The main aim of this article was to explore its use in the field of educational research, specifically in the context of higher education during the 5-year period from 2019 to 2023, coinciding with…

High structure course design involves scaffolding students' learning via pre-class content acquisition and assessment, in-class active learning exercises, after-class review and assessment, and frequent summative assessments. Research has demonstrated the efficacy of high structure courses including improved student performance, reduced…

This study presents the Terele-model (TEaching, REsearch, LEarning) -- an easy-to-use model that distinguishes different levels of connection between teaching, research and learning. To do this the study uses Johari windows to show clearly and intuitively the five different levels of action and interaction between the teacher and the student. At…

The rapid growth of online education has brought to the forefront the critical need for designing highquality online courses that effectively engage learners and facilitate their success in the digital realm. This study explored the key components and practical guidelines for designing high-quality online courses. Qualitative research was…

The purpose of this study was to benchmark the workload of online instructional designers as third-space professionals at 4-year, public institutions. Interview data regarding design team composition, courseload, responsibilities, and decision-making processes was gathered from managers of online learning units offering a "white-glove"…

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…

Higher education in the 21st century is changing from the traditional residential program where the student sits in the classroom and is guided through their learning process to one that is online where the student receives their learning away from the classroom. The change from these traditional programs to online programs has increased the age…

Adjuncts continue to be an integral part of higher education; however, they are rarely onboarded at higher education institutions. Onboarding involves systematically introducing a new employee to an organization's values, processes, and procedures. For adjuncts, they also need formalized training in pedagogy. Without onboarding adjuncts, higher…

Flexible learning addresses students' needs for more flexibility and autonomy in shaping their learning process, and is often realised through online technologies in a blended learning design. While higher education institutions are increasingly considering replacing classroom time and offering more blended learning, current research is limited…

This article undertakes a critical appraisal of learning design and its relation to ethical ideas of care. We give an account of three personae of near future learning designers, developed using speculative methods, seeded with real-world data comprising job advertisements and validated with learning designers. The personae illustrate conflicts…

Online learning, especially in higher education, has grown in recent years and the study of its didactic implications has also increased. Online experiences have been found to be as successful as face-to-face ones, but there is a concern about a lack of social interaction among students. This makes it necessary for teachers to plan collaborative…

In the last two decades there has been an increase in research and discussion regarding curriculum in Higher Education (HE). The literature in this field tends to focus on curriculum change at either the whole institution or individual program or unit level. Formal writing on HE curriculum also does not offer a framework that openly draws upon…