Table of Contents
Why?
When you are acting as a SME, you are working toward a course that can be passed on to a new instructor. While your syllabus can offer a lot of information, there is likely a lot of information in your mind about the course that is not laid out there. Additionally, the new instructor may not know what needs to be changed, updated, and personalized within the course.
How?
- Go to the “Note for instructors” item in the “Course Information” area of your primary/template course, and open the general Instructor Guide linked there.
- Make a copy of this guide to customize.
- When completed, share with OC.
- Add a link to your customized guide in the “Note for instructors” area.
Screenshot of “Note for Instructors.”
Advice/Best Practices
- While you work on your course, take notes of important things you would want to say to anyone who might teach it in the future.
- Prepare the instructor for upcoming student needs. For example, does a certain assignment need to be graded before another one is due? Do students tend to struggle with a specific part of a given assignment?
- Think practically. What absolutely must be done before the course is opened to students? Which weeks will require more time for the instructor than others?
- Consider announcements and instructor presence - do you have any ideas about how the instructor might best utilize these things?
- Are you using any unique technologies in your course? If so, please provide links and/or instructions on how the instructor can get set up with that, where they can get support, etc.
Where can I find more information?
The North Institute has a Teaching & Learning Resources website, which offers links to several tools as well as guidance on usage.
We have an Online Tool Adoption Rubric to help you as you try to decide which tools you should use in your classes.
Need more ideas? Email [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you!