Online Learning
Teaching online brings its own set of challenges, along with its own set of skills to build. To help you create a great experience for Xavier students, IDT offers two training paths rooted in online pedagogy and best practices: Introduction to Online Course Design (IOCD) and Facilitating an Online Course (FOC).
Which Training Is Right for You?
Use the guide below to figure out which path fits your particular situation.
Take IOCD if you are...
- Designing a brand-new online course
- Substantially redesigning an existing online course
- Building a course inside Canvas for the first time
- New to teaching online and/or new to building in Canvas
Take FOC if you are...
- Adopting a course that's already fully designed and built
- Teaching a course that needs little to no updating in Canvas
- Comfortable with the pedagogy and technology involved, and mainly need an orientation to the course you're stepping into
Introduction to Online Course Design (IOCD)
Introduction to Online Course Design (IOCD) is the starting point for all faculty who teach online at Xavier. The course provides a foundation in online learning, course design, and Ignatian pedagogy, along with practical experience designing and building in Canvas.
Throughout IOCD, faculty apply what they're learning directly to a course of their own. Rather than simply following a prescribed approach to online course design, participants practice making intentional design decisions and examining why those choices make sense for the learning they want students to achieve, the context of their discipline, and the particular learners they are inviting into that experience.
Course Learning Outcomes
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1
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Design learner-centered online asynchronous courses informed by the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm and learning theories. |
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2
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Align course learning outcomes, assessments, activities, and learning materials using the backwards design process. |
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3
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Create a learning community in an online learning environment that fosters meaningful interaction between students and between students and the instructor across the full arc of the course. |
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4
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Establish teaching presence in an online learning environment that sets clear expectations, supports student success, and communicates care for each learner. |
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5
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Develop accessible and copyright-compliant content for an online asynchronous course. |
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6
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Apply Canvas course building skills to construct, edit, and maintain an asynchronous online course. |
Course Structure and Learning Experience
IOCD is a fully online, asynchronous course with no scheduled class meetings. The course spans seven weeks, followed by an additional week for participants to make final additions to their Canvas Workspaces.
The first module establishes a foundation in online learning and course design. Subsequent modules guide participants through the backward design process while developing the practical Canvas skills needed to implement their design decisions.
Throughout the course, participants work along two connected paths:
Participants progressively develop a Course Alignment Map, identifying and aligning learning outcomes, evidence of learning, assessments, activities, and instructional materials. They revisit and refine their decisions throughout the course.
Participants work in their own Canvas Workspace, where they practice creating and organizing course content, configuring learning activities and assessments, and applying the technical skills needed to build an online course.
Each module builds on the decisions and skills developed in previous weeks. Through discussions, applied assignments, reflection, peer perspectives, and AI-supported learning experiences, participants examine their design decisions from multiple perspectives and consider how those choices affect the student learning experience.
By the end of IOCD, participants will have developed a Course Alignment Map and a Canvas Workspace containing draft course content. Beyond these deliverables, they will have gained experience applying the principles of effective online course design and translating those decisions into a learning experience in Canvas.
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Online Course Intent Form
Complete the Online Course Intent Form. |
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Department Chair Form
Have your department chair complete the Online Course Creation Department Chair Form. |
Enrollment in IOCD is limited. Priority is given to faculty developing online courses that support university priorities, including:
- Summer courses
- Courses for non-traditional undergraduate students (APEX)
- Graduate courses
| IOCD Start Date | Best for faculty creating a course for: |
|---|---|
| January 2027 | Fall 2027 or later |
| May 2027 | Spring 2028 or later |
| October 2027 | Summer 2028 or later |
Facilitating an Online Course (FOC)
Facilitating an Online Course is for faculty adopting a previously designed online course. The course is a self-paced, independent learning experience built to help you learn the pedagogy of teaching online along with the technology involved. In FOC, you'll learn about creating instructor presence, building community, and supporting students, with specific instructions for putting each of these into practice in Canvas.
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Instructor Intent Form
Complete the FOC Instructor Intent Form. |
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Department Chair Form
Have your department chair complete the FOC Department Chair Form. |
Contact Us
For more information about the process or about online course development, reach out to IDT at idt@xavier.edu.