Design Standards & Credit Hour Compliance
Every course we build is guided by a shared set of faculty-approved standards. Think of these not as rules, but as our collective commitment to creating learning experiences that are clear, effective, and welcoming to every single student. Let's explore the principles that guide our work.
The Building Blocks of a Great Course
These core principles are the foundation of our design process and what we look for during quality review. They're how we ensure every course is a high-quality learning environment.
- Quality Matters (QM) Framework: We use the nationally recognized QM framework as our benUDLchmark for excellence in online and blended course design. Learn more about QM and see how LxD applies QM standards in our development process.
- Backward Design: We always start with the end in mind. By defining our learning outcomes first, we can purposefully design assessments, activities, and materials that lead students directly to those goals. Learn more about backward Design.
- Universal Design for Learning (UDL): We believe in creating flexible paths to learning. UDL principles guide us to offer students multiple ways to engage with content, understand information, and demonstrate what they've learned. Learn more about UDL, review our Universal Design Considerations, or get support from the Access & UDL Coach custom GPT.
- Accessibility & Usability: We are committed to creating courses where everyone has a seat at the table. We follow ADA and WCAG guidance to ensure our content is perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for all learners.
- A Welcoming First Experience: We set students up for success from day one with a clear orientation, transparent technology expectations, and guidance on how to manage their time.
- Academic Integrity: We help students become responsible scholars by using program-approved citation styles (like APA) and providing easy access to academic support resources.
- Course Quality Framework: We follow the LxD Course Quality Assurance Process to ensure consistency and quality from the initial design map to the final course template.
Your Pre-Flight Quality Check
Before you send your course map or template for its official review, it's always helpful to do a quick self-check. Use this list to catch common issues and ensure you're ready for the next step.
- Are the course and module outcomes specific, clear, and measurable?
- Do your assessments directly align with those outcomes, and do they have clear rubrics?
- Is the weekly flow logical and inclusive, with a workload that feels manageable?
- Is the navigation predictable? Does each module have an overview, task list, and due dates?
- Are your materials current, accessible, and affordable? Have you connected with a librarian for support?
- Does all your media have alternatives like captions or transcripts? Do images have meaningful alt text?
- Are all links descriptive and working correctly? Do files open easily on common devices?
- Is it clear how you'll be present in the course and when students can expect feedback?
Respecting Student Time: The Credit Hour Audit
One of our most important commitments is ensuring that the workload in a course is fair, meaningful, and aligned with the credit hours it's worth. The Credit Hour Compliance audit is the simple tool we use to verify this.
What Counts as "Instructional Time"?
- Direct Instruction: Think of this as any time the instructor is actively leading the learning. This includes live class meetings, synchronous sessions, recorded lectures or demos, and structured discussions where instructor guidance is key.
- Non-Direct Instruction: This is all the valuable learning work students do on their own time, guided by your course design. This includes things like readings, discussion posts, projects, practice activities, and quizzes.
How to Complete the Audit in 4 Easy Steps
- Open the Credit Hour Compliance form and sign in.
- List out each recurring activity from your Course Map (e.g., discussions, quizzes) and estimate the time it will take for a typical student to complete each one.
- Review the totals at the bottom. You can adjust the time estimates or number of activities until the form shows an "In Compliance" status for your course's credit hours.
- Submit the form, download the PDF confirmation, and share it with your designer and Program Chair. That's it!
A Few Pro-Tips for a Smooth Audit
- Be realistic and consistent with your time estimates from week to week.
- For a big project, break it down into smaller steps (e.g., research, outline, draft) to make your time estimate more accurate.
- If you make a major change to an assignment or activity later on, remember to re-check the audit.
- Want to learn more? You can read the full policy details here.
