Finding the Happy Medium: Personalizing Course Design & Development with User Journeys and Faculty Personas

Concurrent Session 8

Session Materials

Brief Abstract

One size does not fit all. The shoes faculty wear when engaged in course design and development need to be tailored to their knowledge and experience with online course design. The LSU Online Design & Development team presents the Guided Design Model, a new design model piloted in Spring 2022.

Presenters

Lead Presenter: Radhika Krishnadas, Louisiana State University - Baton Rouge

Co-presenter: Hala Esmail, Louisiana State University

I have about 10 years of experiences within the higher education setting as an Educational Technology Consultant at the Faculty Technology Center at Louisiana State University. In my role I assist faculty with the seamless integration of technology into their teaching and research. Through my consulting activities I provide support in the identification and application of technologies that foster innovative instructional approaches. I am also a doctoral student in the Ph.D. program in Educational Leadership and Research at Louisiana State University. My research interests focus on the topics of teaching and learning, distance education, faculty development, international education, innovation, and technology.

Co-presenter: Jennifer Morrisette, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Extended Abstract

One size does not fit all. Years of working with faculty on course design and development have solidified this conclusion for LSU Online & Continuing Education's Design & Development (D&D team). During the Spring 2022 semester, the D&D team piloted the Guided Design Model (GDM), an alternative course design and development model that combines the current high-touch and workshop-based models to ensure fiscal sustainability and consistency in course design quality over time. Adopting a design thinking perspective, the team created personas based on faculty’s previous experience in developing online courses. This session begins with an overview of the process in creating the GDM (e.g., selection and analysis of relevant data from currently implemented course design models, creating faculty user journeys and personas, customizing support and services based on faculty needs), and results of the pilot. This will be followed by engaging the attendees in a hands-on activity, facilitating a discussion of practices at their own institution, and describing strategies they can adopt and adapt when creating faculty professional development offerings for a diverse audience.