COMPONENTS OF THE 7RD2 (COURSE DEVELOPMENT) PROCESS
The following are the course developer tasks during the course development process.
Courses are typically designed in 7 units and delivered in 7 weeks. The activities in each unit are outlined below.
Components of Course Unit
R1Readings
R1 stands for Readings (along with the unit learning objectives, and the first draft of the course syllabus). Below are the steps for this process:
Step 1: Start developing the course syllabus using the templates you will receive.
Step 2: List the course objectives in the course map. These can be gleaned from the course description or the program details from your school.
Next, split the course objectives into 7 units and develop the unit objectives based on the course objective(s) assigned to the unit. Refer to Using the Backward Design, on how to split the course into 7 sections/units. Then use verbs from Bloom’s Taxonomy (note the order) in the objectives as in the example below:
- Understand how issues for governing society develop over time
- Clarify views on what constitutes good government
- Organize different points of view regarding a citizen rights and responsibilities
- Assess the impacts of different points of view
- Analyze the background of the US government
- Evaluate forms of government
Step 3: List the assigned readings for each unit in the course map. Try locating Open Education Resources (OER), library articles, or textbooks that are available in digital format. If picking a commercial textbook, make sure that you run it by the program chair or the dean for approval first. The readings should be based on the unit learning objectives.
REQUIREMENTS FOR TEXTBOOKS AND READINGS
The unit readings serve as the foundation for the unit. We recommend selecting scholarly articles and references from the library or Open Educational Resources (OER) instead of commercial textbooks. This makes it easy to make future tweaks to the course and it helps reduce student textbook costs. If quality OERs are not available, the course developers can adapt commercial textbooks while considering the following:
- Textbooks must be newer than 5 years.
- The textbook must be available in eBook/digital format.
R2Restate Readings
The developer should simply review Form A – Reading Notes and include it in the syllabus, and reference it in the course map where necessary.
The students will complete the readings by Monday 11:55pm (for courses that start on Sundays) and submit the completed Form A. This serves as a mechanism for students to start early with the course materials, and complete the readings early on in the unit, laying the foundation for the rest of the activities.
R3Recorded Videos
Each course requires at least 15 lectures: 2 lectures per unit plus the overview of the course lecture. The lectures should focus on the learning objectives for the unit. They serve as the glue that holds all the activities together. The lectures should cover important concepts related to the unit.
Guidelines for the unit lectures:
- Develop the script for each lecture as part of the course map.
- The lectures should be around 10-12 minutes long.
- The lectures should be recorded at a studio (if at all possible).
R4Respond to Assigned Questions
During the course delivery, the instructor will assign a minimum of one question to each student in the course. Later in the week, they will review peer posts and comment on them. The course developer should develop 30 questions for each unit for the VoiceThread activity.
R5Retention of Presented Concepts
Retention is a key component of the 7RD2 process and is achieved through the use of Cerego. As the course developer, you will develop 4 Cerego sets of 20-25 questions each. The Cerego questions are typically keywords, concepts or ‘stuff’ you want the students to remember even after finishing your course.
Cerego is an adaptive learning tool that uses artificial intelligence. It can run on browser or a smartphone and can be set to achieve different levels of retention from weeks to months to years. Since the artificial intelligence backbone works with each student to optimize retention, it is essential that students engage with Cerego consistently from the day a set is launched to the target completion day. Cramming and exam notes defeat long-term retention and must be avoided.
Cerego must not be confused with an exam, test, or quiz. While a quiz typically assesses whether the students remember the content, Cerego ensures they remember the content. Instead of students answering the questions once, they continue to work on it until the pre-defined retention level has been reached.
The frequency of the Cerego sets
It is best to design the course with the following frequency of the learning sets. Each set should typically be set to retention level 2: They’ll have mastery for weeks. Can be achieved in 10 days of spaced practice.
- Cerego Set 1: Start unit 1 expect completion by middle of unit 2.
- Cerego Set 2: Start middle of unit 2 expect completion by end of unit 3.
- Cerego Set 3: Start beginning of unit 4 and expect completion by middle of unit 5.
- Cerego Set 4: Start middle of unit 5 and expect completion by end of unit 7.
Additional Information
Why Use Cerego in an Online Course?
For the best viewing experience, open the video in Panopto using the “Watch in Panopto” icon in the video controls (when using a regular PC) or use this video URL.
Cerego: The Next Generation Online Learning by Angela N. Kamau and Sheila W. Kamau
Step-by-Step Guide on Using Cerego in a Course (course developers can skip part 1).
Syllabus Statement for Cerego:
Cerego access must be purchased for this course. The cost of Cerego access is $20 per student for each course requiring Cerego. Payment must be made using a major credit card when first accessing Cerego learning activities on eLearning.
R6Research Term Paper
Learning is also a reflective and analytical process; students will prepare a term paper using learned information and concepts based on a specified, researchable topic. The paper is a scaffolded project requiring the completion of all forms, in the order shown in the syllabus, to earn credit for the project. Depending on the course level, the term paper can be 5-6 pages (freshman/sophomore) or 10-12 pages (junior/senior/graduate level).
The term paper project is based o the EASE of Information Literacy (opens in new tab). This process includes the following 4 stages, which are tightly integrated throughout the course:
Explore: Define the topic, search terms, and discover resources by using Form E (Term Paper Proposal) in Unit 1.
Analyze: Examine sources by using Form B (Library Research Plan) in Unit 2.
Synthesize: Organize Information, drawing conclusions by using Form 1 (Annotated Outline) in Unit 3, From C1 ARC Writing Lab Report in Unit 4, Form F2 (50% Draft) in Unit 5.
Evaluate: Assess final product, diagnose areas of weakness, revise as needed by using Form C2 (ARC Writing Lab Report) in Unit 6 and Form F3 (Final Term Paper Version) in Unit 7.
The writing assignments use forms to make the best use of time and clearly define what success looks like. There are forms for preparing assignments, use of the Masland Library, and engagement with the Academic Research Center (ARC) Writing Lab. If a form is not submitted, the next form(s) in the process will not be accepted.
R7Reflect on the Unit
The Unit Wrap-up serves as a mechanism for reflecting and summarizing the unit for both the instructor and the student. The course developer should write a concise script (100-150 words) wrapping up key concepts covered in the unit.
This script will be used by the instructor teaching the course as a baseline for creating a unit wrap-up video. The students will reflect on the instructor’s wrap-up video and the unit’s content to complete Form H.
Course Forms/Rubrics
Typical Forms for Each Unit
| FORM | FREQUENCY/UNIT | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|
| Form A – | Each Unit | Reading Notes |
| Form H – | Each Unit | Unit summary |
Typical Forms for a Term Paper
| FORM | FREQUENCY/UNIT | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|
| Form E – Topic & Research Question | Unit 1 | Proposal for Page Term Paper |
| Form B – Library Research Plan | Unit 2 | Student outlines the sources, research timing, risks and how they will be addressed. |
| Form F1 – Annotated Outline | Unit 3 | Student prepares an annotated outline of the paper. |
| Form C1 – ARC Writing Lab Report | Unit 4 | Student consults with the ARC staff on paper strengths, weaknesses and action plan. |
| Form F2 – Term Paper 50% Draft | Unit 5 | Student prepares a 50% draft of the final paper using a suggested outline. |
| Form C2 – ARC Writing Lab Report | Unit 6 | Student consults with the ARC staff on paper strengths, weaknesses and action plan. |
| Form F3 – Final Term Paper Use Form D1 and D2 – for 5-6 page policy papers. | Unit 7 | Student submits the final version of the term paper following a suggested outline. |
TYPES OF COURSE ACTIVITIES FOR THE 7RD2 PROCESS
The course is structured in a pattern, there is a repeating rhythm that will help students and the instructor plan their time and keep track of assignments.
1. READINGS
2. Form A - Reading Notes
3. Recorded Videos
4. Cerego Sets
5. VoiceThread Video
6. Scaffolded Term Paper
7. Unit Wrap-ups
1. READINGS
The topics and number of pages are focused to make best use of the time students expend in preparing for each unit’s topics.
2. Form A - Reading Notes
Forms capture the essence of each assignment. They clarify the amount of work needed and help improve preparation and retention, improving long term outcomes for students
3. Recorded Videos
The first unit has an intro video and there are 2 pre-recorded instructor videos each unit. They are limited in length to make best use of students’ time highlighting important concepts and providing additional context to the readings.
4. Cerego Sets
Cerego must never be confused with an exam, test, or quiz. Cerego is an artificial intelligence assisted information retention improvement tool. It can run on browser or a smartphone and can be set to achieve different levels of retention from weeks to months to years. The artificial intelligence works with each student to optimize retention, so it’s essential that students engage with Cerego consistently from the day a set is launched to the target completion day. Cramming and exam notes defeat long-term retention and must be avoided.
5. VoiceThread Video
Each week, students will be assigned questions using VoiceThread. Students must post answers and use video (not just typing or audio); the video function is like being in class, everyone can see and hear the instructor and students.
Student video answers ought to be about 50 – 100 words; 1-2 word answers are useless; 10 minute answers are disruptive.
Student comments on each other’s video answers are required, they greatly enhance engagement in the course.
6. Scaffolded Term Paper
As with the forms that begin and end each unit, writing assignments use forms to make the best use of time and clearly define what success looks like. There are forms for preparing assignments, use of the Masland Library, and engagement with the Academic Research Center (ARC) Writing Lab.
The 12 page term paper is a scaffolded project. All forms must be submitted, in the order shown in the syllabus, to earn credit for the project. If a form is not submitted, the next form(s) in the process will not be accepted.
7. Unit Wrap-ups
The course instructor will review each unit’s topics at the end of the unit. Students will prepare and submit a unit wrap up summary, Form H.
RECOMMENDED LOGISTICS FOR THE 7RD2 PROCESS
BY DEADLINE 1
BY DEADLINE 2
BY DEADLINE 3
BY DEADLINE 1
- Develop draft 1 of the course syllabus.
- List the unit learning objectives as part of the course map.
- List the unit readings in the course map.
- Create scripts for 15 videos (2 per unit + the course overview).
BY DEADLINE 2
- Develop draft 2 of the syllabus.
- Record the videos (minimum 15 videos: 2 per unit plus the course overview). Here is also a suggested setup for a home studio for the video recordings.
BY DEADLINE 3
- Create 30+ VoiceThread questions for each unit.
- Create the questions for the 4 Cerego sets @25 questions each.
- Develop the Unit Wrap-up scripts. (No need to record videos for these. That will be done by the instructor teaching the course).
- Submit the final version of the course syllabus.
TIPS FOR DEVELOPING THE COURSE MAP FOR THE 7RD2 PROCESS
Use the Course Map Template
Use the templates provided by the Office of Distance Education (ODE).
Unit Objectives
Start with the unit objectives and properly align them with the overall course objectives.
Readings
The readings serve as the foundation for achieving the unit learning objectives.
Invest Time
Invest sufficient time to properly plan the objectives, the readings, lectures and learning activities.
Home Studio Setup for the 7RD2 PROCESS
Audio and video quality is crucial in online courses. Here is a suggested setup for a home studio.
SAMPLE DEVELOPED COURSE USING THE 7RD2 PROCESS
