Resource Guide for Online and Hybrid Courses

Learn about getting certificated to teach online through the Online and Hybrid Certification Course. 

Step 1: Identify the course and developer

• The developer must successfully complete the Online Hybrid Certification Course.
• The course must be current and approved in Curriculog.
• The developer (instructor developing the course) must obtain department head/program director approval. 

Step 2: Submit the Online Course Request Form

• The developer completes and submits the Distance Learning Course Development Request Proposal in Curriculog.
• The information is sent to the Associate Dean, Department Chair and Distance Education leadership for review. Once the proposal is approved, the developer will be notified that they are cleared to start building the course.

Step 3: Develop the course

• After receiving approval, the developer can begin developing the course in Blackboard. An empty shell will be provided.
• The course should be developed to meet the current GRCC Distance Learning Standards.
• Developers are encouraged to meet with an Instructional Designer to map out a plan prior to beginning the development.
• The course must be fully developed in Blackboard before it is submitted for review.

Step 4: Submit the course for review

• Once the course is complete, the developer contacts the Instructional Designer at which point, he or she will receive instructions via email on how to make the course available to reviewers.
• The course is then reviewed by a committee that includes two faculty members and one Instructional Designer. If revisions are requested, the developer will be notified. If not, the course will be sent to the Executive Director of TLDE for final approval.
• Once approved, the Executive Director of TLDE will notify the developer, department head, and associate dean of the approval, informing them that the course may be added to the schedule.

Questions?

• Developers are encouraged to contact TLDE with any questions during the process at TLDE@grcc.edu or (616) 234-3205.

These standards were approved at the April 14, 2015 AGC meeting. They were revised (primarily to reflect the national Quality Matters standards) on February 12, 2019. The standards are grouped as follows:

1. Course Overview and Introduction
2. Learning Objectives (Competencies)
3. Assessment and Measurement
4. Instructional Materials
5. Learning Activities and Learner Interaction
6. Course Technology
7. Learner Support
8. Accessibility and Usability

The detailed standards can be found in this accessible PDF. Note: The annotations and scoring of the Quality Matters rubric are not part of the standards. Instead, they are used in official course design and peer reviews.