Discussion, WordPress, Open Course

This “Academic Writing About Science & Technology” course (ENGL 213), taught by Christie Hinrichs, uses WordPress both to deliver materials and invite student discussion. Class discussions use WordPress’s “comment” feature, which does not require students to sign-in or be familiar with WordPress.

Online Lab, Student Research, Canvas, Open Course

This “Behavioral Neuroscience Lab” taught by Abel Bult-Ito features biomedical research on compulsive-like mice, including behavioral data collection, data analysis, and interpretation of results. The course (BIOL 193) is conducted completely online, offering an intensive lab experience to online learners.

Game mechanics, Role Play, WordPress, Open Course

Robert Prince’s “Journalism 101: Media & Culture’ uses role play and game mechanics to create a student world for students to explore as they work through course materials. Prince has created a fictional newspaper in which students are staff tasked with making decisions that demonstrate their understanding of the media climate.

Game Mechanics, Badging , Case Studies, WordPress, Open Course

Jessica Larsen’s “Geological Hazards’ course uses badging to recognize student achievements and case studies to connect student work to the real world.

Instructor Presence, Quality Matters Certified, Blackboard, Screencasting, FAQ Page

“College Algebra for Calculus’ (MATH 151), taught by Hilary VanSpronsen, is a Quality Matters Certified course in Blackboard that features good screencasting practice for instructor presence, an FAQ page, and solid navigation. Note: You must be logged into Blackboard to view this course. Self-enroll by clicking on “+Enroll” button on menu lower left once logged in.  

Assessments, Rural Student Focus, Open Course

Greg Finstad’s “History of Alaskan Ungulates (HLRM 120)  asks students to develop research projects that are  later incorporated into the course as learning materials for  subsequent semesters.  The course is part of the High Latitude Range Management program, targeted primarily at rural students.  

Quality Matters Certified, Blackboard, Graduate Level

Joanne Healy’s “Culturally Responsive Collaboration’ (EDSE 640) is a graduate-level course hosted in Blackboard. It is Quality Matters certified (along with every course in the EDSE program) and is a good representation of what this type of certification for quality can look like.  Note: You must be logged into Blackboard to view this course. Self-enroll by clicking on “+Enroll” button on menu lower left once logged in.  

Project-based, WordPress, Slack, Open Course

Kendell Newman Sadiik’s “Digital Storytelling’(ED 677) uses the metaphor of travel to take students on a road trip of exploration and creation. Content and reflection are hosted on WordPress and uses Slack for additional discussion.

Interactive Technology, WordPress, Open Course

Sarah Stanley’s “Research Writing’ course (ENGL 414) uses WordPress and an interactive, 360-degree space to deliver learning materials and assignments. Class discussions are conducted in Slack, and group work uses a combination of tools, including Slack and Google Drive.

Tutorials and resources, weekly lessons, WordPress, Open Course Materials

“Fundamentals of Graphics, Animation, Audio, and Video for the Web’ (CITS 221), offered by eCampus instructional designer Christen Bouffard, includes Tutorials and a Resources section, both available across the site via the main menu. The course’s weekly lessons are also thorough and clearly organized.

Weekly schedule, Google Classroom, WordPress, Slack, Open Course Materials

Madara Mason’s “2D Design’ (ART 161) suggests a weekly schedule that students can use to work through course content and assignments. The course content is also made available on a weekly basis, so the instructor can control students’ pace as they move through the course. Interaction happens in Slack and Google Classroom.

Hands On Projects, Rural Student Focus, Open Course

In “Health Issues in Domesticated Herds’ (HLRM 170),  students are asked to demonstrate their understanding of how to conduct a field necropsy by conducting their own field necropsy. Taught by Greg Finstad, this course is part of the High Latitude Range Management program, targeted primarily at rural students.

Canvas, Project-based, Open course

This “Online Pedagogy’ (ED 655) course is taught by Owen Guthrie, executive director of UAF eCampus. The course is online, project-based, and centered around a Community of Inquiry.

Homepage, Blackboard, WordPress, Discussion, Open Course Materials

“Website Design’ (CITS 222), taught by instructional designer Janene McMahan, uses a simple homepage to direct students to module content. Students submit assignments via Blackboard but uses a WordPress site to access course content and activities, including weekly “Discussion Forums’.

Getting Started, Blackboard, Organization

“Modern World History’ (HIST 100), taught by Terrence Cole, has a great Getting Started section, good interaction and overall organization. The course is hosted in Blackboard.  Note: You must be logged into Blackboard to view this course. Self-enroll by clicking on “+Enroll” button on menu lower left once logged in.  

Instructor Presence, Blackboard, Quality Matters Certified  

Gary Copus’ “Introduction to Justice’ (JUST 110) is a course with excellent instructor presence through video, audio, and extensive written lecture content. It is Quality Matters certified and hosted in Blackboard.  Note: You must be logged into Blackboard to view this course. Self-enroll by clicking on “+Enroll” button on menu lower left once logged in.  

WordPress, Instructor Presence, Open Course

“Basic Digital Photography’ is taught by Charles Mason for COJO and offers good instructor commentary and video lectures. It is hosted in WordPress.

Instructor Presence, Student Contribution, Video, WordPress, Open Course

Lisa Kljaich teaches “Explorations in Music’ and uses WordPress for course content and Blackboard for quizzes. All students have to create their own website/blog for extensive contribution of research and discussion. This course is Quality Matters certified.

Blended, synchronous, WordPress, Open Course

Peter Westley’s “Fish and Fisheries in a Changing World’ is a good example of hosting course content online for a normally face-to-face course with synchronous sessions.