The development process at CGS provides instructors with the foundation needed to design quality online courses that meet College standards and are flexible, innovative, and student-centered. Course development takes a minimum of one full term and begins with a written proposal and signed authorization forms.
With support from the CGS Instructional Design (ID) team, faculty developers conceptualize and create their courses in Canvas. ID support is available throughout the entire course development lifecycle—from design and development through the delivery of the first course offering and the post-course debriefing stage.
CGS Online Course Development & Implementation Process
Phase 1: Administrative Preparation
The initial planning, proposal, and approval steps that take place before the development cohort begins.
Proposal & Approval
Initial planning: approximately 8–12 months before course launchCourse development begins with an initial meeting with the CGS Director of Online Learning to discuss the proposed course, its instructional goals, and the development process. Based on the anticipated semester of offering, the course may be tentatively included in the CGS schedule.
Proposal Submission
Faculty submit a written course proposal and supporting materials for review and approval. For brand-new online course developments, proposal submission is generally targeted for 6–8 months before the anticipated launch. Approval and required contract paperwork must be completed before the development cohort begins.
Approval & Project Queue
Once the proposal is approved and the contract is signed, CGS adds the course to the project queue. Faculty receive a general indication of the anticipated development timeframe. The specific cohort start date and project details are confirmed closer to the start of the development process.
For Faculty Interested in a Mini-Grant
Courses supported by a CGS Online Course Redesign Mini-Grant follow a shorter timeline than brand-new course developments. Interested faculty must submit an interest form approximately 1–2 months before the cohort begins. Acceptance is based on the merit of the proposed project, eligibility, and available capacity.
Phase 2: Course Development Cohort
The formal course development experience, with structured guidance and collaboration between faculty and the CGS Instructional Design team.
3–4 monthsBefore the cohort begins: Approximately two to three weeks before the start date, the CGS ID team sends the official project kickoff announcement with the assigned instructional designer, cohort meeting dates, and midpoint and final review deadlines.
Planning & Design
First month of the cohortThe development cohort begins with the setup of the course project and Canvas development shell. Faculty work with their instructional designer to establish a plan for developing the course and organizing its content.
Planning Deliverables
During the first month of the cohort, faculty prepare two foundational course design documents. These are reviewed and refined in collaboration with the instructional designer before substantial course development begins.
Deliverable 1 – Online Course Syllabus
The syllabus establishes the course framework and includes:
- Course purpose and educational outcomes
- Instructional strategies, including learning activities, assignments, and assessments
- Course policies and calendar
Deliverable 2 – Content Map / Storyboard
The content map or storyboard provides an overall framework for course delivery, outlining the organization and basic components of each course unit or module.
Development & Implementation
Throughout the cohortWith the course plan and content map in place, faculty work with their instructional designer to develop and organize course materials for online delivery.
Course Development Activities
- Prepare and organize instructional content for web delivery.
- Develop lecture materials, assignments, learning activities, and other course resources.
- Build the course structure and organize content in Canvas.
- Review the course organization and learning experience with the instructional designer.
The instructional designer provides ongoing guidance as faculty develop their course materials and build the Canvas course. Development continues through the midpoint and final quality reviews.
Keep developing: The quality reviews are checkpoints within the development process, not pauses in course production. Faculty should continue working on the remaining course materials while reviews are underway.
Midpoint Quality Review
Approximately 2.5 months before course launchThe midpoint review is an opportunity to assess the course's progress, provide feedback, and identify areas that may need additional attention before final submission.
Materials for Review
The CGS Director of Online Learning and the instructional designer review the following course components:
- Welcome message
- Course syllabus page and course calendar
- Course overview unit (Start Here)
- First content unit or module
- Related discussion assignments and student project materials
Faculty receive feedback and recommendations to guide the continued development and refinement of the course.
Important deadline: Faculty are expected to submit the agreed-upon materials by the established midpoint review deadline. Failure to meet this deadline may result in CGS terminating the development project and canceling the course.
Development continues during the review. Faculty should continue building the remaining course content while the midpoint review is completed and incorporate feedback as appropriate.
Final Quality Review & Course Completion
Final course submission: approximately 4–5 weeks before course launchBefore submitting the course for final review, faculty should complete all remaining course content and materials, add relevant resources and links, and test the course in Canvas to confirm that it is complete, functional, and ready for students.
Final Course Review
Once the course is complete, faculty submit the Canvas course for review by the CGS Director of Online Learning and the instructional designer. The review uses the established Quality Matters rubric and CGS course development standards.
Review Outcome & Revisions
Faculty are notified of the review outcome within two weeks of the final review due date. If revisions are requested, faculty work with their instructional designer to address the recommendations and make the necessary changes.
After revisions have been reviewed and accepted, CGS considers the course development process complete. Final acceptance is required before the course is published and made available to students.
Phase 3: First Offering & Follow-Up
Following course development, faculty teach the first offering and work with the CGS team to identify opportunities for continued improvement.
Course Launch & Teaching
Before and during the first course offeringOnce the course has received final approval, its content is transferred to the live Canvas course shell. Ideally, the final review is completed before the course is published and made available to students shortly before the semester begins. In some cases, however, delays in faculty submissions may require the review to be completed in the live course shell, with the course launching while the review is still underway. We work with faculty to avoid this situation whenever possible.
First Course Offering
Faculty teach the first offering of the newly developed course. The instructional designer remains enrolled in the course and provides ongoing support throughout the semester.
Debrief & Revision
Following the first course offeringAfter the first offering concludes, faculty submit a reflection report to the CGS Director of Online Learning. This allows the CGS team to review their observations and provide feedback and recommendations. A follow-up meeting with the instructional designer and Director provides an opportunity to discuss the experience and identify improvements for future offerings.
Final Course Reflection Report
Faculty reflect on:
- What worked well
- Feedback received from students and others
- Areas for improvement
- Potential changes for the next offering
The extent of revisions depends on the course schedule. When the next offering is several months away, there may be time for more substantial improvements. When the course runs again the following semester, revisions may be limited to smaller adjustments and refinements.
Continuous Improvement
Course development does not end with the first offering. Ongoing reflection, feedback, and revision help ensure that CGS online courses remain engaging, effective, and responsive to student learning needs.