Online@Iowa
Online@Iowa is a large-enrollment, web-based course offered every Fall at the University of Iowa that helps students develop skills for researching, registering for classes, reviewing grades, protecting their computer’s security, and avoiding plagiarism, among other skills. In collaboration with Academic Advising and the Office of the Provost, a team from the Instructional Design group has been responsible for the instructional design, development, and implementation of the course for the last four years.
During this period the course was offered four times and has been very successful every year. Student survey data from all four indicates that ~97% of respondents felt positively about the course materials, ~93% felt that the quizzes allowed them to demonstrate adequately what they have learned, ~96% felt that the course required appropriate amount of work for the credits received, and ~98% found the content of the course useful. Approximately ~98% of students that enroll pass the course.
The course is hosted in ICON and integrates JavaScript, HTML, XML, Flash, and Filemaker to provide a seamless student experience with minimum technical problems. Some tutorials are designed to simulate, as closely as possible, the completion of tasks with various online services like UI Libraries, ISIS, Hawkmail, etc., and have been well received by students and others who have used them. Other tutorials guide students through issues and ideas related to plagiarism and digital citizenship.
