ONLINE MASTER COURSE SHELL:
A MODEL FOR DEVELOPING AND MANAGING
COURSE CONTENT
Diane Ruiz Cairns, MBA, Ed.S.
Lawrence Technological University
Southfield, MI
AGENDA
Background
Concept of Master Course Shell (MCS)
Course Design Components
Learning Management System (LMS) design components
Management of MCS
Opportunities
Future
Q&A
YOUR PARTICIPATION / ASSIGNMENT
What opportunities were prompted?
What challenges do you foresee?
Recommendations?
Time will be reserved at the conclusion of the presentation for conversation.
Write your comments on the paper provided and leave on your chair at the end of
the presentation.
A summary of the information will be provided along with the presentation.
BACKGROUND
LTU Online programs - 2006
Design for Online Course Development
Courses Developed
 Instructor
 Facilitated by Course Developer
Content exported / imported using last semester taught
As online programs increased:
 Managing content became labor intensive
 More time spent administering content
 Less time adding value to Teaching and Learning
BACKGROUND
Problem / Opportunity
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Online programs increasing
Ease burdensome processes
Core curriculum
Programs to enhance teaching and learning
Learning Management System (LMS)




Explored capability of LMS
Partnered with IT to develop and test concept
Content System incorporated
Master Course Shell
 Design
 Administrative standards
CONCEPT
MASTER COURSE SHELL (MCS)
Advantages for eLearning Services: Quality management of course content, Support quality of student experience and
teaching effectiveness
“Clean Copy”, Minimal if any change to structure, Pre-Determined Content
Master Resource
Template
Master Course Shell
Active Semester Course
My Content
Managed by
eLearning Services
Managed by
eLearning Services
Managed by Assigned
Instructor / eLearning
Managed by Instructor
Content
Link
Template
.Faculty
Resources
Learning
System
.Guidance
.Instruction
.Link to
Artifacts
Content
Course
Artifacts
Learning
System
Link
Orientation
.Syllabus
Copy
.Student
Content
Content
CONCEPT
MASTER COURSE SHELL (MCS)
Master Course
Shell
Managed by
eLearning Services
Learning
System
Content
•The Master Course Shell includes all course items
required and common core content designated by
assigned college faculty SME, College and eLearning
Services.
•At the end of the semester a review of the content is
completed for quality improvements. This is prompted
by the instructor and eLearning Services.
COURSE DESIGN COMPONENTS
Look and Feel
Navigation
Terminology
Content Requirements
LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (LMS) DESIGN
COMPONENTS
LMS
 Navigation
 Location of Material
Content




File Folders
Repository
Instructor Material
Documentation
MANAGEMENT OF MCS
Start of Semester
Established timeline for migrating Master Course Shell to Active Semester
End of Semester
 Review for quality updates
 Update MCS
 Export backup
New Course
 Development Organization
 Finalize before migrating content to MCS
Development
Course Shell
Master Course
Shell
Instructor
eLearning Services
Managed by
eLearning Services
Learning
System
Learning
System
Refresh Course
 Development Organization
 Finalize before migrating content to MCS
Content
Content
OPPORTUNITIES
Quality Management
Faculty and Semester specific information
Syllabus requirements aligned with course
 Point Value
 Assignments
 Etc.
Teaching and Learning Development
FUTURE
Not just for online programs
Implement Model Course for all courses
 Online
 Campus
 Hybrid
Student and Faculty Resources
 Master Resource Template
 Applied to all course sections
Share Common Teaching and Learning Concepts:

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




Teams
Presentations
APA
Case Studies
Research Assignments
Rubrics
Assessment Requirements
Q&A
Your Turn!
Opportunities
Challenges
Knowledge Gap
Diane Ruiz Cairns, MBA, Ed.S.
Lawrence Technological University
Southfield, MI
dcairns@ltu.edu
248.204.2384