Project Management for Online Course Development
Abstract
Transferring face-to-face courses into online Web-based courses is a trend in higher education. Whether this course transition is for distance education or for resident instruction, faculty members play a critical role in the process. Faculty members not only provide lesson content, they also provide important insights into how content has been best presented in classes semester to semester. However, faculty involvement alone does not guarantee a quality online course. It is the combination of faculty working with an instructional designer and the instructional design team that molds the content and personal teaching experience into a rich learning environment for the online students. Further, this transition process must be guided by a solid project plan that outlines major milestones for the faculty and team members, for without a solid project management plan, content may not arrive when needed and resources cannot be scheduled to assure that the course is completed in a timely manner. Delayed or unexpected lesson content will lead to project cost overruns and missed deadlines.