At Ohio State University, students developed a list of 10 ways that instructors can use the learning management system more effectively — common-sense guidelines that aim to make courses more consistent, predictable, easier to navigate and generally more student-friendly. We spoke with Sam Craighead, associate director of professional learning in Ohio State's Office of Technology and Digital Innovation, about understanding the student perspective, supporting faculty with research-based practices, and the impact of instructional design on student success.
1-Upload the course syllabus to the LMS and provide it as a downloadable file.
2-Upload assignments with instructions and clear due dates.
3-Enter grades into the LMS when grading is complete.
4-Use a consistent mode of communication and mention it in class.
5-Organize course materials into modules according to content matter.
6-Remove unused tabs or pages from the course navigation.
7-Organize the course homepage with instructor contact information. 8-Utilize clear and consistent naming conventions for assignments and files.
9-Use Open Educational Resources when feasible.
10-Leverage the resources and support that are available from the university.