Module 2: Program Vision, Feasibility, and Planning

Long road down a series of hills.
Creating a program is a journey that begins with your vision for the program. Where will your vision take you and how adventurous will the trip be?

Why create a new online program? Where do you begin? How can you plan for its success?

This module considers these questions and how the answers are often required and influenced by internal and external decision-makers who want to know the rationale and plans for the program before its approval and development. In this module, we explore some considerations, decision-making frameworks, and strategies that apply to the development of post-secondary credentials that align with the Ontario Qualifications Framework. If your institution uses other frameworks, the principles from this module are also applicable.

In the following video, we hear some ideas about what we should consider in deciding to create an online program from three educational leaders who have created successful online programs.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of Unit 1: Creating and Aligning Program Vision, you will be able to:

  • Articulate a vision for the program that aligns with the program discipline(s) and reflects the needs of various stakeholders
  • Articulate a vision that aligns with relevant institutional, provincial, and national strategies
  • List the required and available resources for program development

You will take away:

  • A process you can follow to develop a program vision statement that is aligned with institutional strategies
  • A draft resource plan that identifies key partners and the consultations needed to assess the costs of your online program

By the end of Unit 2: Determining the Program’s Feasibility, you will be able to:

  • Understand the types of qualitative and quantitative data useful in determining feasibility
  • Identify the data collection methods you want to use to demonstrate program feasibility
  • Use qualitative and quantitative data to demonstrate the need for a new program
  • Produce a business or feasibility plan that can be used for decisions about whether the program will be developed and delivered

You will take away:

  • An appreciation of the qualitative and quantitative evidence that can be used to assess the elements of the feasibility study
  • A draft program proposal that has strong data-based justification

By the end of Unit 3: Creating a Development and Implementation Plan, you will be able to:

  • Identify considerations for creating program learning outcomes (PLOs)
  • Demonstrate knowledge of quality assurance frameworks, keeping them in mind as planning begins
  • Develop a timeline for program development, including milestones

You will take away:

  • Tools, processes and a framework to write your Program learning outcomes
  • Tools to create the Development Plan for your new online program
Throughout this module, you will be prompted to reflect on key ideas and complete activities that will enable you to lead conversations and plan future action. You can keep track of your work by downloading and recording it in the Program Design and Implementation Workbook.

License

Creating and Implementing High-Quality, Sustainable Online Programs Copyright © 2022 by Western University is licensed under a Ontario Commons License, except where otherwise noted.

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