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Chapter 5: FLO Design

FLO Design Task List

Course Date:

Facilitators: ______________________________ and _______________________________

Several weeks before the course begins
When (by) Task Who? Status
✔ when complete		 Notes
Arrange to have the OER version of the course downloaded (or copied), and added to the learning space you have chosen.
Find a co-facilitator, if possible.
Share and develop Facilitator Task List (with co-facilitator).
Agree on a place / tool to use for planning.
Review OER content and take time to get familiar with the course.
Identify the synchronous online collaboration tool you want to use for weekly scheduled sessions or informal group meetings.
Review-edit the content to ensure you include your institutional design model and guidelines.
Make sure you are familiar with the technologies you will use and take time to practice.
Identify potential participants. You may also want to develop promotional messages and materials to attract a more diverse group.
Plan and prepare information you will send out to participants as they register, to help them prepare for the course.
Update Course Schedule.
Plan how you will share stories and examples of instructional design in Week 2.
Design choices – pre-course orientation week?

  • If yes, set up a separate Orientation tabbed page. Review the contents of the OER resource and modify the content and activities according to your learning space and technical support.
Design choices – Week 1 introductions forum?

  • If yes, make sure to send out notices to participants to encourage them to identify a design project topic / focus before the course starts. Set up an Introductions forum that provides suggestions for introductory posts.

Design choices – Week 1 Interview Activity?

  • If yes, make sure to send out question prompts to help participants prepare before the course starts. Sample questions and interview directions are in the OER. Post a list of interview teams as the course starts.
Design choices – Weekly reflections? 

  • Ask participants to record their reflections each week and post selected “nuggets” to the Weekly Reflections forum. Encourage deeper reflection through open questions., or
  • Post a weekly reflective topic or specific question to prompt more focused reflections.
A few days before the course begins
When (by) Task Who? Status
✔ when complete		 Notes
Make sure all participants are registered, have login and the course information to begin.
Prepare/post intro videos and resources.
With co-facilitator, prepare slides and plan Week 1 Launch synchronous session.
Optional: plan at least 1st week’s reflective question and when to post.
Week 1: Welcome and Design Project
When (by) Task Who? Status
✔ when complete		 Notes
Unhide Weeks 2-4 (if you offered a pre-course Orientation)
Day before course begins Post your welcome message. Include:

  • tasks for 1st week (link to checklist),
  • tips on how to navigate the site;
  • an emphasis on the need to plan and schedule time to work on the course,
  • a reminder of the synchronous Launch session.
early morning Day 1 Post facilitator(s)’ personal introductions in the Introductions Forum.
Welcome each participant by responding to their introduction.
Day 1 and during  week Monitor participant log-ins and participation. Reach out to offer assistance as soon as possible if you don’t see any activity.
  • Send out last minute reminders to Week 1 synchronous session.
  • Record the session and post it afterwards.
Monitor forums and activities; respond quickly to questions and concerns.
mid-week
  • Post a midpoint summary-nudge post to help participants stay on track.
  • Include a reflective question for them to respond to by the end of the week (or remind them to share nuggets at end of week).
End of week
  • Post an “end of week’” summary-nudge post.
  • Review the essential tasks that should be completed before Week 2 begins.
Try to connect with each participant at least once during the first week.
Encourage participants to post their chosen topic (for a design project) and how they plan to work on it (alone or with a team) in the Studio Forum.
Make sure to discuss agreements that represent how the group believes they can work and learn together.
Day before Week 2 Make sure participants have indicated (visible to others) whether they will work alone or in a team AND what their design project will focus on.
Week 2:  Sparks to Planning
When (by) Task Who? Status
✔ when complete		 Notes
Evening before 1st day Post Week 2 intro:

  • review what’s ahead (briefly);
  • emphasize the importance of considering new approaches to design;
  • link to the week’s task list and Studio.
Before Day 1 Prepare Sparks Forum: either post your own or others’ stories about learning design projects.
Before sync session
  • Prepare slides for the Week 2 synchronous session to focus on different design stories.
  • Record and share them afterwards.
mid-week Post midpoint summary-nudge to help participants stay on track:

  • include a reflective question for them to respond to by the end of the week in the shared forum.
  • encourage them to consider different design ideas and select a guiding approach for their own project this week,
  • encourage them to post more than once in Studio as they define their design ideas.
  • Provide detailed feedback (primarily questions) on each emerging design.
  • Emphasize the value of sharing emerging work in Studio.
Near end of week Post Week 2 summary-nudge:

  • review the essential tasks that should be completed before Week 3 begins.
  • share highlights from Studio forum.
Near end of week Review posts in the Weekly Reflections forum and share relevant ideas to Studio to allow continued sharing and discussion.
Refer to the self-assessment rubric in the FLO Design Handbook. Encourage participants to track and self-assess their learning / skill development.
Week 3:  Projects Under Construction
When (by) Task Who? Status
✔ when complete		 Notes
Evening before 1st day Post the Week 3 intro:

  • review what’s ahead (briefly).
  • emphasize the importance of explaining emerging design so peers can provide feedback.
  • support the use of drawing/charting tools to illustrate emerging designs.
  • highlight the relevant parts of the Week 3 Overview.
Before sync session
  • Prepare slides for Week 3 synchronous session. Remind participants to bring challenges or questions.
  • Record and share it afterwards.
mid-week Post a midpoint summary-nudge to help participants stay on track:

  • include a reflective question for them to respond to by the end of the week in the shared forum.
  • encourage them to review the recorded sync session (if they weren’t able to participate).
  • suggest they post further questions/challenges in Studio.
  • remind them of the need to identify prototype learning activity this week.
mid-week (asap)
  • Post the draft schedule so participants can sign up for one or two Showcase sessions in Week 4.
  • Promote the value of sharing final designs – explaining their choices and intended learning experiences.
Provide detailed annotations or notes on each emerging design. Encourage other participants to add suggestions and questions.
Near end of week Post summary-nudge for Week 3:

  • review the essential tasks that should be completed before Week 4 begins.
  • share highlights from Studio.
  • share elements of quality-accessibility models that might be helpful to emerging designs.
Near end of week Review contributions to Weekly Reflections forum and share relevant ideas to Studio to allow continued sharing and discussion.
Week 4:  Showcase Projects
When (by) Task Who? Status
✔ when complete		 Notes
Evening before 1st day Post the Week 4 intro:

  • review what’s ahead (briefly).
  • emphasize the importance of participating in Showcase sessions.
  • review schedules – remind them of the need to post final designs in Week 4 Studio.
  • promote the value of explaining pedagogical choices and supporting peers during presentations.
Before sync session Coordinate sign-up and scheduling of presentations.
Host Showcase sessions; record and share them afterwards for those who couldn’t participate.
Post mid-week summary:

  • share highlights from Showcase sessions.
  • schedule final Celebration sync session, if possible.
  • remind them to check the Week 4 checklist items for final course completion tasks.
  • encourage the use of design rubric from the course Handbook.
  • point out the final feedback survey to be completed at the end.
End of week
  • Post the final summary and good-bye. Offer options for ongoing contact, if desired.
  • Identify when the final Facilitator feedback on designs will be available.
  • Celebrate the successes and draw the course to a close.
After the course
When? (by) Task Who? Status? ✔ when complete Notes
Review the survey and/or course evaluation feedback.
Schedule and host a debrief session for facilitators and any other support personnel.
Update the course design and resources and/or provide notes for future course facilitators.

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FLO Facilitation Guide Copyright © 2019 by Sylvia Currie; Sylvia Riessner; Gina Bennett; and Beth Cougler Blom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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