Intensive Course Development - FAQ

Q: What does ICD stand for?

A: ICD stands for Intensive Course Development. It’s a great name, but too long to type so I often abbreviate it as ICD.

Q: How long is the training, and where do we meet?

A: The ICD course lasts for five weeks from the start date. There are no required face-to-face sessions for the course; we will use the Blackboard learning management system to review course materials, complete and submit assignments and to begin developing your own online course.

Q: How much time will this take?
A: I suggest participation in the discussion board a minimum of four days each week. This along with completing assignments generally takes participants anywhere from four to 10 hours each week.

Q: How do I find the course?

A: Login to the UM-Flint Blackboard system using you uniqname and LAN password. Once in the system, you should see a box labeled “My Courses.” Listed will be ‘Courses you are teaching:’ and ‘Courses in which you are enrolled:’ Beginning the start date of the course, under ‘Courses in which you are enrolled:’ you should find a course with the title ‘Intensive Course Development.’ Click this link and you will enter the course.

Q: Will we be graded?

A: Yes! In an attempt to create a true learning environment there will be assignments, quizzes and required participation. All of the assignments are developed to give you broad exposure to different online teaching techniques so you can decide what may and may not work in your online class.

Q: Are there any prerequisites?

A: Yes! There are two: Blackboard Basics and Faculty Intro to Online Teaching. Because the ICD course is an intensive hands-on development course, we expect you to have a general knowledge of the Blackboard learning management system and online teaching. Both are short, self-paced courses that are completely online.

Q: You said this is hands-on; where will I create my course?

A: When you begin the ICD course, we will create for you an empty course called “ICD shell – uniqname.” You will have the role of instructor in this course shell. This is where you will create content for a course you are developing throughout the ICD session. While you may already have a shell for the course you’re developing or you may have another development shell, we ask that you create in this designated location.

Q: But if I create in this ICD shell, will I have to redo everything in my “real” course shell?

A: No, you will not need to redo anything. Things you create in the ICD shell can be copied over to the “real” course. We ask that you use the ICD shell so that other members of the ICD course can be enrolled to allow you to practice some things in Blackboard that require student users (e.g., unlocking an exam, grading and returning an assignment, using the collaboration tools, etc.)