Applying to develop a flexible course with University of Regina Distance and Distributed Learning Committee (DDLC) funds provides a range of benefits for course developers/SMEs, faculties/departments, students and the University as a whole.

The DDLC, in collaboration with Flexible Learning at CCE, provides financial and instructional design support to assist course developers/subject matter experts in the development of online/blended courses that fall into one of the three options below. Proposals can be for new online/blended courses as well as for courses that were previously DDLC funded (4+ years old since the first delivery) that are in need of major revisions to content, assessment, media elements, etc.

1. Primarily asynchronous (activities/lecture not real-time) web-based courses (online) where at least 80% of the course is delivered asynchronously through UR Courses.
   
   
2. A balanced blend of asynchronous web-based (online) and face-to-face courses (between 40-70% of the face-to-face classroom time will be replaced by asynchronous web-based components.)
   
   
3. A balanced blend of asynchronous web-based (online) and synchronous online (real time activities using Zoom) (between 40-70% of the course will be delivered in the form of asynchronous web-based components).

Criteria for funding

Note:

Please be advised that the DDLC will not accept direct applications from individual faculty members and sessional lecturers. The DDLC will only accept applications that have been approved and submitted, on behalf of their Faculty, by the Dean or Associate Dean. The DDLC will also accept applications from Luther and Campion Colleges as per the MOA between the University and these Federated Colleges. In the case of Luther and Campion Colleges, applications must be approved and submitted by the College Deans. Please be advised that DDLC will not accept direct applications from individual faculty members and sessional lecturers.

The following criteria will be considered as part of the DDLC's screening process for submitted proposals.

• Proposals that are based on a programmatic approach:

The proposals must outline how the proposed distributed / distance course or cluster of courses fits in the relevant program and the Faculty’s strategic direction regarding modalities of teaching (if available). The proposal must briefly explain  how the proposed course or cluster of courses  is related to other distance / distributed courses in the program; and what the program’s  plan is for the future development of distributed / distance courses.

• Proposals that create courses that will allow students to complete an existing distance or distributed education program at a distance
• Proposals that will meet or are likely to create strong student demand:
• A key introductory course for a program or degree
• A key mandatory course in a major
• A course that typically has higher The course section must normally have a scheduled capacity of at least 30 students, and preference will be given to even higher enrolment limits.
  • Please note that course capacity will be determined in consultation with the Flexible Learning.
  • Please note that DDLC expects that the pedagogical viability of the proposed course has already been considered by the subject experts in the Faculty before submitting the proposal.

In all of the above situations, a detailed and evidence-based case will be made with the aid of FL staff.

• Courses that will be developed by a team of tenured or tenure-track faculty members who agree to teach the course on a rotating basis or another section of the course in the same semester
• Courses that will be developed and taught by tenured or tenure-track faculty
• Courses that are cost-effective for the University – courses that are less expensive per student taught. Factors to be considered include:
  • How expensive is the planned development of the course? How expensive is the planned delivery of the course?
  • Relevant costs would include: development time of content expert, instructional designer (ID) and graphics/multimedia designer (GM) as well as copyright costs, server costs, specialized software or hardware
  • DDLC-funded courses may only use University approved or supported learning management systems and software.
    • Please note that DDLC can decide to fund higher-cost or lower-enrolment courses based on all the criteria listed above. In addition, Faculties can offset high development and/or delivery costs by using their own funds.

• The delivery of a fully online or blended course is pedagogically beneficial or a natural fit for the course and the program as determined by the relevant subject experts in the Faculty / program.

• The costs to the students are not Do students need special software or hardware? Will there be too big a draw on their time?
• Course modules should be re-usable elsewhere, in another online or blended course or as supplements to a face-to-face

For a detailed list of criteria that the DDLC will use to assess applications please refer to the Detailed Process and Criteria document and the Step 1: Apply page. A visual of the process from application to delivery can be seen in the Process Flowchart found in the Quicklinks section.

Steps in the DDLC funding process

1. Apply

Up to four courses can be submitted in one application.

For more information about applying and to apply for DDLC funding go to Step 1: Apply for DDLC funding.

2. Develop a course

To learn more about developing a flexible course with FL ID Team supports go to Step 2: Course Development and/or check out the Course Development Resources in the Quicklinks section.

3. Deliver a course

To learn more about delivering your course after it it is fully developed, go to Step 3: Course Delivery.

Resources

For a list of additional DDLC and course development resources please refer to the Quicklinks section on this page.