Introduction
Steinhardt’s Office of Digital Innovation and Learning may utilize terminology in the instructional design process that might be unfamiliar to stakeholders. Below is a table defining these terms. Feel free to reference (and share) this helpful resource in conversations with faculty.
Terms and Definitions
DIL | Digital Innovation and Learning team located within the Steinhardt Office of Academic Operations, Innovation, and Strategy. |
DIL Co-Pilot | DIL Member who will shadow an online synchronous Zoom session to ensure the faculty and students are confident in the platform and its functionality. |
DIL Partner | The instructional designer from Digital Innovation & Learning assigned to the Instructional Design project. |
Synchronous | Synchronous learning refers to a learning event in which a group of students are engaging in learning at the same time. Before learning technology allowed for synchronous learning environments, most online education took place through asynchronous learning methods. Since synchronous tools that can be used for education have become available, many people are turning to them as a way to help decrease the challenges associated with transactional distance that occurs in online education. |
Asynchronous | Asynchronous learning is a student-centered teaching method that uses online learning resources to facilitate information sharing outside the constraints of time and place among a network of people. Asynchronous learning is based on constructivist theory, a student-centered approach that emphasizes the importance of peer-to-peer interactions. This approach combines self-study with asynchronous interactions to promote learning, and it can be used to facilitate learning in traditional on-campus education, distance education, and continuing education. |
Color Status |
⬤ On Track: Project is on schedule ⬤ At-Risk: due date or milestone missed but Eight Dates intact ⬤ High Risk: At Risk, with a high risk of going off track ⬤ Off Track: An Eight Date will be missed if action not taken |
Course Lead | The Course Lead is the primary Subject Matter Expert who designs and organizes the course in collaboration with Steinhardt DIL. |
Course Refresh | In preparation for a new semester, the course needs to be “refreshed”, specifically: rolled over into official Albert-linked course site, and updated according to due dates, module dates, etc. |
Course Review | All courses undergo 3 formal reviews as a way to check for 1) Pedagogy (structure), 2) Practicality (content), & 3) Functionality (course site). |
Eight Dates |
The key 8 deliverable dates that all course design projects need to have. #1: Architecture Draft 1 Due #2: Architecture Final Draft Due #3: Content Design Draft 1 Due #4: Course Content Final Draft Due #5: Course Completion Due #6: Bug Bash Due #7: Course Rollover #8: Official Course Handoff |
Faculty Training | Training and support that is offered to the faculty member before teaching an Online or Hybrid course developed by DIL. |
In-Flight Support | In-flight support maintains the course site while it is “live” or “active” and ensures everything that was built by DIL functions as it should. |
Pulse Checks | A colloquial term referring to the collection of student feedback while the course is “live” in order to make improvements or address questions. |
Reactive Teaching | Where the teacher reacts to the student trying things out and dynamically tailors the teaching experience according to student outcomes or behavior. |
Stakeholders | Usually, stakeholders are members of the academic department (for which the course is being built) and often members of various administrative departments who might influence the course design process or have interests in the outcome (such as Technology, Academic Affairs, Global Affairs, or similar). |
Status Reports | At the end of every two weeks (usually), the DIL partner will complete a Status Report. The report will indicate a color which informs the stakeholders about the status of the project. |
Zoom | Zoom is a communications software that combines video conferencing, online meetings, chat, and mobile collaboration. |
Additional Support
For additional support or questions, feel free to email Steinhardt Digital Innovation & Learning at steinhardtDIL@nyu.edu.