Developing a Template for Use Across Departments in Temple University's College of Public Health

During online courses, instructors often have to use valuable class time orienting students to the format of their Blackboard course. Further, the format of any given course may not match that of different online courses that the student has taken within or outside of the program. In order to offer students a more standardized experience, to save instructors time and energy in their courses, and to align with online teaching best practices, instructors and technology specialists from the College of Public health worked together to build a Blackboard template for use across programs in the college. During the process, particular attention was paid to striking a balance between standardization and allowing for individual instructor autonomy within the online classroom, as well as deliberately including spaces for instructor presence.