Design for Student Success
We know that students are more successful when certain design practices are built into an online course. First, this means looking into the digital design of how we build our Canvas course. In fact, here at VVC, the top frustration for our online students is a lack of organization of the Canvas course. Second, we also want to find ways to be more inclusive in how we address our students and build relationships with them throughout the course.
CVC Online Course Design Standards
The Online Education Initiative (OEI) Course Design Standards ensure that online courses are accessible, engaging, and pedagogically sound, directly impacting student success and retention. Research from the California Virtual Campus (CVC-OEI) shows that courses aligned with these standards consistently achieve higher student success rates—up to 4.9% higher than non-aligned courses. For specific populations, it can increase success by up to 22%. By focusing on clear navigation, accessibility, regular interaction, and equity-based design, these standards create a more inclusive and effective learning environment. Implementing OEI-aligned practices helps students stay engaged, reduces barriers to learning, and increases their likelihood of course completion.
So what are some ways you can up your game? Spend some time looking through the two syllabi below and see where you are doing great, and where you could make some simple alterations to increase student success.