High-Impact Design for Online Courses

This book is tremendous from start to finish! The process is sound and logical, the vignettes between IDs and faculty help to add color and context, and the handouts that come with the book are practical and useful. This book is the missing textbook that many of us wish we had read before starting jobs as instructional designers working in higher education.Zach MSenior Instructional DesignerQuality Matters Coordinator

I teach at a few different colleges, and don't have easy access to ID help (or faculty development). This book really opened my eyes to all the things I need to consider when creating an online course, and I felt like I was working with a friendly ID. The design sheets were really helpful in helping me think through my course, and I also got a lot of value out of the case studies at the end. I'm going to spend the summer making some course improvements based on HIDOC, and I'm looking forward to my fall teaching.

I wish I had this book during the pandemic. Like most educators, I had to quickly move my in-person courses to a remote format, and that's when I discovered how very different online can be from the traditional classroom. Now, I'm working to revise those remote courses so they're better designed for online and not just something I pieced together in a (stressful) hurry. This book makes it easy and has shown me so many big and small things that I was missing to truly tailor my design for online learning. I can also see how useful this would be for experienced instructors looking to target specific improvements in their design... or their teaching! The bonus chapter on online teaching is worth the price of admission alone. (And dare I say that this was a refreshingly "fun" read? I really felt supported, and like the authors wanted to help.) All in all, HIDOC is a gem and my copy already has several flags and highlights of new ideas and good tips. If you design or teach online, this is a must-have for your bookshelf!

HIDOC is a practical guide for faculty and instructional designers alike; this book is rich with design documents, real life, examples, and immediately applicable, best practices. I appreciated the empathetic advice given and multiple examples of instructor-designer interactions, as well as visual samples from real online courses. A refreshing, cohesive approach to online course design with logical steps to follow and innovative approaches to collaboration.The authors are extremely qualified to speak on this topic and provide an easy-to-follow framework for designing online courses. Full of practical advice that is geared toward faculty who are new to online teaching or interested in improving their existing online courses, as well as learning designers and course builders who are refining their approach to working with SMEs. Immediately applicable, and very timely best practices in design that are student-centered and inclusive.This book and the tools provided helped me become a better course designer and is a beneficial reference for my practice. The design library resources and case examples are awesome; they're super helpful in providing context and starting the design process. Overall, it's jam-packed with timely information and tools for anyone designing an online course.

As a technical executive I would recommend this book not just for traditional educators but in how to create online content for any informational learning experience. Awesome well structured book.

"High-Impact Design for Online Courses," authored by Bethany Simunich, Andrea Gregg, and Penny Ralston-Berg, proved to be an exceptional resource that I found both inspirational and practical for those involved in higher education. This book stands out by offering tangible design and teaching strategies while encouraging reflection and continual improvement of one’s course, all through the lens of learner-centered principles.This book differentiates itself by its specialized focus. It is exceptionally crafted for instructors aiming to create or improve online and hybrid learning environments, offering a straightforward, methodical approach through its HIDOC model. Unlike other works that may tackle e-learning or instructional design in a broader sense, this book delivers precise, actionable steps that directly address the nuances of online and hybrid course design.The HIDOC model’s clarity and practicality were standout features for me. It provides a roadmap for effective course development and enhancement. Whether you are just beginning your journey in online or hybrid teaching or are an experienced instructor looking to update your existing courses, "High-Impact Design for Online Courses" is a highly recommended tool equipped with insights to enrich your learners' educational experience.Simone C. O. Conceição, PhDLearning Designer, Owner, SCOC Consulting

Teachers are our heroes, and making their work possible is the highest calling I know. With the HIDOC blueprint, Simunich and company have given us everything required to design excellent online coursework, and to have fun doing it. Step by practical step, their spritely instruction guides us as we analyze the needs of our learners and decide how best to meet those needs. I've both taught and taken online courses. I really could have used HIDOC over the years, and I'm so grateful to have it now.---Eric Erlandson, MBA, ret. CEO of Internet Nebraska