Designing an effective online course involves creating engaging content and activities that support active learning, critical thinking, and meaningful interaction. To ensure your course is engaging and effective, consider the following design tips:

1. Diverse Learning Resources: Course offers access to a variety of engaging resources to present content, support learning and collaboration, and facilitate regular and substantive interaction with the instructor. Tips and tutorial to create different activities at the FAQ section.

2. Higher-Order Thinking Activities: Course provides activities for learners to develop higher-order thinking and problem- solving skills, such as critical reflection and analysis. Tips for reflection and feedback design: https://ltl.healthsci.mcmaster.ca/digital-strategies/reflection/

3. Real-World Applications: Course provides activities that emulate real world applications of the discipline, such as experiential learning, case studies, and problem-based activities. Check the free QUEST Mac-Essentials of PBL Tutoring on FacDev!

4. Open Educational Resources (OER): Where available, Open Educational Resources, free, or low-cost materials are used.

5. Copyright and Licensing Clarity: Course materials and resources include copyright and licensing status, clearly stating permission to share where applicable.

6. Accessibility Considerations: Text content is available in an easily accessed format, preferably HTML. All text content is readable by assistive technology, including a PDF or any text contained in an image. For example, PDF file name should be consistent to the hyperlink name. A text equivalent for every non-text element is provided (“alt” tags, captions, transcripts, etc.), and audio description is provided for video-only content.

7. Content Readability: Text, graphics, and images are understandable when viewed without colour. Text should be used as a primary method for delivering information. For example, hyperlink text is descriptive and makes sense when out of context (avoid using "click here" and you may be interested in why not “click here” https://studiobrandup.com/why-you-shouldnt-use-click-here/#:~:text=A%20link's%20primary%20purpose%20is,Poor%20accessibility)

8. Instructor Expectations and Interaction: Regular and substantive instructor-to-learner expectations, and predictable/scheduled interactions and feedback, are present, appropriate for the course length and structure, and are easy to find. For example, expectations for all course interactions are clearly stated and modeled in all course interaction/communication channels.

9. Learner Interaction and Collaboration: Learners have an opportunity to get to know the instructor. Interaction Design Tips: Provide guidance on designing effective interactions. Interaction Design Tips. Collaboration Design Tips: Offer tips on promoting collaboration among learners. Collaboration Design Tips.

By incorporating these elements into your course design, you can create an engaging and effective learning experience that meets the diverse needs of your learners.