A well-designed course is an engaging course. Using sensible navigation and clear organisation you enable both staff and students to find the information they need quickly. Ensure that:
Information/content is organised logically from a student perspective, eg by topic/weekFolder names and hyperlink text describe the contents or destination, with extra descriptions added where appropriate; when a link opens in a new browser window, this should be made clear in advanceThe number of clicks needed to reach information is kept to a minimumResponsibility for regular housekeeping is assigned and observed
A course map is availableThe course map is signposted to students and staffNavigation is clearly structured and consistent throughout the course, so that information can be located quicklyNavigation works with assistive technology, eg navigation is also usable via key strokesThe course has a clean appearance and a consistent layout, alignment and colour scheme throughoutText is displayed using consistent fonts, preferably sans-serifColour is not the sole method of conveying important information; for example, links should be underlined as well as highlightedFlashing, scrolling or animated text is not usedThe colour scheme and font can be changed to accommodate user preferences or disabilities. Baseline criteria, which should be achieved by all courses
Enhanced approaches, which may not always be applicable, but can provide a richer experience for studentsBaseline criteria which are automatically fulfilled in Blackboard
