Course

• What is the name of the course?
• What institution(s) will offer the course?
• What kind of class is this? Credit/non-credit, workshop, short term training, skills development, seminar, independent learning, individualized learning/special problems/custom course, cohort/learning community?
• What is the time frame of the class? Open entry open exit, quarter, semester, short-term?
• What is your teaching philosophy?
• What is the tone and style of the course?

Team

• Who will administer, teach, support the course?
• Who will produce the course web pages?
• Who will do the graphic design and layout?
• Who will provide technical support?

Website

• What kind of website is this? Information, promotional, resource, supplimental, full course?
• What functions and features do you need? Use the Features Matrix to organize your course.
• Is this an open or closed website? What level of security/privacy is required?
• How will the website be produced and published? Custom built, template pages, web course authoring system, database?
• What are the minimum technical requirements for students to view the website? Screen size and resolution, # of colors,browser capabilities, modem connection speed?

Students

• How many students will be in the class?
• What do you know about your students? Knowledge level, motivational level, age, background, previous experience, technical skills, expectations, learning styles, perceptual preferences?

Content

• What is the content of the course? See Online Course Worksheet.
• How is the content to be organized? What is the basic data structure? Sequencial, pyramid, tree, 3-D?
• What are your sources of expertise? Texbook, instructor, students, guest speakers or other experts, other media, the Web.
• What foundational skills are required and what skills will be learned?
• What will the students have to do? Readings, discussion, field trips, labs, projects, journals, activities, portfolio, team work?
• What is the schedule and what are the due dates?
• How will you assess each student?

Communication

• How will you communicate? Phone, email, message board, chat, forum, listserv?
• Which communications need to be public and which private?