It is important to understand a few things regarding the structure of this course.
One Course, Multiple Environments
This course is conducted partly in the course pages you are now viewing, and partly in Canvas. Why multiple environments? Students learning online have a strong need for the clearest, easiest, most logical instructional flow possible. You must be able to know where you are in the course, what you should be doing next, and how to move to the next activity at all times.
Unlike the set-up in Canvas, our course pages lead you from the beginning of Getting Started through to the final activity of the course like links in a chain. They present the instructional content you need while also directing you through activities as you need to complete them. The flexibility of our course pages allow us to better provide the guidance you need. Canvas functions as more of a supporting environment for communications, due dates, and assignment submissions.
Course Structure Related to Time
This course has a duration of only eight weeks. While many other online courses are ten weeks, this condensed time-frame is standard in the Geodesign program. However, the relatively short duration combined with a graduate-leve workload makes for an aggressive pace. Time management becomes highly important.
The fundamental organizational principle with regard to time is that a module (lesson) equals a week. Each week will have a topical focus or theme, and each will build on those that preceded it.
Course modules become available at 12:00 am EST the night (technically Monday morning) before the next week's lesson begins. This means that, for example, if you are studying Module 2, Module 3 will open at midnight the day you turn in your Module 2 assignment (Sunday night). The course is formatted this way to adjust according to class progress.
Typical Instructional Sequence for a Module
Each week you will:
To continue with Getting Started, click the Next Page link in the lower right hand corner of your screen.