I'm ready for the Spring with a newly designed PR course!

I am an adjunct faculty member teaching JMS 380: Public Relations Techniques for the University of Northern Colorado in Spring 2022. This is my first time teaching this specific course, so I had the opportunity to design it from scratch. This post outlines TWO things in my course design that I am trying this semester. Let me know how you layout and design your courses inside your university’s LMS system!

Course Description: JMS 380 is a hands-on course that reviews the tools available for PR practitioners to disseminate their message, including media kits, campaigns, PSAs, blogs, podcasts, social media posts, and everything else in between while working with a real-life client enrich classroom learning.

First, my university uses Canvas as our LMS. I typically create my Canvas Shells, but I used the template from our Instructional Design Department this semester. It looks sleek while providing a clear organizational structure. Next, I used the HTML editor within the Canvas pages to rearrange or swap out elements, such as icons, to fit my needs.

Tip: I found a lot of code for design elements like shaded text boxes and tabs on the Canvas forums. Click on the <> to alter the code.

I liked the template because my course home page has buttons for each week that show the “Readings and Activities” and the “Lecture Review” for the unit. The template IDD set up automatically pulls in the modules that correspond with the week, and I just need to make my changes or updates in the “Modules” tab. I expect my students to have an efficient time navigating the content from the home page.

Second, I deleted many template pages to focus on TWO content pages per unit. I wanted to reduce the amount of clicking around for my students. In the past, I built large modules with the headers, assignments, readings, and more dropped directly into the block on individual pages; however, students needed to either click “Next” (a lot) or use the “Modules” tab to actually see everything for that week. It was a lot to take in, honestly. With the minimized format, students click less and can open multiple tabs more easily.

Once they select the week, they will always see 5 Sections under the “Readings and Activities” page.

1. A 1-2 Sentence Overview of the Unit Topic

2. A Question of the Week, which guides why we are discussing these things (like a SUPER simplified Learning Objective for the week)

3. A list of the readings with the total pages listed by each text to help them plan their time

4. To-Do List with the activities that are due linked directly

5. Extras for the Week with additional videos, blog posts, and podcasts related to the topic

Once students click “Next,” they can access the materials we discussed in class. Every Monday, we talk about a project management strategy and activity related to their client project. On Wednesdays, I give a lecture that is recorded and posted to our JMS 380 Podcast feed. And on Fridays, we talk about a Case Study or example of a Public Relations scenario to bring the unit to an applied close.

Overall, using the template from our Instructional Design Department while centralizing how information is organized made the Canvas set-up faster for me and, I hope, more efficient for my students.

I made one other MAJOR change to my course design this semester with Specifications Grading (Pass/Fail) and Grading Bundles. Follow along with my adventures in 380 with the 380 or Spring2022 tags.