Development Timeline for New Course
Successful development of a high-quality online course takes significant planning, organization, collaboration, and time. Course development for a new course should begin at least one semester before it's scheduled to be taught - earlier if you're aiming for Quality Matters certification.
Below is a timeline of tasks for developing a 15-week online course that's never been taught online before, with the aim of meeting Quality Matters standards. Plans for accessibility and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) considerations are integrated throughout.
Course development timeline
12+ weeks before launch — Planning
- Schedule a course design consultation with Online Campus
- Define learning objectives and align with program-level outcomes
- Sketch the course module structure and weekly cadence
- Identify required readings, materials, and any third-party tools
- Decide on synchronous vs. asynchronous balance
8 weeks before — Design
- Build module skeletons in Canvas (intro, materials, activities, assessment)
- Draft assessment plan: assignments, quizzes, exams, projects
- Map assessments to learning objectives (alignment for QM Standard 3)
- Plan accessibility from the start: caption videos, structure documents, choose accessible tools
- Set up gradebook scheme and weighting
4 weeks before — Build
- Record lectures (Panopto) or finalize live session schedule (Zoom)
- Build all assignments, rubrics, and discussions in Canvas
- Run accessibility checks: UDOIT, TidyUP, manual review
- Create welcome content: syllabus, instructor introduction, course overview module
- If pursuing QM: schedule peer review
2 weeks before — Polish
- Test the student view of every module, assignment, and quiz
- Verify Canvas links, embedded media, and external tool integrations
- Publish syllabus and Week 1 module so early-bird students can preview
- Send a course welcome announcement
- Set up office hours: Zoom link, Calendly, or scheduled drop-ins
Week of class — Launch
- Send welcome email to enrolled students
- Open all course materials, assignments, and discussions
- Be available in the first 48 hours for "where do I find..." questions
- Monitor Canvas analytics to see who's engaging
Throughout the term — Iterate
- Gather mid-term feedback (formal or informal)
- Adjust pacing and clarify confusing material
- Document what worked and what didn't - the next iteration is easier
Get help with your timeline
Need help right now? Email online@csueastbay.edu or call 510-885-2700. Canvas help: 1-866-325-0853 (24/7).
