Curriculum Basics

Introduction

The components of the curriculum process are generally the same, no matter what the delivery mode. The tools to create the course materials may change in order to reach the same goals, whether it is in an onsite or an online class.

The Curriculum Approval Process

The curriculum approval process at your college should assist in promoting the Distance Education program and enhance collaboration between the groups at the institution.

An excerpt from the website of the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC) Links to an external site. indicates that each college is encouraged to bring all curriculum back to the Curriculum Committee, for further review, when the mode of delivery is modified.

This is to ensure that the outcomes set forth in the curriculum will be obtained, just with a different delivery mode and technology-mediated strategies and tools. As will be discussed shortly, a separate approval is required by Title 5 the first time a course is offered as hybrid or fully online. This excerpt from an ASCCC resolution serves as a reminder that that review is required and that further review may be needed as technologies change.

• Therefore be it resolved that the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges urge local senates to seek the timely review and approval of distance education courses in line with Title 5 ''55316-55380 and to follow guidelines in the Academic Senate paper "Curriculum Committee Review of Distance Learning Courses and Sections" (November 1995), and
• Be it further resolved that Academic Senate for California Community Colleges direct the Executive Committee to identify models of good practice currently in place, which curriculum committees could use to develop their own guidelines for approval of technology mediated instruction that ensure a quality curriculum with appropriate methodologies for interaction between faculty and students.