Importance of Getting Started Modules

August 22, 2022

Landing pages and introduction modules are a key combination to getting learners off to a good start. Read more below!

Image of a home page from a Canvas course. The "Start Here" button on the page is circled in purple as an example of a quality home page with clear starting directions and button.

The Bee a Friend Extension course has a great home page and provides a “Start Here” module (circled).

Start your students off with their best chance at success by providing clear, helpful, and comprehensive introductions to their online course. This can help retain learners and boost their engagement in the course overall.

Landing pages

Ensure that your landing page – or Home Page – for your course is welcoming and helpful. Provide clear directions about where to find parts of the course and how to begin the course. Include a “Begin the Course”or “Get Started” button and have it linked to the first page of your Start Here module.

“Start Here” Modules

Consider creating a getting started module that provides the following information:

An overview of the course
- The modality – Identify whether the course is hybrid, fully online, or fully on-ground. You should include whether learners are meant to progress through the course synchronously, asynchronously, or if it’s hybrid, what portions of the course are which.
- Learning Objectives – Describe what learners should be able to know or do by the end of the course if they successfully complete the course activities. For in-depth training on quality learning objectives, click here. For a brief review, check out this previous blog post.
- Pre-requisites – Identify any pre-requisite courses/knowledge (or note if none is required), basic computer literacy skills required, and basic computer technology required.
- Materials – Identify the course materials and how they will be delivered. Provide links to any materials that must be purchased.
Grades and grading policy
- Assessments – Add descriptions of the assessments.
- Grades – provide a visual representation of the assessments, the number of each of those assessments, the point values, and the percentage values. Then explain how those points/percentages will translate to letter grades.
- Penalties – Explain any late work penalties and define what counts as late work.
Course expectations
- “Netiquette” – Describe what is appropriate communication between learners and how everyone should behave while posting in the course.
- Communication expectations – Explain how learners should address you and how you would like them to communicate with you: should they list the course and section in their email, should they send messages to your Clemson email or simply use the Canvas Inbox?
- Replies and Feedback expectations – Identify the response time(s) for learners to receive feedback, grades, and emails from you.
Course Policies and University Policies
- Review this page in the Faculty Resource Center for all required policies to include in your module or Syllabus.
Introduce yourself
- Professional expertise and interests – Briefly share your work and background to help establish yourself as the expert so learners can feel confident in learning with you.
- Teaching philosophy – Briefly share why you do the work you do and what is important about this class for learners in the same field.
- Personal interests – Briefly share at least one personal hobby or interest to help learners see you not only as an expert but as an approachable expert.
Introduction post for students
- Have your learners post an introduction of themselves following a prompt that you provide.

Upcoming Live Training Events

In case you missed the New Instructor Conference last week, you’re invited to bring your laptop and swing by today and tomorrow’s drop-in sessions!

Monday, August 22

Bring your laptop and meet us at Cooper Library for a drop-in, face-t0-face conversation with one of our instructional designers about your course, chat with a librarian, learn about library support systems, and take a tour of the library’s integrated technology spaces. Additionally, we will be running scheduled presentations on dedicated topics. Drop-ins are in-person while the scheduled presentations are hybrid.

Presentation topics include:
- Library resources for online learning
- Introduction to Kaltura
- iClicker Cloud and Classic
9am to 2pm
Cooper Library, 2nd floor (two floors down from the main entrance or 4th floor)

Tuesday, August 23

Bring your laptop and meet us at the Office of Undergraduate Studies in Vickery Hall, where we are partnering with University Testing and Education Center (UTEC) to deliver more drop-in opportunities and another round of scheduled presentations.

Presentation topics include:
- Library resources for online learning
- Introduction to Kaltura
- iClicker Cloud and Classic
9am to 2pm
Vickery Hall, 2nd floor