After the course copy occurs, credentialed online faculty are assigned to each section as the online instructors. They may supplement the course materials with optional instructional materials and activities, but they may not alter the course content. Nor can online faculty change the assignments in their section. Online instructors cannot add or remove course requirements.
Beyond course development completed by third-party instructional designers in collaboration with SMEs, the SME is the primary individual responsible for developing, maintaining, and redeveloping an online primary course shell. All course developments and redevelopments are done by KYSU-approved Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), which could be full-time faculty or adjunct faculty. Each course will be assigned a SME, and only the SME can change course content after seeking approval from the program coordinator and Director of Online Education.
New course developments involve courses that have never existed in the online modality. If the course is new to Kentucky State University, the development work will typically be coordinated with Curriculum Proposal Form 1 – new course proposal. However, suppose the course exists in a different modality but has never been offered in the online modality. In that case, the development work will typically be coordinated with a Curriculum Proposal Form 2 – course change proposal.
New course developments are the most time-intensive aspects of a SME's work. When a new course development is needed for an online program, the Office of Online Education will coordinate the timeline, resources, and personnel required for the development on the Course Development Plan. Most new course developments will be initiated by the planning of Academic Affairs and the work of the Online Advisory Committee in conjunction with the Office of Online Education.
New course developments require a SME to develop course content for asynchronous delivery through the LMS in the online modality. A new development could involve a course not offered previously. Alternatively, if existing courses offered in the traditional, hybrid, or virtual modalities do not have instructional content that comports well with asynchronous delivery through the LMS in the online modality, the SME will complete a new development for KYSU Online. New course developments require creating instructional content, learning resources, and course documents within the LMS for KYSU Online.
The initial SME develops the course content during the development of an online course. This involves contributing to the selection of learning resources, the production of instructional content, and the development of course assignments and assessments. Sometimes, this also includes completing the instructional design of the course in the LMS.
The Office of Online Education often utilizes Instructional Designers (IDs) alongside SMEs in developing online courses. This can include IDs within the Office of Online Education or embedded IDs whose roles have been tied to specific departments and programs. Additionally, KYSU Online contracts IDs to support the ambitious course development plan needed to launch online programs according to schedule in conjunction with student recruiting initiatives.
Instructional Designers work with SMEs to design and develop effective online courses. SMEs provide each course's academic expertise and instructional content, while the IDs build the primary course shell