A well-designed course is an engaging course. Using sensible navigation and clear organisation you enable both staff and students to find the information they need quickly. Ensure that:
Information/content is organised logically from a student perspective, eg by topic/week
Folder names and hyperlink text describe the contents or destination, with extra descriptions added where appropriate; when a link opens in a new browser window, this should be made clear in advance
The number of clicks needed to reach information is kept to a minimum
Responsibility for regular housekeeping is assigned and observed
A course map is available
The course map is signposted to students and staff
Navigation is clearly structured and consistent throughout the course, so that information can be located quickly
Navigation works with assistive technology, eg navigation is also usable via key strokes
The course has a clean appearance and a consistent layout, alignment and colour scheme throughout
Text is displayed using consistent fonts, preferably sans-serif
Colour is not the sole method of conveying important information; for example, links should be underlined as well as highlighted
Flashing, scrolling or animated text is not used
The colour scheme and font can be changed to accommodate user preferences or disabilities.
Key
Baseline criteria, which should be achieved by all courses
Enhanced approaches, which may not always be applicable, but can provide a richer experience for students
Baseline criteria which are automatically fulfilled in Blackboard