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Course Reviews at Geneseo

Course Reviews at Geneseo

Course Reviews at Geneseo

Course Review at Geneseo

The CIT Instructional Design Team offers Course Review as a service to faculty teaching online. Centered on the Course Readiness Checklist, the review process supports ongoing improvements in course quality and accessibility.

What We Do

Our instructional designers are here not only to help you and your students navigate the challenges of digital learning, but also to guide the design and implementation of your course’s online presence.

We recommend a series of three meetings, spaced over time, to:

  • Review your course goals and materials

  • Suggest strategies and tools to meet student needs

  • Provide feedback on accessibility and quality standards

We’re flexible—whether you’d like more or fewer meetings, we’ll adapt to your schedule.

📅 Schedule a meeting via YouCanBookMe :

Our Approach: Backward Design

We use the backward design method, which starts with your course outcomes and works backward to align activities, assessments, and materials. This ensures that every element of your course supports your stated goals.

Here are the key questions we’ll help you answer:

  • What will students know or be able to do by the end of the course?

  • What technology will students need to succeed?

  • How will students demonstrate their learning?

  • How can students best prepare for these demonstrations?

  • What materials will support their success?

Answering these questions helps create a clear, direct path from outcomes → activities → assessments → evaluation.

 

 

Academic Year 2025-2026 Course Review Dates

Semester

Course Start Date

Course Review Request Deadline

Fall 2025

August 25

July 28

 

October 16

September 18

Intersession

December 29

December 1

Spring 2026

January 20

December 23

 

March 23

February 23

Summer 2026

May 18

April 20

 

June 15

May 18

 

June 29

June 1

 

July 13

June 15

 Frequently Asked Questions

What criteria does Geneseo use to evaluate online classes?

SUNY Geneseo uses the Course Readiness Checklist (CRC) to improve the quality of online courses. The CRC is the minimum baseline of requirements, adapted from the SUNY Online Course Quality Review Rubric (OSCQR).

What is the basis for the Course Readiness Checklist (CRC)?

The CRC is built on the OSCQR Rubric (pronounced “Oscar”), developed by SUNY staff and stakeholders to ensure online courses are learner-centered and well designed.

How is the Course Readiness Checklist used?

Instructional Designers use the CRC to review course design from a student perspective.

  • Essential requirements must be met.

  • Best practices are recommended and encouraged.
    Faculty receive annotated feedback during the review process.

What if my course doesn’t meet certain “best practices”?

You’ll receive feedback and suggestions for improvement. Course design is iterative, and designers will work with you to strengthen your course over time.

What if my course does not meet all essential requirements?

Your course will still be ready to teach, but you should plan to revise and address challenges in future iterations.

How often should a course be reviewed?

Whenever course material changes. Reviews help ensure that content remains current.

Who sees the results of a course review?

Reviews are confidential between you and the Instructional Design team.

  • Department chairs, program administrators, or incentive administrators may see limited information, but this will be communicated clearly in advance.

How does the review evaluate my course content?

Reviews focus on design and delivery, not disciplinary subject matter. Designers bring “fresh eyes” to assess usability and student experience.

What courses can be reviewed?

The focus is on online courses, but the team can review any Brightspace course, regardless of modality.

Can I request a partial review?

Yes. You can ask for feedback on specific sections, though full-course reviews provide the most benefit.

What if I disagree with the review?

The review is a conversation starter. If you disagree with feedback, discuss it with your Instructional Designer.

A colleague’s version of my course was reviewed. Do I also need a review?

Yes. Every faculty member’s course is unique and must be reviewed separately.

What’s the benefit of reviewing multiple courses I teach?

Each course and student group is different. Reviewing additional courses provides tailored feedback for each.

Can I choose my course reviewer?

Requests are considered, but the Director of Educational Technology assigns reviews based on team workload.

Will the reviewer fix typos or grammar?

Designers will point out typos they notice but are not copy editors. Faculty are responsible for course text quality.

How long does a review take?

  • Typically 3–4 business days.

  • Allow about a week total for review, consultation, and feedback.

  • Timing may vary during busy semesters.

When should I request a review?

As early as possible. Designers provide the most help when involved early in the course design process. Reviews are one of the last steps.

How should I prepare my course?

Have your course in a publish-ready state, even if it’s not live.

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