A realistic timeline for Fall 2026

Phase 1: Orientation & Planning

Now → Early June (10–12 weeks before semester)

Goal: Know what you’re building before you build it

• Review Course Readiness Checklist (CRC)

• Identify:

  • Course outcomes

  • Major assessments

  • Weekly/module structure

• Decide:

  • Online format (async, sync, hybrid elements)

  • Tools (Brightspace, Teams, etc.)

• Schedule a kickoff meeting with an Instructional Designer

Deliverable:

• Rough course map (weeks/modules + major assignments)

Phase 2: Course Design

June (8–10 weeks before)

Goal: Build the structure (not all the content yet)

• Create module skeletons in Brightspace

• Align:

  • Outcomes → activities → assessments (backward design)

• Draft:

  • Syllabus (policies, expectations, communication)

  • Gradebook structure

• Plan accessibility from the start

Deliverable:

• Fully structured course shell (empty but organized)

Phase 3: Build Content

July (4–8 weeks before)

Goal: Fill the course

• Add:

  • Readings, lectures, videos

  • Assignments, discussions, and quizzes/exams

• Build:

  • Instructions for every activity

  • Rubrics + grading criteria

• Make sure:

  • All graded work exists in Brightspace

  • Navigation is clean and logical

Deliverable:

• All modules populated

Phase 4: Pre-Review Check

Late July (~4 weeks before)

Goal: Make it “review-ready”

• Run through Course Readiness Checklist

• Ensure:

  • Clear navigation

  • Student instructions in every module

  • Accessibility basics (captions, headings, etc.)

• Meet with instructional designer for feedback (optional)

Deliverable:

• Instructor believes course meets essential criteria (minimum standard)

Phase 5: Course Review Submission

Early August (~3–4 weeks before semester)

Goal: Formal review

• Request course review (via CIT)

• Instructional Designer evaluates your course

• Meet with Instructional Designer to receive and discuss feedback (private, improvement-focused)

Deliverable:

• Review completed + feedback received

Phase 6: Revision & Finalization

Mid–August (2–3 weeks before)

Goal: Fix anything flagged

• Revise based on feedback

• Re-annotate feedback document with changes made

  • Send back to reviewer

  • Secondary, cursory-review takes place

• Double-check:

  • Gradebook alignment

  • Assignment clarity

  • Accessibility fixes

• Final quality assurance:

  • Click every link

  • View as student

Deliverable:

• Final, approved course

Phase 7: Launch Prep

Week before semester

• Open course (or Week 1 module)

• Send welcome announcement/email

• Confirm:

  • Office hours

  • Communication plan

Phase 8: Teach & Iterate

During semester

• Monitor student engagement

• Adjust pacing if needed

• Take notes on:

  • Confusing instructions

  • Broken flow

Phase 9: Post-course reflection

After semester

• Review feedback (students + course review if applicable)

• Plan improvements

Still Need Help?

To explore guides created by D2L, visit the Brightspace Help Site. Note that you will need to create an account to access content within the Brightspace Community.

Ask CIT! Email us or submit a request and we'll be happy to assist you.