1. QM Regional Conference Diana Zilberman, Ph.D. March 2018
Who Owns My Course? A discussion of the factory and artisanal models of design
QM Regional Conference Diana Zilberman, Ph.D.
March 2018

2. Session Objectives
Define the artisanal and factory models of course development.
Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of each model.
Discuss which model is suitable for your institution, program, and discipline.

3. Two Models of Course Design
Model 1 – The Factory Model
A team of instructional designers, course architects, media specialists, programmers, and subject matter experts create one course design.
The created course design is copied to all sections of the same course.
Faculty members facilitate the course based on the same course design.
Faculty teaching the course may, or may not have participated in the creation of the design.

4. The Factory Model Advantages
Consistency of course structure, resources, assessments, etc., for every section of the course.
A professionally-looking course design that includes a variety of instructional resources, assessments and activities.
Course elements are well aligned according to instructional design principles.

5. The Factory Model Disadvantages
A “disconnect” between course design and course delivery.
A “disconnect” between the reality of the course as it’s taught, from how it’s been created.
Inclusion of design elements that do not necessarily work (instructional materials, assessments, activities.)

6. Two Models of Course Design
Model II: The Artisanal Model
The course instructor is the the one who designs and teaches the course.
The faculty may, or may not have the assistance of instructional designers or media specialists.
Several faculty members teaching the same course may use different course designs.

7. The Artisanal Course Design Advantages
Close connection to and deep knowledge of the course design.
Close connection to the students and how they may respond to the course content.
The creation of a unique course, customized to the needs of the students.
Setting one’s own style, tone, and pace.
Ability to adapt/adjust the course according to students’ needs.

8. The Artisanal Course Design Disadvantages
Inconsistency of course design, apparent in the following:
Module level objectives and assessments (assuming that the course objectives are the same)
Grading schema
Instructional Resources
General “look and feel” of the course

9. The Artisanal Course Design Disadvantages
Possible inconsistencies of learning outcomes across different sections of the course.
Possible inconsistencies in students’ achievement of learning competencies.
In some cases, faculty members teaching the same course may not even communicate with one another.

10. Which model to follow?
How to maximize the advantages of the artisanal course creation to achieve the consistencies of the “factory model?”

11. Activity
According to your experience and views as to which model of course design you prefer, join one of the possible two groups, Factory and Artisanal.
Within your group, discuss why you prefer one model or the other.
Suggest one or more ways in which a course model can increase its advantages and decrease its disadvantates.

12. For the Future of OERs at the College
Should you and your colleagues follow the “factory model,” or the “artisanal model?”
What would be best for the courses taught by adjuncts?
What would work best for the students?
What would work best for the College?
What other factors may contribute to this conversation?