Re-tool, but Don't Re-invent the Wheel

People have been teaching online for decades now. There are best practices, templates and design rubrics that you can use. Re-tool your course. Online courses are most effective when redesigned from the traditional face-to-face class format that covers the same topic. Adopt a "backward" design perspective, in which student engagement and demonstrated achievement of learning outcomes, rather than technology, course materials, and learning activities, guide further development decisions.

Use rubrics or checklists as a development and review aid. Quality Matters is an excellent choice to use as an aid in design. Other tools include the UMS-developed "Online Course Checklist" and the Rubric for Online Instruction developed at Cal State, Chico.

http://www.usm.maine.edu/online/Faculty/qmatusm.html

http://www.usm.maine.edu/ctel/documents/Online_Guidelines.rtf

http://www.csuchico.edu/celt/roi/

CTEL's Online Course Templates:

http://www.usm.maine.edu/ctel/course_template.html