Mizzou has a long and proud history of innovation in distance and online education. Our journey began in the early 1900s with the Center for Distance and Independent Study, offering correspondence courses sent and received by mail. In 1996, the Distance Learning Design Center was established, expanding the university’s commitment to online learning. Over time, these initiatives came together to form Mizzou Online.
Today, Mizzou Online continues that legacy by providing top-tier digital education services, including student recruitment, instructional and experience design, and program coordination, to support faculty and learners across the university.
Whether you’re developing a new course, redesigning an existing one, or exploring ways to enhance student engagement, we’re here to help you bring your vision to life.
Chief Online Learning Officer
At Mizzou Online, we believe great online learning starts with collaboration. Our Design Services team partners with faculty to create engaging, accessible, and high-quality online courses and programs that reflect the excellence of a Mizzou education.
Deliver comprehensive digital learning services and platforms that expand access and enrich academic experiences.
To serve as trusted experts in delivering and supporting online education through transparency, curiosity, collaboration, investment, and being a champion.
Partnership is at the heart of what we do. We combine your disciplinary expertise with our knowledge of digital learning design to create courses that empower both you and your students.
From concept to launch, and beyond, we’re here to collaborate, support, and celebrate your success in delivering exceptional online learning at Mizzou.
Comprehensive support system across the entire online learner & faculty lifecycle.
Works in conjunction with faculty and staff to create engaging online learning experiences for all audiences. Services include:
Effective course design is one of the most powerful ways we can support student success, and it becomes even more essential in online learning environments where clarity, structure, and engagement shape every part of the student experience. Thoughtful design helps students understand what’s expected of them, navigate materials with confidence, and stay motivated through intentional learning pathways.
At Mizzou, our designers are true partners in this work. We bring together expertise in pedagogy, user experience, media, and accessibility to help faculty bring their vision to life in a format that is intuitive, compelling, and grounded in best practices.
Director of Design Services
The systematic process of creating effective learning experiences by applying educational theories and technology to meet specific learning needs.
Prioritizes the end-user while utilizing skills like web development, graphic design, video, and media production to build engaging online environments.
Instructional design (ID) is the process of translating your subject matter expertise into structured, engaging learning experiences for students (Watson-Held et al., 2024; Stafaniak et al., 2020).
Instructional designers are collaborative partners who work alongside faculty to bridge deep subject matter knowledge with proven teaching strategies, ensuring course content resonates with students and supports their learning.
"Our core goal is to ensure that users with disabilities will have equal opportunity to acquire the same information, engage in the same interactions, and enjoy the same services as a person without a disability in an equally effective way..."
UM System Policy 600.090, Digital Accessibility
The ADDIE model consists of five interconnected phases that represent a flexible guideline for developing effective learning experiences: Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation. IDs first identify the instructional problem and learner profile, then work with faculty to design learning objectives, assessments, and materials, which are implemented and evaluated for continuous improvement.
Experience Designers (XDs) create digital learning environments that are visually engaging, intuitive, and student-centered. Serving as graphic designers, web developers, media producers, and interactivity specialists, XDs empower learners through improved comprehension and UX.
Canvas
Adobe Creative Suite
Canva
Articulate / Rise 360 / Storyline
Camtasia
HTML5 / CSS3 / JavaScript
In Fall 2024, Mizzou Online conducted a UX Focus Group & Survey with graduate learners. 83% of respondents preferred and were more engaged in courses designed by Experience Designers. Additionally, 100% agreed that navigation and structure improvements directly enhanced their learning.
Digital accessibility is the practice of designing electronic materials that are usable to everyone, including individuals with disabilities. Within the University of Missouri System, this includes Canvas course content, uploaded files, websites, and third-party tools.
Critical ADA Title II Update
The Department of Justice issued updated ADA Title II web accessibility regulations requiring all public higher education digital content to comply by April 26, 2027.
Our 16-week collaborative build process begins at least six months prior to the teaching semester.
APPLY BY MAY 1
To develop during the Fall Semester for Spring launch.
APPLY BY DECEMBER 1
To develop during the Spring Semester for Fall launch.
Cohesive Degree Strategy
Mizzou Online partners with Deans and Chairs to create unified online program build plans that align curriculum structure, learning outcomes, and design standards across entire degree tracks.
Individual Course Development
Collaborative partnership with assigned IDs and XDs to translate course objectives into a high-quality Canvas environment balanced with academic rigor and intuitive visual design.
Structured project schedule executing parallel Instructional and Experience Design sprints.
| Phase | W1 | W2 | W3 | W4 | W5 | W6 | W7 | W8 | W9 | W10 | W11 | W12 | W13 | W14 | W15 | W16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Planning Phase | Discovery | |||||||||||||||
| 2. Instructional Design | Curriculum & Alignment Sprints | |||||||||||||||
| 3. Experience Design | UI/UX & Media Production | |||||||||||||||
| 4. Quality Review | QCR Audit | |||||||||||||||
Project kickoff, scoping verification, and assigning dedicated ID & XD team members.
Collaborative alignment of learning objectives, assessments, and content modules.
Building custom Canvas layouts, visual graphics, media, and interactive tools.
Quality Course Review audit, accessibility remediation check, and course release.
Clear governance ensures seamless execution throughout the development cycle.
Usually a single faculty member with ultimate sign-off authority.
Department members providing input at designated intervals.
Coordinates project milestones, leads pedagogical strategy, and ensures QCR standards.
Engineers visual themes, accessibility compliance, multimedia, and UI components.
Drafts Course Project Agreements and oversees scope and institutional reporting.
Online teaching certification is tied to Higher Learning Commission (HLC) accreditation standards and reflects Mizzou’s commitment to quality digital education.
Foundational 6-Week Credential
Covers UDL, WCAG accessibility, active learning, authentic assessment, and community building in Canvas.
5-Year Renewal Pathway
A self-paced, 9-hour renewal program utilizing Sprint mini-courses. Center around the Teaching Essentials Sprint plus two customizable topics.
Formative peer-review process evaluating courses across 29 rubric items within four core pillars.
Faculty submit a QCR request via Airtable intake form.
Assigned Support ID verifies course readiness for review.
Evaluated by an ID and Faculty Peer Reviewer using QCR Rubric.
Review findings shared and revision strategies discussed.
Instructor implements enhancements with Support ID guidance.
Course logged in QCR Dashboard and badge awarded.
Welcoming environment, clear orientation, consistent structure, and transparent expectations.
Instructor presence, active communication, and structured opportunities for peer community.
Cohesive alignment between learning objectives, assessments, materials, and feedback.
Technical soundness, universal accessibility compliance, and tool transparency.
Self-paced, 3-hour mini-courses covering core teaching areas: Design, Assessment, Community, and Accessibility.
Mizzou Online maintains a suite of page, module, and course templates ready to import directly into your Canvas course.
Log into Canvas, navigate to Canvas Commons on the left navigation bar, and search "University of Missouri".