Learn at a Distance

Definitions for Course Revisions

Minor Revision

A minor revision for an online course involves small-scale updates or adjustments that do not fundamentally change the structure, objectives, or core content of the course. Examples include:

• Fixing typos or grammatical errors in course materials.
• Updating outdated links or resources.
• Refreshing multimedia (e.g., swapping an image or replacing a broken video link) without altering the core message.
• Making slight adjustments to improve user experience, such as modifying navigation labels or minor formatting changes.
• Clarifying ambiguous instructions or course descriptions.

Minor revisions are typically quick to implement and do not require re-approval from stakeholders like academic committees or accreditation bodies.

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Major Revision

A major revision for an online course involves significant changes that alter the course’s structure, content, or learning outcomes. Examples include:

• Adding, removing, or reorganizing entire modules or lessons.
• Introducing new learning objectives or altering existing ones.
• Updating assessment types or criteria (e.g., replacing quizzes with projects).
• Redesigning the course for a new modality (e.g., synchronous to asynchronous).
• Overhauling the multimedia content or course design to align with new pedagogical strategies or technologies.
• Incorporating feedback from learners or stakeholders that requires substantial content changes.

Major revisions usually require approval from stakeholders and may involve collaboration with subject matter experts, instructional designers, or technical teams. They can significantly impact how the course is delivered and assessed.

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Content Revisions

Content revisions address outdated material while ensuring alignment with existing course goals, distinguishing them from minor and major revisions. Unlike minor revisions, which focus on improving usability through small adjustments such as fixing typos or enhancing navigation, content revisions involve updating facts, examples, or resources to maintain relevance without altering the course structure or learning outcomes. In contrast to major revisions, which require significant structural or pedagogical changes and may impact learning outcomes, content revisions are more targeted and typically do not require stakeholder approval.

Examples of content revisions include:

• Updating statistics or data in course materials to reflect recent research or industry trends.
• Replacing outdated case studies with current, more relevant examples.
• Revising readings or resource lists to include updated or more authoritative sources.
• Incorporating new developments in the field, such as emerging technologies or changes in best practices.
• Adjusting examples or scenarios to reflect contemporary issues or societal changes.
• Rewriting content to address new terminology, standards, or frameworks adopted in the field.
• Modifying instructions for tools or platforms that have changed due to updates or discontinuation.
• Updating content to reflect changing cultural norms around identity, such as using inclusive language, updating pronouns, or incorporating diverse perspectives.
• Revising quiz or exam questions to align with updated content without altering the assessment objectives.

In summary, content revisions keep courses accurate and current by addressing outdated material, ensuring learners engage with up-to-date and relevant content without altering the course learning objectives or module learning outcomes.