COOL Process Overview
Overview of the COOL Process
Why Complete the COOL Process?
The COOL Process is a system to support faculty as they create quality online education for our students. The goal of the process is to help instructors create student-focused online and hybrid courses that meet state and federal guidelines (such as Accreditation, ADA Compliance and Title V). The COOL Process is a focused support, training and recommendation process, not a determination of class offerings or a formal approval of an instructor.
Upon successful completion of COOL, you take with you a(n):
- Reflective online teaching plan for a specific course and modality
- Canvas sandbox designed with accessible, equitable, and inclusive best practices
- COOL Recommendation to share with your dean
- Opportunity to participate in POCR (Peer Online Course Review) and list your Quality Reviewed Course on the CVC-OEI Exchange
Fast Track vs. New Participants
New Faculty
If you have not completed the COOL process before, your COOL Process includes:
- Online Teaching Plan (OTP)
- Sandbox with two weeks of content and a Welcome or Orientation module for a Course Site Review
Fast Track Faculty
If you have completed the COOL process before, your COOL Process includes:
- Online Teaching Plan (OTP)
If you are unsure of your COOL Process status (New/Fast Track) or what courses/modalities you've already been recommended for, please check the composite list of recommended COOL process submissions (sorted by Instructor name).
Note: If you are “new,” you only need to complete the Sandbox and Course Site Review for one course site, but should complete the Online Teaching Plan for all courses you are submitting for the COOL process.
How Does the COOL Process Work?
The COOL process is recursive and peer-supported, built on revision and personalized feedback. Successful completion of all steps is required.
- Enrollment
- Faculty Preparation
- Peer Review
- Revision
- Peer Review
- Final Revisions
- Committee Recommendations
Frequently Asked Questions
There are several actions you can take to hone your online teaching before submitting your work for peer review.
Participate in Accessible Course Design
We highly recommend that you engage in our optional Accessible Course Design asynchronous training before starting as a New COOL participant. Even if you are Fast Track, you will learn something new about accessibility and Universal Design for Learning. Accessible Course Design will help you develop your sandbox for peer review. Please contact Instructional Technology for access.
Attend a Workshop
Our workshop calendar contains professional development opportunties provided by Chabot Instructional Technology, the Office of Academic Services, California Community Colleges, and a curated list of Canvas application vendors.
You will need access to Tools for Teaching to view the calendar. Please contact Instructional Technology if you need access.
Explore Tools for Teaching
This Canvas resource is your hub for all things Canvas-related. It includes photo and video tutorials, student-facing materials, grab-and-go design resources, and more. Better yet, it is available to you 24/7. Please contact Instructional Technology if you need access.
Make a One-on-One Appointment
We are happy to meet individually or with groups to provide training on online accessibility, promising teaching practices, Canvas, and more. Please schedule an appointment that best fits your schedule.
Reach out for Support
We aim to respond to emails within 24 business hours.
Chabot Instructional Technology: Canvas and online accessibility questions
COOL co-chairs: General COOL Process questions
The Online Teaching Plan (OTP) is both a reflection on your online teaching philosophy and a summary of your practices and activities over the course of the semester.
Instructors will complete the OTP form online, which includes questions to address the following:
- Course information and modality;
- Professional development experience/training;
- How you will address state and federal regulations for Distance Education (DE)
- Brief informational sections about FERPA and Accessibility
The completed form will be kept on file by the COOL as a record of the instructor completing the COOL process for the specific course.
This Online Teaching Plan is completed on a Word document so that you can take time to fully consider.
After your final revisions are made, your review team will again review your materials to ensure that you have addressed any questions and completed recommended revisions before the committee votes on your COOL submission. Each COOL Support Team makes the determination to either:
- Recommend (You have completed the COOL process and will now be considered Fast Track)
- Not Recommend courses to Deans (Your COOL submission did not meet the requirements, but you are welcome to submit to the COOL process again in a later semester)
- Pending (Your COOL submission is almost there and you are welcome to work with Chabot's Instructional Designer until the end of the current semestr as you move toward a recommendation).
Once a committee determination is made, the Deans are notified of the status of each submission.
If you are Recommended by the committee, you will receive an email and badge. Your name, course name, and modality will be listed in the most current Process Submissions list.