PLAID

Peer-Led Analysis of Instructional Design

Overview

PLAID (the Peer-Led Analysis of Instructional Design) is a tool for thinking about online, hybrid, and web-enhanced classes. You can use it yourself, or better yet, come hang out with the fun EdTech Faculty-in-Residence and Instructional Designers to review your course and work on new techniques.

How to use PLAID

PLAID can be used a number of different ways:

Self-diagnostic: download the rubric and review your course,
Peer/group diagnostic: work with colleagues to review your courses together, kick around some ideas for teaching online, then make changes as a group, or
Collaborate with us: We'll also review your course, talk about it with you, and help with any changes. (This process is as confidential as you want it to be.)
The PLAID Quick Guide can help you locate areas of focus that might be interesting to learn more about

Get Started

Download the PLAID tool for your modality
- PLAID Quick Guide
- PLAID for Asynchronous Online
- PLAID for Online Synchronous
- PLAID for Face-to-Face courses
If you teach a hybrid face-to-face class, you should use the PLAID for the modality you would like feedback on (so face-to-face for the in-person portion, and asynchronous for the hybrid portion that is asynchronous online).
Since the asynchronous portion of any course can be more difficult to design well, you may want to have an observer focus on the asynchronous portion of class and use PLAID for Asynchronous Online as the observation form.

Next Steps

Review your course
Identify areas of success
Identify areas to push yourself
Collaborate with others to make a plan

FAQ

What is in the PLAID tool?

The PLAID tool is a rubric to help organize your thinking about online instruction. It uses the categories: Show Commitment to Student Learning, Practice Culturally Responsive Instruction, Challenge Learners Intellectually, Communicate Effectively, Demonstrate Personal and Professional Integrity, Assess Student Learning Outcomes, and Accessibility as the organizing framework. Within each category, there are descriptors for what to look for in an online course that demonstrates that category.

Why PLAID?

PLAID began when we started to wonder if our Canvas courses were as well-designed as we thought they were. Using a rubric we created, we evaluated each other's courses and, indeed, found ways to make them better. Sometimes a fresh pair of eyes really helps find helpful changes. We took that idea, revised it a bit, chose a better acronym, and now we're offering that same peer support to faculty across the Highline campus.

Who can PLAID?

Well, you! Your friends and neighbors. And us. Everything's better with company, right? PLAID is designed for anyone teaching web-enhanced (face-to-face, using Canvas), hybrid, and online courses at Highline. It's open regardless of faculty status: full-time, part-time, ABE, ESL, professional/technical, transfer, you name it.

And if you've created training with Canvas, we're also happy to work with you. We'll adjust the rubric accordingly.

What's in it for me?

You’ll get fewer "how-do-I" emails from students. Students will turn in better work. You'll have less to maintain every quarter in your course! And you get peace on Earth! Okay, maybe not peace on Earth, but a reduced risk of students storming your office with pitchforks and torches. Also, you'll find useful stuff for your teaching portfolio and a department outcomes assessment report.

Question not answered here?

Drop in on SETI - see the EdTech Events calendar
Book a one-on-one appointment with us
Contact us at et@highline.edu

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