How long does it take to develop a distance learning course?
There is no standard schedule for developing a distance learning course. Variables which affect the timeline include: • the complexity of the subject area; • the availability of existing materials which can be successfully repurposed; • the number of people on the development team, their availability, and competing demands on their time; • whether development work will be done full or part-time; • the variety and types of technology used; • media production schedules; and • institutional support levels. Assembling and managing your own development team or doing most of the development tasks yourself takes more time than working with an experienced institutional team such as that in UW Extension. Most university-based distance learning course development in which faculty work largely on their own on top of their usual workload takes at least 9-12 months of consistent effort. Working with an experienced team which can devote primary workhours and expertise to the tasks can shorten the pe
