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IOA Course Proposal Steps

Thank you for your interest in becoming an instructor.

Step One | Step Two | Step Three

Step One: Proposal Submission

Proposal Criteria

In response to an RFP (Request for Proposal), potential developers must submit a strong core course proposal and demonstrate content expertise with the course subject. Please note:  
  • The course should effectively introduce key theoretical concepts
  • The course should integrate content knowledge into practical applications appropriate for ombuds practice
  • The course should be substantial, dynamic, and challenging for the adult learner

Proposals will be reviewed by a subgroup of IOA’s PDC, the Core Course Sub-Committee. During the proposal review process, you may be requested to provide additional information to your course proposal.

A course developer will be chosen within one month of the deadline for submission. All who submit a proposal will be notified in writing of the outcome of the review once a developer has been chosen. 

If a sufficient amount of proposals are not received after the RFP has been distributed, the PDC reserves the right to solicit proposals from qualified potential developers.

The following information is required for successful proposal submission. Using a Word document, paste the following items and provide your responses with as much detail as possible.

  1. Contact Information: name, address, phone number, e-mail
  2. Knowledge and experience of the RFP subject matter 
  3. Knowledge and experience of the course development process (relating to this RFP subject matter or a related topic) 
  4. Instructor and/or trainer experience related to this RFP subject matter or a related topic 
  5. Course title and course description including learning goals, desired outcomes 
  6. Course outline including section focus and timelines 
  7. Teaching materials list including readings, videos, handouts, etc. 
  8. Readiness to test teach the course including material modifications that follow 

Submission

Proposals should be submitted via the PDC Course Instructor Form.  

Step Two: Course Design Development

The developer(s) will elaborate their approved proposal to develop and provide 2 deliverables: course syllabus and instruction plan.

The instruction plan will include specific learning objectives, strategies, presentations, activities, materials and other resources.

The developer(s) will provide the following information:

  • Course description including goals and desired learning outcomes.
  • Summary of all teaching materials including readings, videos, handouts, etc.


The developer(s) will provide the following information in an agenda format:

  • Breakdown of times.
  • Specific focus and activity for each section.
  • Methodology to be used for each section.

The PDC will review the draft course design in consultation with the developer(s) and may suggest modifications. When the detailed course design is mutually agreed upon, the detailed instructor’s guide will be developed for test teaching.

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Step Three: Instructor's Guide Development

The developer(s) will provide a detailed, step-by-step guide to be used by other instructors to teach the course. This is the key and final deliverable of the course design process.

Developer(s) will be asked to provide the following information:

  • Final course description including goals and desired learning outcomes.
  • Teaching materials include readings, videos, handouts, and other supporting materials.

Guide Format (See Appendix One: Sample Instructor's Guide)

  • A detailed timeline of course activities.
  • Specific focus and activity for each component of the course and detailed instructions for delivery, including lecture notes, instructions for activities and other content presentations, etc. These can be highly specific outlines if they are sufficient for other instructors (who have appropriate content knowledge) to easily convert into teaching narratives.

Course Test Teaching

Once the developer(s) submits the final course and materials, PDC will schedule the course for a test- teaching. The developer(s) will be the first faculty to test-teach the course. Additional revisions may be made if necessary.

Course Revisions

As has been the case with the instructor’s guide for Foundations, there is a natural history to ongoing replicable course development. It is anticipated that instructors will, within limited perimeters to be determined by the PDC, adapt and improve upon existing materials as they teach successive iterations of the course. Some of these may be modified for future teams and some may remain unique to specific instructors. Specific concerns that a developer may have regarding intellectual property and potential revision of material should be contractually addressed.