Propose a Course for Test Drive

About Test Drive

What is Test Drive?

Test Drive is an opportunity to present an idea for an OLLI course and get feedback from members about their interest in your course idea. New as well as seasoned instructors have used test drive to help determine whether to go forward with a course and to help shape its content.

Why Test Drive:

Allows the instructor to describe in detail what the course will focus on. Length of description is not limited to 150 words as in the print catalog. Instructor has the ability to include web links to material and short audio or video.
Stimulates member interest and that can help drive enrollments.
Allows students to have input to courses they are interested in.
There is no obligation for the instructor to teach even if there is good response.
Saves the potential instructor time and effort if the response is poor and he/she decides not to offer it.
Saves OLLI time and money spent in offering classes that may not have sufficient demand, leading to course cancellation.

How: 4 Steps to Test Drive

Steps to Test Drive a Course

1. Touch Base:
Share your idea with the Curriculum Area chair listed on the OLLI Instructors Website. They are a great resource to help you.

2. Submit Proposal:
Develop your proposal which should include:

Title
Course Description: The catalog limits the size of course description. There are no set limits on the web. But you do want to get readers attention quickly. You can include links to other websites, audio clips, or video clips (especially YouTube). You can learn more about Creating an Audio Introduction to Your Course here under Resources.
Instructor Name & Bio: Something informal and catchy to stimulate interest

Submit: Email your proposal to testdrive@olliatduke.org

3. Publicize:
The OLLI Communications Committee will:

Create a web page with your proposal and a feedback form. The feedback form is filled out by members. See Take a Test Drive. Responses will go to your email account.
Publicize your ‘test drive’ in the Spotlight newsletter and on our website, OLLIatDuke.org, with a link to your proposal page.
Keep your proposal page ‘live’ for up to 3 months.

4. Evaluate Responses
Based on member interest you decide whether or not you want to go forward with the course.
You are not obligated to offer the class even if there is significant interest.

Some Things to Consider

1. Sample Proposals:

You can find sample proposals by clicking on a link below for proposals that used Test Drive and successfully solicited feedback:

Calculus Concepts for Inquisitive Seniors - creating pleasant memories of what you may have learned. After a Test Drive this course was offered in Spring 2016.
Proposed Workshops: Hands-On-Art - four separate workshops - which ones are you interested in. The 30 responses provided the instructor and curriculum committee the level of interest in separate topics and shaped future classes.
Proposed Course: Brain Fuel Evolution - a course on the role of nutrition in promoting advances in civilization. This course was offered in Spring 2016

2. Submit well in advance.

Allow time to test drive sufficiently before course submission deadlines to get enough feedback to prepare a Course Proposal. Dates for submission of course proposals to the Curriculum committee are months before the start of a semester. Your Curriculum Area Chair will know these dates.

3.Be aware of Spotlight publications dates

Spotlight Publication and Submission dates can be found here.
We recommend letting members see the Test Drive for 2 cycles of Spotlight (four weeks) to get most responses.

Questions and Comments

Please let us know if you have any questions or comments about the test drive process.
Email your thoughts to testdrive@olliatduke.org