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Below are the development guidelines, which explain in detail how to create a course for the American Psychotherapy Association.

Please download these documents, or read below the download links:

Course Submission Guidelines
Format and Quality Standards
- Word Template
- PowerPoint Template
- Test Template

Course Submission Guidelines

This Course Submission Packet is divided into five parts:

Format and Quality Standards: These are our requirements, in brief.
Development Guidelines: This reviews APA citation style, course organization, and creating quality multimedia.
Overview of Copyrights, Image Theft, Etc.: Management Executives Incorporated requires releases and permissions on all third party content included in all submissions.
Resources and References: Printable model, property, and copyright release forms, as well as a list of further recommended reading.
Affidavit of Agreement: This is an addendum stating that you have read, understood, and agree to abide by the guidelines established in this document.

Format and Quality Standards
Text (use our Word template):

Paragraphs must be double spaced.
Times New Roman, 12 point font.
Citations should be in-line and all references given in APA format at the end.
Needs to be geared towards the audience specified in the course proposal form.
Must be free of excessive grammar and spelling errors
No more than 33% of test questions may be true/false
Test questions should have 4 choices with only one correct answer

Test question answers may not be in the form of “all of the above”, “none of the above” or “A and B only”.

Test question answers should not be included in other test questions.
Test questions must be submitted in csv. Spreadsheet format – see template.
Learning objectives should be clear, concise, and appropriate to materials covered and included in the course.

PowerPoints (use our template):

All text should be no smaller than 24 points
Text must be Times New Roman, Arial, or Tahoma.
Videos and other included multimedia should be contained in an appropriately labeled subfolder and included with PowerPoint presentation.
References should be included on slides at the end, in APA format. Text on these slides may be 12 point, at instructor’s discretion.
If course is submitted ONLY in PowerPoint format, or PowerPoint slides make up the bulk of course content, then slides MUST be written in complete sentences and include in-text citations.

Video:

Video must be provided in no less than 640x480 pixels size.
Video must be 29 or 30 frames per second.
Video must not need sound quality corrected
Video must not need light quality corrected
Video must not contain excessive “blank space” – it will be counted to the total number of minutes the speaker is speaking or the action is being demonstrated (usable video).
Video should be in mpeg format or wmv format.

.MOV and .SWF files will not be accepted!!

Must be submitted with corresponding appropriate model, property, and copyright releases! (if applicable)

Images

Images must be no smaller than 1800 x 2550 pixels in size, printing clearly at 6 inches by 8.5 inches.
Must be at the standard resolution of 300 dpi. (default for most cameras and digital editing programs)
Images must be relevant to the course
Images must not need cropping
Images and graphics, if linear (ie, a line graph), need to be atleast 3 points wide.
Must be submitted with corresponding appropriate model, property, and copyright releases! (if applicable)

Development Guidelines:
Citation style:
We follow the APA guidelines as elaborated upon in “The Owl” at Purdue (n.d.). Below are the essentials:
“Create your list of references on its own page after the last page of your text. Center the title References one inch from the top of the page. Double spaced. Alphabetize the list of references by the last name of the authors. If the work has no author or editor, alphabetize the work by the first word of the title (excluding A, An, or The)…
When using APA format, follow the author-date method of in-text citation. This means that the author's last name and the year of publication for the source should appear in the text, E.g., (Jones, 1998), and a complete reference should appear in the reference list at the end of the paper.”
Writing Learning Objectives and Test Questions
Learning objectives should be clear and concise. They should clearly state what is expected for the student to know at the conclusion of the course.
Objectives should match test questions, and visa versa.
Good Learning Objective: Recall the capitals of all Western European Countries.
Good Test Question: Name the capitals of France, England and Germany.
Clear action words should be used when writing objectives. Try to use words such as: Recognize, construct, evaluate, articulate, develop, describe, define…
On writing multiple choice test questions, The Office of Instructional Improvement at Renton Technical College (n.d.) states:
“These consist of the stem (or prompt or cue) which presents a problem, and several response options (usually 3 or 5), which follow. One of the options is correct or clearly the best answer. The other options (distracters) are designed to be attractive to the uninformed.
Avoid the tendency to make the correct answer longer than the distracters.
Using the same or similar words in both the stem and the correct answer can give away the answer.
Beware of grammatical giveaways. For example, if the stem ends with the word “an” and only one or two options begin with a vowel, then the student can easily eliminate the distractors.
Alert students can detect any tendency to prefer certain response options. For example, students may learn that option “c” is most often correct or that option “a” is seldom correct.
Avoid “None of the above,” “Some of the above,” “All of the above,” phrases which usually scream out that they are the correct answer.
Order the response choices alphabetically, dates chronologically, formulas in terms of complexity. This logical sequence will help students locate choices.”
We require multiple choice questions with four (4) possible answers. True/False questions are also allowed, but for no more than 33% or 1/3 of test questions.
Explains The Office of Instructional Improvement at Renton Technical College (n.d.) on writing True/False test questions:
“· Base the item on a single idea.
· Write items that test an important idea
· Avoid lifting statements right from the textbook.
· Make the questions a brief as possible
· Write clearly true or clearly false statements. Write them in pairs: one “true” and one “false” version and choose one to keep balance on the test.
· Eliminate giveaways:
Keep true and false statements approximately equal in length
Make half the statements true and half false.
Try to avoid such words as “all,” “always,” “never,” “only,” “nothing,” and “alone.” Students know these words usually signify false statements.
· Beware of words denoting indefinite degree. The use of words like “more,” “less,” “important,” “unimportant,” “large,” “small,” “recent,” “old,” “tall,” “great,” and so on, can easily lead to ambiguity.
· State items positively. Negative statements may be difficult to interpret. This is especially true of statements using the double negative. If a negative word, such as “not” or “never,” is used, be sure to underline or capitalize it.
· Beware of detectable answer patterns. Students can pick out patterns such as (TTTTFFFF) which might be designed to make scoring easier.”

Sample Course Organization
I.          INTRODUCTION
II.         SYLLABUS
III.       INSTRUCTOR BIOGRAPHY
IV.       COURSE OUTLINE
UNIT 1
            Unit description
            Unit Learning Objectives
            Unit Workbook/Study guide (Word document)
            Accompanying PowerPoint slides
            Video and other multimedia
            Additional readings (in bibliography form)
            Additional web recourses (as hyperlinks in a list)
Assessment quiz
UNIT 2
            Unit description
            Unit Learning Objectives
            Unit Workbook/Study guide (Word document)
            Accompanying PowerPoint slides
Video and other multimedia
            Additional readings (in bibliography form)
            Additional web recourses (as hyperlinks in a list)
Assessment quiz
As so on as necessary
V.        EXAM
VI.       CONTACT US

Ideally the student should end up with a complete binder of information – an entire workbook/study guide, all of the appropriate slides and additional resources to refer to later.

Basics of Photography and Videography
It is much easier to shoot good quality video to begin with, than to fix low quality results.
We prefer audiovisual submissions to be in the original format, as in the original mini-dv tape or the original photographic image, but this is not required as long as video content is clear at at least a 640x480 pixel screen size and is in either Windows Media (WMV) format or Moving Pictures Expert Group (MPEG) format and images are no smaller than 1800 x 2550 pixels.
Sound quality can be hard to ascertain when you are recording. For this reason, we recommend testing before you begin shooting. It is better to record it too loud, than too softly! Usually, in home studio situations, using the video camera’s built in microphone or an inexpensive computer microphone, getting great sound quality is easy and not an issue to worry about. However, make sure that all fans, air conditioners, and other noise distractions are turned off.
It is also best to take pictures and video with non- distracting backgrounds. If you cannot find a “blank” wall, then a bed sheet or curtain can be pinned up to create a plain background.
You can use a tripod to rest your camera on, and this is recommended to avoid “camera shake”.
Lighting is a vital part of producing high quality images, and we do not accept images or video which are blurry or of poor quality.
You do not need high quality equipment, and can produce quality results with the floor lamps you have around the home. If you only have one light, it should be positioned behind the camera and shining on the subject’s face.
Lighting diagrams and instructions from the Participatory Culture Foundation site Makeinternettv.org:

Three Point Lighting
This is the classic formula for lighting a scene, and has been used for many years in both film and photography. Three point lighting generally consists of a key light, a fill light and a back light.
We present this as a suggestion, but not as a rule -- it is important to be flexible, and trust your eyes. Furthermore, don't feel limited to using only three lights (try one, two or five).

Key Lighting:
This light is pointed directly at the subject, and sets the stage for the rest of the lighting. However, it generally casts noticeable shadows, and may need to be balanced out by the other lights.

Fill Light:
This light is generally used to illuminate the background, and wash away any overly harsh shadows that the key light produces. It is generally diffuse and can be very bright. Both fill and back light are often provided by reflectors.

Back Light:
This adds definition to your subject, by shining from the back. Depending on the intensity of this light, the effect can be subtle or dramatic.

References
APA Formatting and Style Guide (n.d.). APA Formatting and Style
   Guide - The OWL at Purdue. Retrieved November 5, 2024 from
   Purdue, The OWL Web site:
   http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/
Instructional Assessment Resources (2007). IAR: Assess Students-
   Writing Learning Objectives. Retrieved November 6, 2024 from
   University of Texas at Austin, IAR, Instructional Assessment
   Resources Web site:
   http://www.utexas.edu/academic/diia/assessment/iar/students/plan/objectives/
MakeInternet TV.org (2007). A Few Basics of Lighting. Retrieved
   November 6, 2024 from Participatory Culture Foundation, Make
   Internet TV Web site: http://makeinternettv.org/shoot/lighting.html

Overview of Copyrights, Plagiarism, and image theft:
Plagiarism is the act of stealing other writers’ ideas or language. Copyright laws define plagiarism, image misuse, and other forms of artistic theft. (Plagiarism, n.d.; Copyright, n.d.).
According to the Copyright Act of 1976 (Title 17, Chapter 1, 102.), such works include:
“(1) literary works;
(2) Musical works, including any accompanying words;
(3) Dramatic works, including any accompanying music;
(4) Pantomimes and choreographic works;
(5) Pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works;
(6) Motion pictures and other audiovisual works;
(7) Sound recordings; and
(8) Architectural works.”
Under these definitions, even clipart can fall under such protection.
States The Copyright Site:
“The makers of clip art packages typically copyright their work. The version you purchase may or may not come with a distribution agreement that licenses you to distribute it within certain situations. It is recommended that you read over the agreement in order to fully understand what the limitations of using that clip art package might be. There are plenty of freeware clip art sites on the Internet that you should be able to use freely, without copyright concerns.”
This is why Management Executives Inc. (MEI) requires releases and permissions on all third-party content included in all submissions.
As a publishing organization responsible for such images and following the examples set forth by other such organizations, MEI requires image releases for all persons recognizable in images we publish or republish. Sample model release forms and resources are found in the appendixes of this publication. Also in compliance with such laws, MEI requires copies of all permissions related to graphs, clipart, photos inside recognizable buildings, and other such creations.
Sample Permissions:
Below is a permission form which MEI requires (modified from the sample letter on Purdue’s Copyright Management Center website). It is included in this packet as a separate sheet so that you can make copies.
[Date]
[Letterhead or Return address]
[Rights holder name and address]
Dear [Sir or Madam] [Permissions Editor] [Personal name, if known]:
I am in the process of creating [Describe project]. I would like your permission to include the following material with this [Project]:
[Citation with source information]
The [Project] will be sold as education material by Management Executives Incorporated and its affiliated associations (including The American College of Forensic Examiners, American Association of Integrative Medicine, and The American Psychotherapy Association).
If you do not control the copyright on all of the above mentioned material, I would appreciate any contact information you can give me regarding the proper rights holder(s), including current address(es). Otherwise, your permission confirms that you hold the right to grant the permission requested here.
Permission includes non-exclusive world rights in all languages to use the material and will not limit any future publications-including future editions and revisions-by you or others authorized by you.
I would greatly appreciate your consent to my request. If you require any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me. I can be reached at:
[Your contact information]
A duplicate copy of this request has been provided for your records. If you agree with the terms as described above, please sign the release form below and send one copy with the self-addressed return envelope I have provided.
Sincerely,
[Signature]
[Typed name]
Permission granted for the use of the material as described above:

Agreed to: _____________________ Name & Title: _______________________
Company/Affiliation: __________________ Date:_________________________

Model Releases:
Below is a sample adult and child model release which MEI requires. This is a standard unlimited model release which is used widely by other agencies and individuals. As with the permissions form, these releases are also on separate sheets so that you can make copies:

Adult Model Release

In consideration of my engagement as a model, upon the terms herewith stated, I hereby give to photographer’s name goes here his/her heirs, legal representatives and assigns, those for whom photographer’s name goes here is acting, and those acting with his/her authority and permission:
a) the unrestricted right and permission to copyright and use, re-use, publish, and republish photographic portraits or pictures of me or in which I may be included intact or in part, composite or distorted in character or form, without restriction as to changes or transformations in conjunction with my own or a fictitious name, or reproduction hereof in color or otherwise, made through any and all media now or hereafter known for illustration, art, promotion, advertising, trade, or any other purpose whatsoever.
b) I also permit the use of any printed material in connection therewith.
c) I hereby relinquish any right that I may have to examine or approve the completed product or products or the advertising copy or printed matter that may be used in conjunction therewith or the use to which it may be applied.
d) I hereby release, discharge and agree to save harmless [photographer], his/her heirs, legal representatives or assigns, and all persons functioning under his/her permission or authority, or those for whom he/she is functioning, from any liability by virtue of any blurring, distortion, alteration, optical illusion, or use in composite form whether intentional or otherwise, that may occur or be produced in the taking of said picture or in any subsequent processing thereof, as well as any publication thereof, including without limitation any claims for libel or invasion of privacy.
e) I hereby affirm that I am over the age of majority and have the right to contract in my own name. I have read the above authorization, release and agreement, prior to its execution; I fully understand the contents thereof. This agreement shall be binding upon me and my heirs, legal representatives and assigns.
Dated: _____________________________________
Signed:_____________________________________
Address:____________________________________
City:_______________________________________
State/Zip:____________________________________
Phone:______________________________________
Witness:_____________________________________

Minor Model Release

For valuable consideration, I hereby confer on photographer’s name goes here the absolute and irrevocable right and permission with respect to the photographs that he/she has taken of my minor child in which he/she may be included with others:
a) To copyright the same in photographer’s name goes here name or any other name that he/she may select;
b) To use, re-use, publish and re-publish the same in whole or in part, separately or in conjunction with other photographs, in any medium now or hereafter known, and for any purpose whatsoever, including (but not by way of limitation) illustration, promotion, advertising and trade, and;
c) To use my name or my child’s name in connection therewith if he/she so decides.
I hereby release and discharge photographer’s name goes here from all and any claims and demands ensuing from or in connection with the use of the photographs, including any and all claims for libel and invasion of privacy.
This authorization and release shall inure to the benefit of the legal representatives, licensees and assigns of photographer photographer’s name goes here as well as the person(s) for whom he/she took the photographs.
I have read the foregoing and fully understand the contents hereof. I represent that I am the [parent/guardian] of the above named model. For value received, I hereby consent to the foregoing on his/her behalf.
Dated: _______________________________________
Minor's Name:__________________________________
Parent or Guardian:_______________________________
Address:______________________________________
City:__________________________________________
State/Zip:______________________________________
Phone:________________________________________
Witness:_______________________________________

Property Releases:
The sample release below comes from Stanford University’s Copyright and Fair Use website, and can be found in this packet on its own page for you to copy. Property releases are required by MEI when images and video are of non-public property, especially that which is closely linked and might identify an individual.
Property Release Agreement
The Property: __________________________________________________________________
Grant
For consideration which I acknowledge, I irrevocably grant to _______________________________________ ("Company") and Company's assigns, licensees and successors the right to enter onto the property listed above and to photograph, copy, publish, display and use images of the property in all forms and media including composite or modified representations throughout the world and in perpetuity for the following purposes: ____________________________________
I waive the right to inspect or approve the manner in which the images of the property are used and waive the right to inspect any text that is used in connection with the images of the property.
Dates of Use
Company shall enter onto the property on the following dates and times: ______________________________
In consideration for the rights granted under this Agreement, Company shall pay me $____________________ upon execution of this Agreement.
Company is not obligated to utilize any of the rights granted in this Agreement.
Warranty, Indemnity & Release I warrant that I am the owner of the property and have the authority to grant the rights under this agreement and agree to indemnify Company from any claims regarding my ownership of the property. I release Company and Company's assigns, licensees and successors from any claims that may arise regarding the use of the images of the property.
I have read and understood this agreement. This Agreement expresses the complete understanding of the parties.
Owner's Signature: __________________________________________________________________
Owner's Name: __________________________________________________________________
Owner's Address: __________________________________________________________________
Date: __________________________________________________________________

References:
Copyright. (n.d.). The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. Retrieved October 24, 2024, from Dictionary.com website:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/copyright

Copyright and Fair Use (n.d.). Interview and Property Releases.
   Retrieved November 1, 2024 from Stanford University, Stanford
   University Library Web site:
   http://fairuse.stanford.edu/Copyright_and_Fair_Use_Overview/chapter12/12-d.html

Copyright Management Center (n.d.). General Permission Letter -
   Model. Retrieved November 1, 2024 from Indiana University,
   Purdue University at Indianapolis Web site:
   http://www.copyright.iupui.edu/pgeneral.htm

Heller, D. (n.d.). Model Release Primer. Retrieved October 24,
2024 from Dan Heller Photography, Photography Business Topics Web
site: http://www.danheller.com/model-release-primer

Plagiarism. (n.d.). The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. Retrieved October 24, 2024, from Dictionary.com website:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/plagiarism

The Copyright Site (n.d.). FAQ. Retrieved October 24, 2024 from
University of Alabama, The Copyright Site Web site:
http://www.thecopyrightsite.org/faq.html

U.S. Code Title 17 (n.d.). US Code: Title 17- Copyrights.
   Retrieved October 24, 2024 from Cornell University, Law School Web
   site:
   http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode17/usc_sup_01_17.html

Resources and Sample Documents

http://www.oslis.org/APACitations/

APA Style

Oregon School Library APA Citation Maker

http://www.stylewizard.com/apa5/apawiz.html

APA Style

StyleWizard for creating APA Citations

http://copyright.iupui.edu/

Purdue University’s Copyright Management Center

http://fairuse.stanford.edu/Copyright_and_Fair_Use_Overview/

Stanford University’s Copyright and Fair Use Overview

http://www.copyright.gov/

US Copyright Office

http://www.utexas.edu/academic/diia/assessment/iar/students/?step=plan

Course Planning

Instructional Educational Resources - Planning Assessments

http://apha.confex.com/apha/learningobjectives.htm

Course Planning

Guidelines for Writing Learning Objectives

http://www.park.edu/cetl/quicktips/writinglearningobj.html

Course Planning

Writing Quality Learning Objectives, from Park University

http://makeinternettv.org/

Images/Video

This guide has step-by-step instructions for shooting, editing, and publishing online videos that can be watched and subscribed to by millions of people.

http://directory.fsf.org

Free Software Directory - useful and completely free software

http://www.archive.org/

Archive.org - A Multimedia Public Library, with a lot of public domain images, sounds, and video.

http://www.bigstockphoto.com/usage.html

Releases

Big Stock Photo’s Image Use Statements:

http://www.bigstockphoto.com/model-release.pdf

Releases

Big Stock Photo’s Model Release:

http://www.danheller.com/model-release-primer

Releases

Dan Heller’s Model Release Primer

http://www.danheller.com/images/FAQ/Business/model-release.gif

Releases

Dan Heller’s Sample Model Release

Permissions Letter
[Date]
[Letterhead or Return address]
[Rights holder name and address]
Dear [Sir or Madam] [Permissions Editor] [Personal name, if known]:
I am in the process of creating [Describe project]. I would like your permission to include the following material with this [Project]:
[Citation with source information]
The [Project] will be sold as education material by Management Executives and its affiliated associations (including The American College of Forensic Examiners, American Association of Integrative Medicine, and The American Psychotherapy Association).
If you do not control the copyright on all of the above mentioned material, I would appreciate any contact information you can give me regarding the proper rights holder(s), including current address(es). Otherwise, your permission confirms that you hold the right to grant the permission requested here.
Permission includes non-exclusive world rights in all languages to use the material and will not limit any future publications-including future editions and revisions-by you or others authorized by you.
I would greatly appreciate your consent to my request. If you require any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me. I can be reached at:
[Your contact information]
A duplicate copy of this request has been provided for your records. If you agree with the terms as described above, please sign the release form below and send one copy with the self-addressed return envelope I have provided.
Sincerely,
[Signature]
[Typed name]

Adult Model Release
In consideration of my engagement as a model, upon the terms herewith stated, I hereby give to photographer’s name goes here his/her heirs, legal representatives and assigns, those for whom photographer’s name goes here is acting, and those acting with his/her authority and permission:
a) the unrestricted right and permission to copyright and use, re-use, publish, and republish photographic portraits or pictures of me or in which I may be included intact or in part, composite or distorted in character or form, without restriction as to changes or transformations in conjunction with my own or a fictitious name, or reproduction hereof in color or otherwise, made through any and all media now or hereafter known for illustration, art, promotion, advertising, trade, or any other purpose whatsoever.
b) I also permit the use of any printed material in connection therewith.
c) I hereby relinquish any right that I may have to examine or approve the completed product or products or the advertising copy or printed matter that may be used in conjunction therewith or the use to which it may be applied.
d) I hereby release, discharge and agree to save harmless [photographer], his/her heirs, legal representatives or assigns, and all persons functioning under his/her permission or authority, or those for whom he/she is functioning, from any liability by virtue of any blurring, distortion, alteration, optical illusion, or use in composite form whether intentional or otherwise, that may occur or be produced in the taking of said picture or in any subsequent processing thereof, as well as any publication thereof, including without limitation any claims for libel or invasion of privacy.
e) I hereby affirm that I am over the age of majority and have the right to contract in my own name. I have read the above authorization, release and agreement, prior to its execution; I fully understand the contents thereof. This agreement shall be binding upon me and my heirs, legal representatives and assigns.
Dated: _____________________________________
Signed:_____________________________________
Address:____________________________________
City:_______________________________________
State/Zip:____________________________________
Phone:______________________________________
Witness:_____________________________________

Minor Model Release

Property Release Agreement
The Property: ________________________________________________________________________
Grant
For consideration which I acknowledge, I irrevocably grant to _______________________________________ ("Company") and Company's assigns, licensees and successors the right to enter onto the property listed above and to photograph, copy, publish, display and use images of the property in all forms and media including composite or modified representations throughout the world and in perpetuity for the following purposes: ____________________________________
I waive the right to inspect or approve the manner in which the images of the property are used and waive the right to inspect any text that is used in connection with the images of the property.
Dates of Use
Company shall enter onto the property on the following dates and times: ______________________________
In consideration for the rights granted under this Agreement, Company shall pay me $____________________ upon execution of this Agreement.
Company is not obligated to utilize any of the rights granted in this Agreement.
Warranty, Indemnity & Release I warrant that I am the owner of the property and have the authority to grant the rights under this agreement and agree to indemnify Company from any claims regarding my ownership of the property. I release Company and Company's assigns, licensees and successors from any claims that may arise regarding the use of the images of the property.
I have read and understood this agreement. This Agreement expresses the complete understanding of the parties.
Owner's Signature: ______________________________________________________________________
Owner's Name: ________________________________________________________________________
Owner's Address: _______________________________________________________________________
Date: ________________________________________________________________________

Test Question Format (see digital version in xls format):

Question	Question	A1	A2	A3	A4	Correct
1	What is this?	This	That	Who	What	A4
2

Word Template is in digital format.

Affidavit of Agreement
I _______________________ have read this document and understand the concepts presented within.
I agree to conform to the guidelines included in this packet to the best of my ability. I understand that Management Executives does its best to prevent plagiarism and image misuse; and that submitting such without proper citations or releases may result in a breach of contract for writing this course.
Furthermore, I understand the basic test writing and course development standards contained within, and acknowledge that submitting such which does not conform to these recommendations may result in my work getting rejected or sent back to me for correction.
I agree to only submit such a course as which is quality content, and meets the minimal criteria defined in this Course Submission Guidelines material.

_________________________________________ ____________

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