I always go to the Sloan reports as a source for reference to what is reported as working by different schools and students. This is a fun page there http://www.sloanconsortium.org/epview_institution Just scanning the titles gives me ideas and the level of information sharing is a testimony to real educators.
And this is a great article which does address design http://www.sloanconsortium.org/node/219
This one supports a template modal Providing Faculty with a Consistent Foundation, based on the Quality Matters™ Rubric, to develop On line Courses. http://www.sloanconsortium.org/node/1573