Concepts in Course Design (CCD) is a self-paced course for instructors who want to design a new course, redesign, or update an existing course. By the end of CCD, new to experienced instructors in all disciplines have the opportunity for education, collaboration, and feedback to develop the best course possible. The course includes practical evidence-based resources, examples, and activities in: determining Course Objectives, writing student learning outcomes, deciding on forms of assessment, selecting course content, and choosing instructional strategies for your course.
Course Outline
Module 0: Introduction
Objective 1: Identify the purpose(s) of the course design resource
Objective 2: Outline the course design resource components
Objective 3: Identify additional teaching and learning supports available at CTL
Module 1: Alignment
Objective 1: Explain the role of organizing frameworks in the course design process
Objective 2: Create an organizing framework for a course based on an integrated topic hierarchy/knowledge, skill, and attitude approach (course design plan template)
Objective 3: Create an outline for your course including the university required elements
Module 2: Writing Course Objectives
Objective 1: Explain the role of organizing frameworks in the course design process
Objective 2: describe the characteristics of well written course objectives
Objective 3: write course objectives that identify major course themes and KSAs
Module 3: Writing Student Learning Outcomes
Objective 1: explain the relationship between course objectives, learning outcomes, and alignment
Objective 2: describe the characteristics of well written learning outcomes
Objective 3: write observable/measurable/specific learning outcomes for each module
Module 4: Deciding on Assessment Methods
Objective 1: identify the UofA guiding principles of assessment and their relationship to assessment planning
Objective 2: Describe methods of assessment instruments and their purpose(s)
Objective 3: Explain the relationship between assessment, student learning outcomes and instructional activity
Objective 4: Differentiate between formative and summative assessment
Objective 5: Outline the assessment plan for their course
Module 5: Selecting Readings and other Course Content
Objective 1: Determine the priorities in your course content
Objective 2: Select content resources that support students’ learning of the course content
Objective 3: Share course content in adherence to copyright
Objective 4: Recognize students’ common concerns about course content
Module 6: Instructional Strategies
Objective 1: explain the relationship between learning outcomes and instructional strategies
Objective 2: evaluate instructional strategies for use in your course
Objective 3: identify at least three types of instructional strategies to use in your course