Designing College Courses
Video Series
In today’s ever-evolving instructional climate, it is more important than ever to continually reflect on the design of our courses. As college instructors, we all want our students to learn and succeed in our courses. But how do we ensure that our courses are aligned with our learning goals, assessments, instructional strategies, and learning activities? This video series was created as a guide to support instructors as they reflect on the design of their courses, whether they be revisions or brand new creations. Backward Design is a framework for designing courses that starts with the end – the goals or outcomes you have for your students. This model will help you create courses that are focused on student learning and understanding, rather than on covering content or following a textbook. This approach shifts the focus from “What am I going to teach today?” to “What are students going to learn today?” It will also help you ensure that your courses are coherent, relevant, and engaging for your students.
How Will Course Design Help Me with AI?
Recent developments of artificial intelligence are causing college instructors to rethink course design. Clear learning outcomes that align with assessments, instructional strategies, and learning activities will help us determine which aspects of artificial intelligence can support our goals for students.
Introduction to Designing College Courses
This video introduces the Backward Design framework for designing college courses.
Designing College Courses: Identify the Desired Results
In the first stage of the Backward Design framework, instructors will learn to create clear, observable, and measurable course outcomes.
Designing College Courses: Determine the Acceptable Evidence
The second stage of the Backward Design framework helps instructors consider assessments that are authentic, varied, and aligned with course outcomes.
Designing College Courses: Plan Learning Experiences and Instruction
The third stage of the Backward Design framework encourages instructors to reflect on teaching strategies and learning activities that align with assessments and course outcomes.