Alignment between assessments and desired learning outcomes is foundational if your assessments are to be valid. Just like in a research study where you want to make sure that your […]
The Teaching + Learning Team
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Develop or Revisit Learning Outcomes
Learning outcomes guide your course design. They are the destinations on your course map. Once you know where you’re going, the other questions, “How will I know when students got there?” […]
An Approachable Syllabus Writing Style
A syllabus serves many functions in a class. In The Course Syllabus: A Learning Centered Approach (2008, 2nd Ed.) Judith Grunert O’Brien, Barbara J. Millis and Margaret W. Cohen identify at least […]
The Purpose and Structure of a Syllabus
A syllabus is both a map of your course and an agreement between you and your students. It’s a resource that you will likely refer students to throughout the course. […]
Connect Learning Outcomes and Backward Design
Compare Learning Outcome Models Wiggins and McTighe’s (2005) backward design model “Understanding by Design” also includes a taxonomy that integrates cognitive, affective, and metacognitive components. Their Facets of Understanding are also non-hierarchical and indicate […]
Communicating Your Plan and Intentions
For a student, the beginning of a new semester can be both exciting to start fresh and frightening to not know what you’re getting yourself into. Students can be overwhelmed going into […]
Structure Your Course
If you’re to the putting it together stage we’re going to presume you already have the following: Clear and measurable learning outcomes Assessments that can show to what extent your students have met the […]
Explore Backward Design
Backward design is a very useful model for designing courses for face-to-face, hybrid. or online settings. Wiggins and McTighe, in their book Understanding by Design (2nd Ed., 2005), describe the three […]
Design for Accessibility
In the context of your courses, accessibility means making it possible for all students, regardless of physical or developmental impairment, to use all course materials and tools. A course is […]
Maximize Usability and Findability
Usability, findability, and visual design are critical aspects of the way your students experience your course. A good student experience requires a functional and usable course. A great student experience […]