Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe introduced this framework for approaching course development by first identifying desired outcomes then determining what evidence shows learners have achieved those outcomes and subsequently shaping instruction and planning learning experiences.
Course Design Institutes
Course Design Institutes
The Center for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment (CTLA) and the Office of Instructional Innovation (OII) collaborate to provide OHIO instructors with consistent opportunities to design new courses and re-envision current courses; explore the instructional strategies and content delivery, as well as modalities, that promote student success; and build in assessment practices to constantly improve courses, as well as student academic success and experience.
Instructors involved in Course Design Institutes (CDI) report one of the most significant benefits to participation is the time and space to reflect, consider, collaborate and build with their colleagues.
CDIs are flexible and may be used to support the design of experiential, online or STEM courses. Short sessions on backward design complement more immersive experiences.
Course Design Approaches
Several course design approaches inform OHIO’s CDIs, including backward design, significant learning and decoding the disciplines.
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Significant Learning
L. Dee Fink promotes the design of significant learning experiences when considering the goals and learning outcomes for courses.
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Decoding the Disciplines
Joan Middendorf and David Pace suggest instructors consider bottlenecks or points in a course where learners encounter the most difficulty or interruption. The design of instruction then involves considering expert skills and how best to transfer these skills to novices.
Offerings and Collaboration
CTLA and OII staff are happy to collaborate with colleges, departments and regional campuses to customize and deliver a CDI experience.
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CTLA CDIs, Programs and Events
The CTLA offers CDIs, programs and events regularly, with new opportunities added frequently. Check out the programs and events page for the most up-to-date offerings.
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Request a Consultation or CDI Collaboration
To request a course design consultation or to express interest in hosting or collaborating on a CDI, contact the CTLA.