Continuum College Instructor Resources

Course Development

When designing a course for a program, use the entire program outcomes and your course learning objectives as a starting point. Ask yourself the following questions:

  1. Who are my students?
    Think through your student’s motivations for taking the course, and the range of backgrounds represented in your class, visit the Adult Learners page. As you begin thinking about learning outcomes, also consider what you expect your students to know before the initial class and common issues students have with the material.
  2. What do I want students to be able to do at the end of this course?
    Answer this question as specifically as you can in terms that emphasize student abilities that you can easily measure. If you are teaching a course that is part of a certificate, be mindful of whether your course is the first or later in the sequence. It is important to understand the curriculum for the entire program so that you know what knowledge and skills the students bring to the course and those they should acquire during your course.
  3. What activities, assignments, and materials will support learning?
    Adult students should not sit through long three-hour lectures or receive any busy work. Rather, students should be given activities that improve their current knowledge and prepare them for new work. Aim to design activities relevant to the workplace and draw upon the experiences the students bring to the class. Select activities that support learning objectives, build upon each other, and keep activities varied to maintain engagement, visit the Active Learning page.
  4. How will I measure student progress and proficiency?
    What will provide you with reliable evidence during the course that your students are learning? What will provide you with reliable evidence at the end of the course that they have obtained the abilities you envisioned at the beginning of the course? Based on your learning objectives, choose the most fitting method of assessment (e.g. weekly quizzes, objective tests, presentations, performances, group or individual projects).

Course Developer Resources

Assessment Checklist for Course Developers

Curriculum Alignment

Backward Design

Visit the Canvas Resources Library for more information.

Videos

Curriculum Alignment (Video Length 1:46)

Alignment and Backward Design (Video Length 2:52)


Updated 02/16/2024