Course Design
What is it?
Good course design helps students find what they need before class begins. To make your site easy to use you should welcome and orientate students, use a consistent structure new students can understand and chunk material so students can find the part they want faster.
Recent examples from Science and EAIT faculties
- AGRC3026 - use of video case studies within Blackboard
- MATH1040 - basic course design for internal and external students
- ENGG1200
A "Learning Pathway" provide students with a sequenced overview of learning resources related to key concepts, learning activities, support options, assessment and evaluation to help students to self-monitor how they progress towards achieving the learning outcomes designed for the course.
How does it work?
- Goals and objectives
- Goals and objectives are easily located within the course
- Course goals and objectives are explained clearly
- Objectives reflect desired learning outcomes
- Objectives are provided for specific units/modules of the course
- Content
- Content is provided in manageable segments
- Content is easily navigated; progression within units is intuitive or obvious
- Content is presented using a variety of media (e.g. text, visual, audio) as appropriate to the audience, learning goals, and subject
- Supplementary content materials are provided or suggested for further study
- Learner engagement
- Instructional strategies are designed to help students reach course goals and objectives
- Learners are provided clear guidance on how to use course content to achieve stated learning objectives
- Learning activities encourage higher order thinking (problem solving, analysis, critical reflection, etc.)
- Individualized learning experiences (e.g. remedial or advanced activities) are provided as needed
- Technology use
- Tools available within the LMS are used in ways that further student learning
- Arrangement of tools facilitates efficient learning experiences
- Innovative uses of tools or technologies enable students to learn in a variety of ways
More information
TEDI Educational Technologies. (2012). 7 elements of an effective course.
http://uqlearningdesign.wordpress.com/7-elements-of-an-effective-course/