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Understanding Course Design
Start with the End in Mind
When building a course, it’s tempting to start by gathering interesting articles, videos, and activities. This approach feels productive, but it's like packing for a trip without knowing your destination. You might end up with a suitcase full of useful things, but they may not be right for where you're going.
A more effective approach is called backward design. The principle is simple: begin with the end goal. First, decide what you want students to know and be able to do by the end of the course. Everything else flows from that destination.
Backward design unfolds in three stages:
First, you identify desired results by creating clear, specific learning objectives. A weak objective might be "Students will learn about photosynthesis." A strong objective is "Students will be able to explain the roles of sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide in photosynthesis."
Second, you determine acceptable evidence of learning. How will students demonstrate they've met the objectives? This is where you design assessments. It could be a quiz, a project, a presentation, or an essay. The key is that the assessment must directly measure the objective.
Finally, you plan learning experiences and instruction. This is where you select readings, create activities, and design lectures. Because you already know the objective and how you'll measure it, you can choose instructional strategies that directly support that goal.
Create clear course goals, learning objectives, and assessment instructions to guide students through the learning process.
Mapping the Journey
Once you have your learning objectives and assessments, you need a way to organize them into a coherent whole. This process is called curriculum mapping.
A curriculum map is a visual blueprint for your course. It lays out the key components—like topics, objectives, assessments, and activities—and shows how they connect to each other over time. Think of it as a road map for learning. It ensures you're not taking random detours or skipping essential stops.
Mapping helps you see the big picture. It allows you to check for a logical flow, identify potential gaps in content, and remove redundant information. By mapping the curriculum, you ensure that every piece of content has a purpose and contributes directly to the course goals.
A good curriculum map guarantees that learning objectives, assessments, and instructional activities are aligned. They should work together like a three-legged stool; if one leg is shorter or missing, the whole structure becomes unstable.
Here is a simple example of what a curriculum map might look like for a single unit.
| Module | Learning Objective | Assessment | Instructional Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1: Introduction | Define the three core principles of backward design. | Multiple-choice quiz on key terms. | Read chapter 1; watch introductory video. |
| Week 2: Objectives | Write a measurable learning objective for a given topic. | Submit a written learning objective for peer review. | Analyze examples of strong vs. weak objectives. |
| Week 3: Alignment | Create a mini-curriculum map for a single lesson. | A one-page curriculum map submission. | Group discussion on aligning activities with assessments. |
This table makes it easy to see how each week's activities and assessments connect directly to a specific learning objective, ensuring the course is focused and efficient.
Let's check your understanding of these core design principles.
According to the principle of backward design, what is the first step you should take when creating a course?
Which of the following is the strongest and most effective learning objective?
By starting with your destination and mapping the route, you create a clear, purposeful learning path for your students.