Course Planning: The second phase of course design and ...



IntroductionTo guide your course design, start with a plan in the form of a course map. A course map consists of the major interrelated blocks of the course, including course goals, unit objectives, major learning activities, and corresponding assessments.Set Course GoalsA course goal is a high-level objective to be realized by students over time in a course. Such goals are usually broadly defined, using words like “understand,” “know,” “obtain,” “apply.”If you are transforming an existing face-to-face course to an online version, take some time to reexamine the course goals and make sure they are still valid in the online environment. Here is an example of course goal from a Marketing course.Create Unit Learning ObjectivesWe can use the term “unit” to describe self-contained group of learning elements. Units may span one or more weeks depending on the amount of content being delivered.Unit learning objectives are smaller steps needed to reach the larger course goals. They should follow the "S.M.A.R.T." format; to be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and targeted to the audience and desired level of learning. It’s common to have three to five objectives for each unit.Here is an example of a course goal and related unit learning objectives.Goal: Students will apply theories of consumer behavior to determine marketing strategies.Related Unit Objectives:Student will identify the processes consumers use when making purchase decisions.Student will analyze personal and interpersonal influences on consumer behavior.Develop AssessmentsAssessments are tools used to evaluate student learning outcomes and their attainment of unit objectives. The choice of assessment depends primarily on the nature of the knowledge to be evaluated. For instance, if factual knowledge is to be assessed, then a timed quiz may be appropriate; to assess the application of theory, a case study or a project may be a better choice. Example of an assessment: Apply principles of consumer behavior by creating a strategic marketing plan for a local business. Learn more about creating effective assessments:Online Assessment Strategies (PDF)Course Assessment Practices and Student Learning Strategies in Online Courses (PDF)Choose Learning ActivitiesLearning activities give students opportunities to practice skills and apply concepts prior to formal assessment. Learning activities should provide opportunities for feedback so learners can an recognize and bridge any gaps in learning before they proceed to assessments. Learning activities may not contribute directly to student grades. Online instructors should consider incorporating varied activities into a course to enhance student learning (see Figure 3 for examples). Participating in varied activities can stimulate students’ interest, cater to distinct learning styles, and help students retain diverse types of knowledge and skillsHere is an example of a unit learning objectives and related learning activities.Unit Learning Objectives: Student will identify the processes consumers use when making purchase decisions.Students will analyze personal and interpersonal influences on consumer behavior.Learning Activities:Read textbook chapters and watch a video illustrating various consumer behavior principles.Journal about your own observations as a customer in a local store.In groups, discuss a case study.Putting it All TogetherAssessments are derived from and align with course goals, supported by unit objectives and learning activities. Course Goals are broadly definedExample: Students will apply theories of consumer behavior to determine marketing strategies.Unit Learning Objectives are S.M.A.R.TExamples: Student will identify the processes consumers use when making purchase decisions.Students will analyze personal and interpersonal influences on consumer behavior.Learning Activities will help students achieve unit objectives and course goals.Examples: Read textbook chapters and watch a video illustrating various consumer behavior principles.Journal about your own observations as a customer in a local store.In groups, discuss a case study.Assessments must measure the e learning outcome.Example: Apply principles of consumer behavior by creating a strategic marketing plan for a local business.Course Planning, April 2, 2018Faculty Academic Center of Excellence at Towson ? facet@towson.edu ? ? 2018 Towson University. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-NoDerivs License. ................
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