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What goes into course development?

Course development is a process where the needs of the learning environment, based on learning objectives, disciplinary requirements, and the modality of delivery, are considered to determine what course materials, learning activities, and assessments are needed to create a dynamic learning environment that supports student success in meeting the outlines course objectives.

Why is it beneficial?

Course development is the foundation of creating a learning environment that supports students in engaging with disciplinary concepts and succeeding in being able to know and do whatever you have determined they need to know and do by the end of the course.

When course content is aligned to support course learning objectives, and the purpose of course activities and assignments is transparent, students are able to make connections to content in a powerful way.

Course design is equally important, where students are easily able to navigate where and how to access course materials and assignments. This is beneficial because it allows students to focus their time on engaging with your course content rather than trying to find it or understand who and how the content is being used to make disciplinary connections.

What are the challenges?

Course development needs to shift based on disciplinary context and the affordances of the course environment (in the classroom, online, or a mix of both). Intentional design of the students learning experience while being cognizant of the epistemological and pedagogical frameworks you're using to situate disciplinary content can be more time consuming than relying on a publisher to guide the student learning process through the textbook or courseware they provide. 

How can this be implemented?

Each course will have its own set of development needs. To design a course that is suited to the learning objectives you determine your students need to achieve, you can:

• Reach out to your Instructional Designer liaison to discuss options and strategies.
• Consider the types of engagement you can build into your course.
• Make sure your content and activities directly support your assessments, and that these assessments help measure the learning objective you identify for the course.
• Sign up for workshops and professional development opportunities, which you can find on the .
• Sign up for a .