First steps

1. Define the Intended Learning Outcomes for the course:

Define the Intended Learning Outcomes for the course: what should your students be able to do at the end of the course?

This is the starting point for designing your course: if defined correctly, the Intended Learning Outcomes will help you make decisions in the detailed design phase.

MEMO:
Here's how you can formulate a useful ILO for design:
At the end of the course, the student will be able to
+ a verb (the expected action)
+ an object (the object of the action)
+ the context (in what context students are expected to perform the action).
Ex: The student will be able to argue the different causes behind World War I in a discussion conducted in small groups in front of students in the course

2. Organize the content

How do you organize the content/topics you cover within the course?

Take advantage of the Week and Description column of the SLD(25) Table to enter the content you will cover each week (even as a summary title).

MEMO:
The board is organized into 13 weeks (about a college semester).
Use the weeks you need and fill it in as you see fit.

3. Identify the key learning type for each piece of content

What type of learning should your students achieve for each content/topic you have listed?

For each content/topic, define the verb related to the Bloom's Taxonomy.

MEMO:
What should students be able to do with that content? Describe, apply, choose, evaluate…Take a clue from  this table to define the most appropriate verb.

4. Define the “macro” evaluation strategy

What is your assessment strategy? Is it aligned with the Intended Learning Outcomes (does it follow Biggs' “Constructive Alignment” rule)?

Focus on the assessment and summarize it on a sheet of paper.

MEMO:
Biggs' Constructive Alignment involves alignment between the Intended Learning Outcomes, the Assessment and the teaching-learning activity.

5. Define the goal of your (re)design.

Do you need to design a new course? or do you want to redesign a course that you have been teaching for a long time?

Write down what goal you set for your course (re)design.
Write it on a post-it note and attach it to the board.

MEMO:
Here are some ideas to start with:
Do you want to move part of the course online?
Do you want to make the course more engaging for your students?
Do you want your students to be better prepared for the exam and want to help them?