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Planning a Course

Planning Your Course

L. Dee Fink, University of Oklahoma

  1. Where are you?
    Size up the Situation.

    • What kinds of students enroll in this course? (number, prior knowledge and experience…)
    • What role does this course play in the overall educational experience of the students who take it? (GE, elective, required…)
  2. Where do you want to go?
    Identify 3-5 General Goals for the Course.

    • What do you want students to be able to DO, once the course is over?
    • What would students have to KNOW in order to do the items listed above?
  3. How would you know if they got there?
    Determine how you will assess student learning and achievement.

    • FOR EACH GOAL specified above, what information can you gather that shows how well the goal was achieved for each student individually? For the class as a whole?
    • For which goals are multiple-choice exams sufficient? Essay exams?…

For further information on planning your course, see the complete document.

More resources to help you plan your course.

Creating a Syllabus. Resources and guidelines for creating an effective syllabus.

Multiple-Choice Rules. Rules for writing effective multiple-choice tests.

Education for Eternity. Resources addressing the relationship between academic education and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Session Development: a Step-by-Step Approach (PDF). Dr. Leora Baron, University of Nevada
Planning and prioritizing are two activities that can bring several levels of tangible results to the teaching/learning environment. Dr. Baron offers an 8-step method which includes the focus of the session, the scope of content, and the desired learning outcomes.

University Policies and Procedures. Information on important topics such as: students with disabilities, sexual harassment, the honor code, the Counseling Center, and the Copyright and Licensing Office.