On-demand, online, or in-person course design support!
Do you have a new course coming up, or want to revamp one of your existing courses? Our popular course design offerings will equip you to apply learning-centered course design principles and strategies.
Our course design offerings are now available in three formats to suit different schedules and approaches to learning. Choose the format that works best for you now or try a different format each time you are planning a course. Compare all three formats.
A learning-centered approach
Our approach to course design has student learning at the centre and recognizes that course context has bearing on course design decisions. With context in mind, instructors are encouraged to think about what content students will engage with, what the learning outcomes should be, what assessments will capture students' achievement of the learning outcomes, and what teaching strategies will be used to engage students in working toward the achievement of the learning outcomes.
Learning outcomes, assessment strategies, and teaching strategies must be aligned.
> Learn more about learning-centered course design.
Comparison table
| Just-in-Time Course Design | Course Design Essentials | Course Design Workshop | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Online | Online | In person |
| Availability | Year round | December | May |
|
Time commitment (reflects time for participating in offering; time for reflection and individual work is additional) |
~3 hours to complete online modules |
3 webinars of 90 min. each |
2 days of “class” time |
| Output | Course Alignment Plan | Course Alignment Plan | Course Plan |
| Networking | x | x | ✔ |
| Peer feedback | x | x | ✔ |
| Lunch included | x | x | ✔ |
| Supplementary resources available (myCourses) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Follow up support | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| For more info and to register |
Frequently asked questions
Which course design offering should I take part in?
You can access our course design offerings in three different formats:
- Just-in-Time Course Design: A self-paced option in myCourses (available anytime)
- Course Design Essentials: A fast-track webinar series (usually offered at the end of the Fall term)
- Course Design Workshop: A two-day in-person workshop (usually offered at the end of the Winter term)
The offering you decide to attend might depend on the date by which you need to design your course, the amount of time you have available, and the amount of support you need. You can find a comparison of the three offerings in this table.
Can I take the course design offerings more than once?
Absolutely! We invite you to take part in a course design offering each time you (re)design a course.
What is the difference between a Course Alignment Plan and a Course Plan?
A Course Alignment Plan (CAP) is a template designed to help you map out your course so that you have a guide for continuing your course design. Once you have filled it in, the CAP provides an overview of the alignment among course learning outcomes, assessments, and teaching strategies. A CAP is the main output of Just-in-Time Course Design and Course Design Essentials.
A Course Plan is a more in-depth planning document that you create to help develop your course outline. A Course Plan is the main output of the Course Design Workshop.
Can I take part in a course design offering even I do not have a specific course to design?
Course design is most valuable when the principles and strategies can be applied. For the Course Design Workshop, it is essential that you identify a specific course to work on during the workshop. For our other (self-paced and online) offerings, it is recommended you work on designing a specific course, but it is not required.
Can I take part in a course design offering if I am a teaching assistant?
Our course design offerings are designed for instructors. Teaching assistants can take part in our TA training at the beginning of each term.
Can I take part in a course design offering if I'm not teaching a course at McGill?
Sorry - no. Our course design offerings are designed for McGill instructors teaching courses for McGill students. Resources are freely available in the Teaching and Learning Knowledge Base for those who wish to learn more about learning-centered approaches to teaching.
What if I need more support to design or teach a course?
McGill instructors can book a consultation for additional support related to teaching and learning at McGill.
