Since 2016, the Center for Teaching’s Course Design Institute has helped University of Iowa faculty members with the design or redesign of their courses. Participants work side-by-side with their peers to find fresh ideas, inspiration, and new perspectives on instruction.
“I sought out the Course Design Institute as a systematic process to redesign courses,” says Jodi Linley, associate professor of higher education and student affairs at the College of Education, and a 2017 Course Design Institute alum. “The Course Design Institute provided the structure and community I needed.”
The Course Design Institute is a five-day workshop that provides instructors with the dedicated time needed to construct or revise a course. It also facilitates connections with colleagues across the university.
Course Design Institute participants engage in:
- Learning new strategies to redesign or restructure current and future courses,
- Using evidence-based frameworks to better align learning goals to assessment,
- Gaining fresh and valuable insights into a variety of teaching practices through interdisciplinary sharing and feedback, and
- Creating intentional, authentic learning activities and transparent course structures to increase student engagement.
The Course Design Institute focuses on practical and effective methods. The insights and strategies participants learn during the institute remain relevant beyond the workshop, becoming a foundation for continued growth and development for instructors.
“The most exciting part was working in a group atmosphere with Center for Teaching facilitators guiding the process with structured, helpful activities,” says Ebonee Johnson, assistant professor of community and behavioral health at the College of Public Health, and a 2023 Course Design Institute alum. “Each activity helped to scaffold the course development process, and it was great to get real-time feedback from peers.”
Instructors interested in participating must have DEO approval before they apply. Application review begins on Friday, March 27. The institute is scheduled from Monday, May 18, through Friday, May 20, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at the Main Library.