Course Outline Design

Once you’ve selected your learning objectives, assessments, and instructional strategies, “the next task is to organize them into a coherent, dynamic whole.” Create a calendar sketching out course topics, sequence, and due-dates, then use that to create a course outline. As you design your outline, ask yourself:

• “How much time do you have to leave between assignments to avoid putting excessive pressure on students as well as to leave sufficient time for you to grade their work?
• “Do you want to scaffold assignments so the work from one can be applied to the next? How much time is needed in between to allow for students to incorporate any feedback they’ve received?” (Carnegie Mellon)

An effective course outline will:

• convey your enthusiasm for the topic and your expectations for the course, 
• show how this course fits into the broader context
• establish a contract with students by publicly stating policies, requirements, and procedures,
• set the tone for the course…
• help students assess their readiness for the course…
• help students manage their learning,
• communicate course goals and content to colleagues” (Carnegie Mellon).

There are certain required elements of a course outline that are outlined in section 4.0 of the Toronto Metropolitan University  (PDF file) Course Management Policy