Document Type
Case Study
Publication Date
12-4-2024
Keywords
program development, learning outcomes, program mapping, curriculum development, Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), assessment, quality assurance, Ontario colleges, backward design, evaluation matrices
Abstract
This case study explores the rapid development of post-secondary course outlines for a new four-year honours bachelor’s degree program at an Ontario college. The six-week process was structured around a collaborative approach to curriculum development, integrating principles of constructive alignment and backward design. Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), with varying levels of experience in curriculum design, participated in flipped learning and workshops that focused on crafting measurable learning outcomes, aligning assessments, and designing cohesive module topics.
Key strategies included the use of a program map to visually identify overlaps and gaps across courses, collaborative feedback sessions to refine course components, and tailored support to build SME capacity. The result was a comprehensive, scaffolded curriculum that aligned program and course-level learning outcomes, ensuring balanced and intentional student evaluations through an evaluation matrix. Insights from this initiative highlight the importance of alignment, visual planning tools, and differentiated support in achieving curriculum coherence. The study offers valuable guidance for curriculum developers and higher education institutions navigating similar challenges.
Faculty
The Sheridan Centre for Academic Excellence (SPARK)
Copyright
© Laura Edge
Terms of Use
Terms of Use for Works posted in SOURCE.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Original Publication Citation
Edge, L. (2024). Case Study: A Collaborative Approach to Rapid Course Development for Postsecondary Programs [Unpublished manuscript]. The Sheridan Centre for Academic Excellence. Sheridan College
SOURCE Citation
Edge, Laura, "Case Study: A Collaborative Approach to Rapid Course Development for Postsecondary Programs" (2024). Publications and Scholarship. 7.
https://source.sheridancollege.ca/ctl_publ/7
