Course design is one of our main tasks as instructors. After all, this is how all courses start: at the drawing board. But so many times, because of time pressure or the need to prioritize other commitments, this very important stage in the teaching and learning process is overlooked, ticked off the list with a superficial look at last year’s syllabus in the hope that we’ll finally have more time for this soon. Sounds familiar? Then this workshop might be just what you need to get a quick boost of confidence and a few easy to implement tips for (re)designing your next course.
We will use the “design thinking” method to reevaluate the learning design process. Why? Because instinctively we know we want to put students at the centre but sometimes we just don’t know how. Design thinking is a human- centred design method that provides a well-structured path for creating activities and experiences focused on the user (in this case, the learner). More specifically, we will use UX (user experience) design elements to equip you with the right tools for creating engaging and effective learning experiences inside and beyond the classroom.
Setup
Timeframe: 90 min
The workshop will start with a short introduction of the main design thinking and UX design principles and some ideas on how they apply to learning design. (20 min)
Then participants will be split in groups and will work on designing their own courses based on templates and materials provided. Some of the elements they will concentrate on in building their courses are user research, information architecture and interaction design.
To finish with, each group will visualize the “learner’s journey” through their course. (30 min)
In the last part of the workshop each group will present the learning experience they designed and explain the choices they made. (depending on the number of groups- 30 min)
The workshop will end with a discussion on the various designs and a reflection on the process. (10 min)
Outcome: Participants will come out of the workshop with at least one course design idea they can adapt and implement in their teaching. They will also take away several templates and effective principles they can use in the future.
