Intentional Course Design for Improved Teaching & Learning Data

Teaching and learning (T&L) data is an asset that can be used to allow educators to make informed decisions about curriculum design, student engagement, and instructional strategies. If accurate, accessible, and actionable, T&L data can support learning in a myriad of ways, engage instructors in continuous improvement practices, and enhance decision-making creating meaningful educational experiences.

Unfortunately, usable data does not just happen.  Intentional, proactive thought is necessary from early on in the course design stage to ensure meaningful data is generated during a course.  Luckily, there are some simple principles that can be adopted that have outsized impact. 

The usage and effectiveness of T&L data is closely tied to course design. This document outlines intentional course design practices aimed at maximizing the potential of teaching and learning data. It includes detailed scenarios where these practices can be applied and provides recommendations or resources for effective implementation.

It is important to remember that these recommendations are based solely on generating usable, impactful data. Instructors, instructional designers, and other educators should incorporate these recommendations with discretion based on their own course and student needs. 

The recommendations below were developed from suggestions gathered during a cross-functional multi-department working session, evidence in literature, and informed by an analysis of course data.1


The Four Recommendations

  1. The Learning Analytics Center of Excellence analyzed data from a random sample of 40 courses, each with at least 20 enrollees, across multiple semesters and confirmed that the recommendations discussed enhance data quality from Canvas courses, resulting in more impactful data.  For more information on this analysis contact LearningAnalytics@office365.wisc.edu


Keywords:
course design, teaching and learning data, learning analytics, Canvas tips, kaltura 
Doc ID:
147530
Owned by:
Kari J. in Learning Analytics
Created:
2025-01-14
Updated:
2025-01-16
Sites:
Learn@UW-Madison, Learning Analytics