Backward Design Step 3: Define Course Structure
Define a thematic structure for your course
“To create a thematic course structure, you need to look at the whole subject of the course and identify the most important concepts, issues, topics, or theme...These topics then need to be arranged in some sequence. The topics might be arranged chronologically, from simple to complex, from fundamental topics to ones that emerge from [those] fundamentals, or possibly in some other pattern. The goal is to sequence the topics to build on one another in a way that allows students to integrate each new idea, topic, or theme with the preceding ones as the course proceeds” (Fink 142). When laying out course units, determine how long the unit will last in the semester and what topics will be covered in that unit.
| UNIT 1 |
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| TOPICS COVERED: LENGTH: |
| UNIT 2 |
| TOPICS COVERED: LENGTH: |
| UNIT 3 |
| TOPICS COVERED: LENGTH: |
| UNIT 4 |
| TOPICS COVERED: LENGTH: |
| UNIT 5 |
| TOPICS COVERED: LENGTH: |
Course Structure Worksheet
- Download the Step 3: Course Structure Activity Worksheet.
See Also
- Backward Design Step 1: Identify Situational Factors
- Backward Design Step 2: Writing Course Learning Outcomes
- Backward Design Step 3: Define Course Structure
- Backward Design Step 4: Identify Module Details
- Backward Design Step 5: Identify Evidence of Understanding
- Backward Design Step 6: Select Learning Activities
- Backward Design Step 7: Align and Debug Course Elements
- Backward Design Step 8: Create an Evaluation Plan