how to write a college course

by Rollin Eichmann 6 min read

The course description should be no longer than 100 words. Write from a student-centered perspective. Use present tense and active voice. Use clear and simple sentence structure and language. Use gender neutral language. Use common terms that prospective students understand. Use industry-approved technical terms and acronyms when appropriate.

To design an effective course, you need to:
  1. Consider timing and logistics.
  2. Recognize who your students are.
  3. Identify the situational constraints.
  4. Articulate your learning objectives.
  5. Identify potential assessments.
  6. Identify appropriate instructional strategies.
  7. Plan your course content and schedule.

Full Answer

How to choose your writing course?

Steps Download Article

  1. Decide what interests you. List the fields of study that interest you, and come up with a list of courses you would consider studying based on these interests.
  2. Do your research. The internet, newspapers, television and people around you are the best sources of information.
  3. Check out the course content. ...
  4. Examine the university quality. ...

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How do I create a course?

— When her husband first floated the idea of an advocacy organization for people diagnosed with ALS, Sandra Abrevaya responded in just two words: The first wasn’t suitable for print, and the second was “no.” Abrevaya had founded and run nonprofits in the past.

How do I structure my course?

  • Boring presentations that leave you unfocused ✅
  • Dominating voices crowding out constructive discussion ✅
  • Politics playing out in real time ✅
  • Little closure, few decisions made, and fuzzy next-steps ✅

How to structure your course?

  • 1. ...
  • The alignment between topic and the week of the quarter will be a powerful aid for students in quickly orienting themselves to your course each time they sign in. ...
  • 2. ...
  • We recommend a six-section Canvas module structure: Module Overview, Review, Prepare, Learn, Apply and Additional Resources. ...
  • 3. ...

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How do you write a course?

The following are tips for writing a course description:The course description should be no longer than 100 words.Write from a student-centered perspective.Use present tense and active voice.Use clear and simple sentence structure and language.Use gender neutral language.More items...

How do you write a college course description?

Course Description Guidelinesshould be no longer than 125 words.should begin most sentences with a verb.should be student-centered and explain how the reader would benefit from the course.should be written in the present tense and active voice.

What is the format of a course?

A course format refers to the layout of a course. The course format can be selected in Administration > Course administration > Edit settings.

How do you write a college course title?

Course Title GuidelinesUse no more than 30 characters, including spaces. ... Capitalize each word of the title except for articles (a, an, the), coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or), or prepositions (on, at, to).Use English language unless the course is approved to be offered (instructed) in another language.More items...

What is course content example?

Any informational material that is required for participation or understanding content such as assigned readings, video recordings, exams, and any other material needed for learning. Copyright © 2022 UC Regents; all rights reserved.

What is the example of course?

Course is defined as a specific path that something follows or the way in which something develops. An example of course is the route taken by an airplane. An example of course is the way your life progresses. A part of a meal served as a unit at one time.

What is course design?

Course design is the process and methodology of creating quality learning environments and experiences for students. Through deliberate and structured expose to instructional materials, learning activities, and interaction, students are able to access information, obtain skills, and practice higher levels of thinking.

How do I create a syllabus in Word?

Click Syllabus under the Course Home button. Select Compose Text Item (Visual Editor). Click Instructor Information. In the drop-down list provided, select an instructor or teaching assistant, and click Go....Create a SyllabusCreate a new syllabus.Add syllabus items.Add instructor information.Upload an existing syllabus.

What is a curriculum course?

A course curriculum is a series of classes designed to help a student reach the level of formal education that they are pursuing. The course curriculum should form a learning environment that helps a student attain a desired outcome.

Are college courses italicized?

Headlines and course titles are not italicized.

How do you write an online course title?

Sprinkle in some power words like profit, instantly, and guilt-free to make your audience feel something and move forward to learn more. Make sure your course title is targeted to your ideal audience, results-oriented, and unambiguous so people know what it is.

How to outline a course?

Articulate the theories, principles, concepts, topics, techniques and competencies that will be taught in the course being proposed. Don’t simply list an outline of the text book you plan to use because you or other facul ty teaching the course may decide to use a different text book. Note what specific skills or knowledge students will attain when you outline learner outcomes that the course intends to achieve. Explain how the new course enhances the existing curriculum.

How to write a proposal for a course?

Begin writing your proposal by listing the title of the course, prerequisites and the number of credits that can be earned. Indicate whether the class is required of certain majors or offered as an elective. It’s especially important to provide a solid rationale with evidence that there’s justification for the course. For example, you may want to provide research showing that employers who hire students in your field report that recent graduates lack a particular skill that your department is not currently teaching, and your course would meet that need. Elaborate on the purpose of the course.

What information do you need to submit to a course proposal?

As part of the course proposal process, you may be encouraged or required to provide supplemental information such as your curriculum vitae and a course syllabus. This information assists the curriculum committee in reviewing your qualifications and the scholarly contribution of the proposed course to the university.

What is a college proposal?

Writing a college course proposal is an exciting and creative endeavor when you have an idea for developing or substantially revising a course. Schools generally have a formal process for proposing courses that must be strictly followed. Although the steps may vary from school to school, generally you need to prepare a detailed rational ...

What is the process of proposing a course?

Proposing a course is a political process that requires convincing other faculty that the course is needed, worthwhile, appropriately rigorous and not a duplication of existing courses. If you want to teach the course, be expected to show how you have sufficient training and expertise.

How to measure what students are learning?

Identify how you’ll measure what students are learning. For example, methods for assessing the degree to which students are mastering course content can include exams, research papers, portfolios of students’ work, oral presentations, reflection papers, clinical observation, peer critique and self-evaluation. Explain how students will be graded in a fair and consistent manner.

How to prepare for a college class?

Develop the course schedule. The tendency is nearly always to try to accomplish too much during each class period. Allow time for active learning to occur during class and for students to complete major assignments and prepare for exams. When preparing the schedule, consult the relevant academic calendars, and keep in mind major religious holidays and significant campus events (for example, Homecoming and Thurtene Carnival).

How to teach a new course?

Begin the process early, giving yourself as much time as you can to plan a new course. Successful courses require careful planning and continual revision. Consult with colleagues who have taught the same or similar courses to learn from their strategies and their general impressions of the students who typically take the course. If you are team-teaching, you and your teaching partner (s) should begin meeting well in advance to discuss course goals, teaching philosophies, course content, teaching methods, and course policies, as well as specific responsibilities for each instructor.

What should be included in a syllabus?

At a minimum, the syllabus should contain the following: course title, time, and location; prerequisites; required texts and other materials; course topics; major assignments and exams; course policies on grading, academic integrity, attendance, and late work; and contact information for instructor and assistants to instruction (if applicable).

How to evaluate student learning?

Determine how you will evaluate student learning: Plan assignments and exams. The evaluation must go hand-in-hand with course goals. For example, if one course goal is to improve problem-solving skills, the exam should not contain only questions that ask students to recall facts; it should contain questions that ask students to solve specific and well-chosen problems. By the same token, homework and class activities leading up to the exam must include some questions that require problem-solving skills. Consider the following questions:

How to get a list of course topics?

Select the main topics to be covered. To obtain an initial list of course topics, look in current textbooks or the current literature (for a special-topics course). Determine whether there is a consensus concerning the necessary topics by obtaining previous course syllabi and discussing potential topics with colleagues. Refine your list by considering your course goals and the characteristics of your students. At the same time, use the desired content to refine the course goals.

How to teach chemistry?

Teach students problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. Demonstrate how chemistry is used in other fields and in everyday situations. Teach students the beauty of chemistry. Determine course content. Select the major topics and determine the order in which you will teach them. Select the main topics to be covered.

How to structure a course?

Determine the structure of the course; arrange the topics in a logical order. Developing a rationale that guides the structure of the course can help you explain the material more clearly to the students. In other words, you can discuss how and why you have organized the material in a particular way, helping them to see, for example, how one topic builds on, illustrates, or offers a different perspective on another. Articulating the rationale behind the course structure also increases and maintains the students’ interest in the course content. Determining the course structure can help you decide which texts are most appropriate.

How to write a course?

Some things to keep in mind as you're writing the course. The person taking the course doesn't know what you know. He or she is a beginner, so start at the beginning. Make a glossary of terms and define them. Make sure you also define them in the course the first time you mention them.

Why is it easier to write a course?

Once you've chosen a platform, it will be easier to write your course, because you'll know what format you need to create the course in. For example, if you're planning to offer a video course, then you'll need to write a script to follow and practice recording lessons.

How to create an online course?

1. Choose a Topic. Your first step in creating an online course is to choose a topic to teach. This should ideally be: 1a. A Topic You Understand Well. If you are going to teach others, you need to understand the topic inside and out.

What to remember when choosing a course?

Remember that you want your course to stand out from the crowd. If you've picked a topic that people are interested in learning more about, then there are likely already other courses on your topic out there.

How to solve problems in a course?

Really pay attention to complaints. You can easily solve problems in your course by addressing any issues that students bring up. Perhaps there is too much work outside the classroom, the video lessons aren't loading quickly, or parts of the course are confusing. Whatever the problem, the feedback your students provide is invaluable.

How to make an online course sparkle?

If you want your online course to really sparkle, you need to ask for feedback. Send your students a survey once they complete the course. If you allow them to complete the survey anonymously, you'll get more honest feedback most of the time.

What to do when selling a course?

Once you sell a course to your first students, you'll want to provide the most excellent experience they've ever encountered in an online course. This is what will encourage them to tell their family and friends about your course . In addition, you'll have a captive audience should you write another course in the future.

What is a good opening sentence for a course?

Another good opening sentence is one that offers an intriguing fact or statistic, e.g. ‘72% of face- to-face communication is body language.’ Spark interest by starting your course description with an intriguing statistic, statement, question or other opener in order that easily increases the chance of engagement. Note: Keep “salesy” language in mind and use as much or as little as suits your target audience. The main point is to clearly and concisely emphasize what your course offers.

Why is it important to give an accurate outline of the contents of a course?

When offering a course for sale, it’s important to give an accurate outline of its contents so that learners know what the course will cover and what’s required of students. However, a dry description of topics and units won’t really stimulate a student’s eagerness to learn. In order to attract students, create excitement, and increase purchases of your course, you need compelling course descriptions. This post teaches you how to create them!

What is a course merchant?

Course Merchant provides a fully featured eCommerce shopping cart, which seamlessly integrates with eLearning systems to provide automated student enrollment upon successful online payment and/or registration.

What does it mean to emphasize a more personal gain from a course?

Not only do you want to briefly explain what the course will offer, but emphasizing a more personal gain from the course always add s another incentive for students to purchase a course.

How to attract a prospect?

This is the simplest way to attract a prospect. Hook the reader in immediately by placing this part right at the beginning and prompting THEM on the needs and desires they’re looking to fulfill.

Is it important to include specifics in a course?

However, it’s important to include specifics on what the student is going to learn within the course. Be sure to highlight what skill (or skills) the student will gain once they’ve completed the course.

What is the purpose of the curriculum and course design handbook?

This handbook applies theory to practical issues of curriculum and course design and assessment. Intended first for faculty members but also for department chairpeople and administrators concerned with curricula and courses, the book describes a design model that has been used in diverse institutions and that produces “visible results in the shortest possible time” (p. xvi). Topics include deciding whether and how to start the design process, the relationship between courses and curriculum, the design process; course design, including defining intended outcomes, developing a plan for assessing their achievement, and designing an instructional process; communication between instructors and students, including the use of syllabi; dealing with student diversity in terms of developing intended cross-campus instructional outcomes concerning diversity; and course and programmatic assessment, evaluation, and improvement. The book also discusses trends in improving the quality of education and “major lessons about course and curriculum design” the author has learned. The author suggests ways in which the scholarly work involved in modern curriculum and course design can be documented for purposes of recognition in the institution. Checklists, case studies, examples of materials from various institutions, and nine resource appendices support text.

What is the purpose of curriculum?

Curriculum is the heart of a student’s college or advanced learning experience. Curriculum is a college or university’s primary means of guiding students directions. Curricula should be reviewed and revised on a regular basis, better to serve the changing needs of both students and society. We are often urged to reassess the quality ...

What is academic advising?

Academic Advising – An effective curriculum – one that produces the results it claims in all of a college’s diverse students – depends for its success upon a high-quality program of academic advising. Modern academic advising is developmental, starting with each student’s values and goals, and helps all students design curricular ...

What is a curricular mission statement?

Purposes and goals – A curricular mission statement and written curricular goals (intended student development outcomes or intended results) articulate curricular purpose – what graduates should know and be able to do and those attitudes and values a faculty believes are appropriate to well-educated men and women.

How do faculties respond to this challenge?

Faculties are responding to this challenge by turning their attention to long neglected issues. They are doing so as a practical means of both attracting and retaining more students, ensuring their success, and producing high quality, fair outcomes for everyone.

Is lecturing still the predominant method of instruction in most institutions today?

Nevertheless, lecturing is still, by far, the predominant method of instruction in most institution s today. Sequence – Educational activities are carefully ordered in a developmental sequence to form a coherent curriculum based on the stated intended outcomes of both the curriculum and its constituent courses.

How to write a syllabus for a course?

Getting Started with Writing a Syllabus 1 Check how your course contributes to your department, program, or graduate field curriculum and learning outcomes. Certain programs may have requirements set by their accrediting organizations (e.g. ABET in Engineering). 2 Review syllabi for the same course from previous instructors. Consider meeting with them to discuss how they have taught the course in the past, what has gone well, and what has been challenging for students to learn. 3 Find out which students typically enroll in this course (year, major) and how many? 4 Search online for sample syllabi for the same or similar courses created by colleagues at other universities. Some disciplinary societies provide online resources for common subjects in introductory courses. 5 This Course Decision Guide can guide you in the process of designing your course.

Why is a syllabus important?

In particular, it: sets the tone for the course. communicates what, when, and how students will learn.

Is a template required for Cornell?

This template is not required at Cornell, but it provides links to many other campus resources and guidelines.

Can you import a syllabus template into Canvas?

to review some recommended best practices for syllabus construction. From the Canvas site, you can import a syllabus template into your own Canvas course or download a Google Doc to customize when constructing your own syllabus.

What is the purpose of a course paper?

A course paper must have a clear purpose or goal . This goal may be expressed as a position statement, thesis, or hypothesis. Describe the goal in the introduction so the reader knows what to expect.

What should the title of a paper describe?

The title should describe the paper’s main topic, concepts, theories, issues discussed, and, in some cases, the relationships between the concepts or theories.

What is the process of examining something against a proven or generally accepted standard?

Evaluating or assessing is the process of examining something against a proven or generally accepted standard. For example, one might evaluate the courses in an accounting program by assessing them against the standards provided by a national organization of accountants.

What is the meaning of coherence in writing?

Coherence means that an idea presented in a sentence flows logically to the next sentence. Coherence helps you write paragraphs that are focused on one topic, instead of paragraphs with ideas that jump from one topic to another.

When to use the present tense in a literature review?

When you make a direct reference in a paper to what a source wrote in the past, use the past tense. When you make a reference to the work itself , it is acceptable to use the present tense.

Do you have to acknowledge someone else's ideas?

Whenever you use someone else’s ideas, you must acknowledge them in your citations and references. At Capella University, the concept of academic integrity extends to copyright and trademark violations. Plagiarism may lead to disciplinary action or dismissal.

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