what is the purpose of a course outline

by Prof. Desmond Tromp II 8 min read

Three major purposes that a course outlines should serve are described by Parkes and Harris:

  • Course outlines as a contract
  • Course outlines as a permanent record
  • Course outlines as a learning tool

A course outline gives the basic components of the course required to be taught by all instructors; whereas a syllabus describes how an individual instructor will teach that course in terms of specific assignments, dates, grading standards, and other rules of conduct required by that instructor.

Full Answer

How do you create a course outline?

The following are some suggestions regarding the content for such an outline:

  • Administrative information – Course name and number, term, your name and contact information, TA name (s) and contact information, and office hours all constitute administrative information.
  • Required texts, readings, or materials.
  • Course description – What is this course about? ...

More items...

How to create your course outline?

When struggling with creating an online course outline, try to answer the following questions:

  • What underpins your subject?
  • What’s an introductory lesson that shapes the rest of the course?
  • How do you follow up from there?
  • Where does your course end?

What is the difference between curriculum and course outline?

What is the difference between Syllabus and Curriculum?

  • Syllabus refers to the program or outline of a course of study. ...
  • Syllabus is the portions of study that should be covered in a subject. This subject can be a part of a course. ...
  • The plural of syllabus can be syllabi or syllabuses. ...
  • A syllabus is descriptive. ...
  • A syllabus is usually for a year. ...
  • Syllabus is for a subject while curriculum is for a course.

How to create a training course outline?

To recap the outline creation process, remember to through the following six steps:

  1. The basics. Who is your audience? ...
  2. Define your training/learning objectives. What exactly do you need people to know or be able to do by the end of the training?
  3. Purpose and Opening. ...
  4. Clarify key topics, related concepts, and timing.
  5. Presentation techniques and materials. ...
  6. Evaluation, assessment, reflection. ...

What is a course outline?

The course outline is defined for purposes of Middle States Accreditation as the official, approved document that outlines what students are expected to learn in a course and what they can expect in the way of instructional methods, activities, assignments and grading methods.

What is the relevance of a course outline?

A course outline lets students know what the course is about, why the course is taught, where it is going, and what will be required for them to be successful in the course (Altman & Cashin, 2003).

What is a college course outline?

The purpose of a course outline is to document the curriculum at the course level and to support the learning process by identifying course learning requirements, evaluation methods, learning activities and learning resources.

What is the content of course outline?

It contains important information such as course description, course schedule, learning outcomes, learning/assessment tasks, due dates for assessments, assessment criteria, assessment submission procedures, prescribed texts and recommended readings, grades of assessment and your responsibilities as a student.

How important do you need to formulate objectives in the development of a course outline?

Learning objectives should be used to guide students as they work through the course, and to assess their learning progress. Excellent learning objectives provide a guide for students when reviewing materials and preparing for assessments. Learning objectives are the most powerful if they are actionable and measurable.

What is the difference between syllabus and course outline?

It is an essential piece when designing any course. The course outline has a few purposes. A syllabus is a planning tool. Writing it guides the instructor's development of the course.

How do you outline a class?

Here's the process I use to complete my course outlines:Identify Modules. ... Break Each Module Down into Core Steps. ... Brainstorm the Details. ... Building Your Outline. ... Add Worksheets and Bonuses. ... Validate Your Outline.

What is a course structure?

Each course consists of one or more sections often called topics. The course sections (topics) are learning content holders of the course lessons and study material. Each course has one Common resource section which holds common course resources like URLs, Files, Videos.

How can I improve my course outline?

Include more rather than less material. A detailed syllabus is a valuable learning tool for students and lessens their initial anxieties about the course. ... Provide basic information. ... Describe the prerequisites to the course. ... Give an overview of the course's purpose. ... State the general learning goals or objectives.

What is the purpose of a teaching portfolio?

What Is a Teaching Portfolio? Portfolios provide documented evidence of teaching from a variety of sources—not just student ratings—and provide context for that evidence. The process of selecting and organizing material for a portfolio can help one reflect on and improve one's teaching.

What is the purpose of course outlines?

Three major purposes that a course outlines should serve are described by Parkes and Harris: Course outlines as a contract. Course outlines as a permanent record. Course outlines as a learning tool. Course outlines as a contract—Makes clear what the rules are. Sets forth what is expected to happen during the semester.

What is a course objective?

Course objectives (linked to professional standards if appropriate ) Description of course content. Description of assessment procedures. Course outline as a learning tool—Helps students become more effective learners in the course. Inform students of the instructor’s beliefs about teaching, learning, and the content area.

What is a course outline?

A Course Outline defines the course aims and learning outcomes, course requirements, textbooks, and assessment dates and criteria.

Where is the course outline on Blackboard?

They are usually available under 'Course Outline' in the menu on the left hand side of the course page. They will be available once the Course Coordinator makes the course available online in Blackboard.

What is course outline?

According to the University of Lethbridge’s Teaching Center, a course outline is a document that benefits students and instructors as it is essential when designing any course. Also known as a syllabus, a course outline serves as a planning tool. As the syllabus is written, it also guides the instructor’s development of ...

Why is it important to define course professional goals?

It is imperative to define these course professional goals, as they will help you determine what you expect from your students, and what your students can expect from the course. In some cases, it helps if you indicate what careers can they be pursuing to provide motivation for them to do better in their academics. 3.

Why do we refer to the syllabus?

In some cases, some may refer to the syllabus to give the students an idea of what particular skills they would have obtained after completing the course.

What information should be provided about required readings?

Provide specific information about required readings, including title, author (s), edition number and availability (from where they can be purchased or borrowed). It is helpful to the students to indicate how each reading relates to a particular topic in the course. You may also like outline an essay.

What are the activities that help students meet their learning objectives?

If students need to provide evidence of learning by completing a multiple choice exam, then the activities in the schedule should prepare them for this assessment. Lectures, readings, small group and whole group discussions can all be activities that help the student meet their learning objectives.

What is a syllabus?

Finally, a syllabus also works as a reference for colleagues, administrators, and accreditation agencies.

What is the purpose of an outline in a course?

Creating an outline that serves as a guide to the course is useful for both learners as well as for you so you can develop a more effective course .

Why is it important to have an outline?

Having an outline allows you to organize these topics in a way that will make sense to your students. In addition, it prevents you from forgetting to add critical information that is relevant to the topic. Writing out what you plan to cover will also help you generate ideas.

How long should a microlearning lesson be?

Depending on how far down the path of microlearning you are going, lessons might only need to be a couple of minutes up to 10 to 15 minutes in length. There's not too much content in a 2-minute lesson so you really need to get at the heart of the topic and do so quickly if you're going that route.

What is the best tool to use to outline a project?

These are great, but with most, you will have to manually re-type your ideas into other software to use them later on. However, if you're a visual learner, mind mapping is probably the best tool for you. You can also use Trello or other productivity software to outline and manage your projects.

How long does it take to create an eLearning course?

The idea behind rapid eLearning is where you use every tool and strategy you can to potentially create a course in 2 to 3 weeks instead of taking several months. So within your lessons, outline the exact content you will cover.

What is the lesson in Module 1 of Marketing?

Module 1: Marketing. Lesson 1: How to choose the right marketing strategy for your business. Topic 1: Why choose Facebook marketing. By using the modules, lessons, and topics for each new idea, you will create a system that is simple for your learner to follow.

Why do you need a script for a video lesson?

You don't want to lose your audience because you are rambling from topic to topic with no clear direction. Outlining will also help with lesson planning.

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