Course Design Process

Course Design Process

If you are new to developing a course or program at Fleming, please see the following:

Course-level development at Fleming is a 6-stage process:

  1. Course Development Plan
  2. Draft Course Outline 
  3. Lesson Plans/Storyboards 
  4. Assessments 
  5. D2L Course Shell 
  6. Wrap Up 

The expected timelines for each step are in the diagram below:

For a more detailed view of each step of the process, see the Course Development Process.

Step 1: Course Development Plan 

Purpose: Set the stage for course design, including training, providing context for course design, and setting milestones. 

Timeframe: 1-2 weeks 

Subject-Matter Expert (SME) Deliverables: Complete any mandatory or recommended training; and set timelines/milestones in consultation with  their Chair and/or their assigned LDS Team member (Teaching & Learning Specialist [TLS] or Curriculum Development Consultant [CDC]), if applicable.

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Step 2: Draft Course Outline 

Purpose: Course level learning outcomes need to align to Vocational Learning Outcomes (VLOs) and Essential Employability Skills (EESs)/Indigenous Learning Outcomes (ILOs), where applicable, to ensure alignment to the program standard and improve connection between courses in a program of study. Course-level outcomes also inform course design and are critical to designing an integrated, organized course including assessment, media and materials, content, and teaching methods.  

Timeframe: 2 weeks 

Subject-Matter Expert (SME) Deliverables: Completed Draft Course Outline, including course-level learning outcomes, assessment plan, course resources, and course sequence

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Step 3: Lesson Plans and/or Storyboard 

Purpose: Learning materials need to align with the learning outcomes, activities, and assessment in the course. They help students engage with new learning and can help teach content. Media and materials need to be accessible.  

Timeframe: 3-5 weeks 

Subject-Matter Expert (SME) Deliverables: Completed Lesson Plan OR Storyboard for each class (lecture/lab/seminar, etc.) in the course, including formative assessments and active learning activities

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Step 4: Assessments 

Purpose: Assessments need to align with the learning outcomes and activities. They give students the opportunity to demonstrate their progression toward, and achievement of, the course-level learning outcomes. 

Timeframe: 2 weeks 

Subject-Matter Expert (SME) Deliverables: Assessment documents (assignments, tests, quizzes, exams, labs, discussion board prompts and instructions) with associated answer keys/rubrics for each

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Step 5: D2L Course Shell 

Purpose: According to Fleming’s Operating Procedure #2-224E – Learning Management System, Faculty are to ensure students are provided with all learning materials through their D2L course shell.  

Timeframe: 3 weeks 

Subject-Matter Expert (SME) Deliverables: Completed D2L course shell including content for each week/module/lesson, assessments (Discussion Boards, Quizzes, Rubrics) to align with the course assessment plan, and completed Gradebook

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Step 6: Wrap Up 

Purpose: Fleming’s Operating Procedure #2-224A – Course Outlines states that “every course at Fleming College has a detailed course outline which supports the learning process by identifying course learning requirements, learning activities, and learning materials as well as the evaluation framework to assess student achievement.” In this final step in the course development process, you will create the official course outline for your new course and meet with the Dean/Chair responsible for the program, ensuring all documents have been uploaded for future use, and closing out the development contract. 

Timeframe: 1 week 

Subject-Matter Expert (SME) Deliverables: Official Course Outline created and submitted to Program Coordinator via Fleming’s Course Outline System in Evolve; and a final meeting with program Chair/Dean to close out development contract

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