What is the Course Design Institute?
The Course Design Institute is an intensive, multi-day workshop.  Participants design or substantially redesign a course so that it promotes significant, long-term learning. The workshop follows “backward design” principles, which differ significantly from more traditional, content-driven models.  In small learning teams comprised of fellow faculty and graduate students, and with guidance from an experienced facilitator, participants define meaningful course goals, explore novel ways to assess them, develop classroom activities aligned with these goals, and lastly, map out the structure of the course.

When is the next Institute?
The Course Design Institute is offered every other year in even years. The next Institute will take place over a 10-day period in May, 2010.

Who may apply for the Institute?
Any U.Va. instructor interested in designing a new course or substantially redesigning an existing course may apply. Instructors who are open to learner-centered approaches to course design and those willing to fully and actively participate in small, structured learning communities are especially sought.

How do I apply?
Submit completed application forms to the Teaching Resource Center via e-mail to trc-uva@virginia.edu.

How many participants are accepted?
In order to give more individualized help, the Institute is limited to 15 participants.

How much time will this take?
Participants spend around 30 hours over the two-week span working on their course design.  Nearly half of this time is spent in the Institute itself—three to four hours per day for four days.  Participants spend the remaining time outside of class completing various components of their course design.

Do I have to attend all the meetings?
Throughout the Institute, participants work in small, interdisciplinary groups comprised of fellow faculty and graduate students.  The learning communities provide thoughtful, constructive feedback, alternative perspectives, and general support and encouragement.  As such, it is required for participants to attend each meeting and come with their “homework” completed.

What do I need to do before the Institute?
When either designing a new course or redesigning an existing one, the two most important questions an instructor can ask are “What do I want and hope my students will be able to do 3-5 years after taking my course?”  and “Why is this important to me?”  Spending time in advance of the workshop contemplating these questions will greatly facilitate the design process.  Specific exercises to help participants more fully address these questions are sent one to two weeks prior to the Institute.

What is the cost of the Institute?
The Institute is free and includes a complimentary copy of Dee Fink’s bestselling book Creating Significant Learning Experiences: An Integrated Approach to Designing College Courses (Jossey-Bass, 2003), additional background readings on various aspects of course design, as well as two luncheons.