Backward Design Basics:

Are you beginning to prepare and plan for next semester? Consider thinking “backward”! Conceptualizing your course from a Backward Design perspective creates a more focused and meaningful experience for your students. The process is learner-centered, and helps ensure that your course content and assessments are aligned with the overall goals and objectives of the course (and your program!) The Backward Design Basics course walks through key elements of the process and helps you to take intentional design and development steps to prepare your next course.

In the course we'll explore:

The rationale for using an intentional, backward design approach
Student-centered outcomes and how situational factors influence teaching and learning
How aligning course outcomes, learning materials, and activities to our assessments helps us monitor workload, the scope/focus of our course, and student learning progress

Format and Time Commitment:

Between October 14-27 (a two-week period) you'll be able to complete this self-paced course content at a time of your choosing. It takes 3-4 hours to work through the materials and coursework; you can complete it all at once or over a couple of sessions.

To receive a certificate of completion, review the self-paced content, participate in any discussions in Canvas, and submit a complete concluding assignment (a short reflective workbook in which you'll work through some of the steps of a backward design process for one your own courses.) You will have indefinite access to the course to review as needed, but you can only submit work to receive your certificate of completion during the two-week time period of the course.

This course takes place in Canvas and was developed with an assumption that participants will have a general baseline of Canvas knowledge. If you are new to Canvas we recommend first familiarizing yourself by signing up for a Canvas training or visiting the Canvas Instructor Guides .

Note: This course is only available to faculty and instructional staff from CU Anschutz. Please reach out to tips@ucdenver.edu if you have any questions!

Backward Design Basics (CU Anschutz)