Translate your Weekly Plan into a Framework

A strong course framework will make building your course much easier. It takes some thought and planning but once you have it done—and especially after you have filled out your first module—you'll find the going much less daunting. Time and again, we see instructors struggle and become discouraged if they haven’t taken the time to map out their course and build a framework. That being said, the steps we suggest below are very straightforward; we encourage you to follow them.

◉ Weekly Plan

Begin by looking at the Weekly Plan you created and imagine what those activities look like on a week to week basis. It may be that you need to tweak them. It is also likely that some weeks will differ from others: when students are focusing on a major project, you may decide it is sensible to back off on some of the smaller weekly activities.

BEFORE CLASS - via Canvas

  • Watch all lectures and videos for the week.
  • Read all assigned readings from course pack and other articles and note questions.
  • Fill out and submit the Guiding Questions for the week.
  • Participate in the weekly discussion.

DURING CLASS - in person or via Zoom

  • Begin by going over and unpacking remaining questions.
  • Overview of data set and what they should keep in mind as they work in their small groups.
  • Break into small groups.
  • Small groups report back to the whole group.
  • Surface remaining questions.

AFTER CLASS - via Canvas

  • 300-400 word reflection that ties week's readings, discussions and data analysis to previous weeks/personal experience, etc. —how is their perception shifting?

 

◉ Map it Out on Paper

Mapping on paper is a crucial (and favorite) activity during CDLI’s Course Design program. If you have sticky notes on hand, they can make the job easier, but they aren’t required. Begin by arranging each week so you can post the specific activities your students will be doing before class, during class, and after class. It is sometimes helpful to divide the before-class activities into what students will read/watch and what students will actually turn in since most of what they read/watch will need to be listed on the Module Overview page or presented within a Canvas page, while what they turn in or submit for a grade will usually be formatted as a discussion, an assignment, or a quiz. It’s also a good idea to highlight where your major assignments fall to see how they are spaced throughout the term. (In the example paper map below, a major assignment is marked with a yellow sticky dot.)

 

Course Map on Paper

 

◉ Put Placeholders in Your Modules

Use your map to begin building out placeholders in your Canvas module. The How to Edit Modules page that is later in this module, shows how you can quickly add items to your module or rename what is already there, such as your weekly assignments and discussions. You can also delete anything. (But don’t delete the Module Overview page.)

Module 4

 

◉ Fill in Your Module Overview Page

You will find more detailed instructions for editing your Module Overview page later in this module, but the graphic below provides an explanation of what should appear on each Module Overview page. This includes the topic for the week, some context about the week’s activities, and the sections that outline what is required for students before class, during class, and after class.

Module 4 Overview Page

 

◉ Link Overview Pages from Your Homepage

Notice that the Module Overview pages are linked from the homepage so students can jump directly from the Homepage into an explanation and overview of what is expected for each week's classes. (See Personalize Your Homepage)

Sustainability in Nicaragua Homepage