Lesson 1: Determining the Overall (or Broad) Course Goals and Content
One usually begins at the end when planning a new course. Keeping the end in mind, it becomes clearer what steps are necessary to develop a successful course. Consider the following questions to determine the overall (or broad) course goals and content. Quite often the overall course goals and/or content are reflected under the course description in the syllabus.
- Is the course a prerequisite, elective, or required course?
- Where does this course fit in to the curriculum?
- What kinds of skills and levels of knowledge are the students who register for this course likely to have?
- What do I want the students to gain from this course? And how do I want them to be different?
- What external standards (if any) need to be met?
- What professional and/or community standards need to be met?
- What are my own attitudes, beliefs, and values about teaching? What are my strengths as a teacher?
- What kind of learning space and/or resources will be available?
