In considering course design, the 2015 PgC Teaching & Supporting Learning in Higher Education group have compiled a list of factors that should be considered when designing HE learning programmes. I thought it was useful to share as a checklist for reflection.
Factor affecting learning design choices |
1. Level of study |
2. Professional body requirements |
3. Volume of Study |
4. Sequence of learning |
5. Space in the curriculum for reflection |
6. Space in the curriculum for responsiveness (to current events) |
7. Constructive alignment |
8. Link to programme level learning aims and outcomes (including graduate outcomes) |
9. Link to previously experienced pedagogies (is the learning approach novel? Do students need to adapt to new learning approaches?) |
10. Facilities / resources available |
11. Health and safety |
12. Time available for learning |
13. Active learning and student engagement opportunities |
14. Repetition and reinforcement where needed |
15. Links to prior knowledge and experiences |
16. Opportunities for feedback (to help students to manage their learning) |
17. Digital literacies – is there a need to develop these as well as subject knowledge? |
18. Academic literacies – is there a need to develop these as well as subject knowledge? |
19. The nature of the knowledge that we will work with (is it fixed? How quickly can learning happen?) |
20. Quality assurance and university requirements |
21. Relevance and purpose of learning (made explicit) |
22. Transition points |
23. Currency of knowledge |
24. Research informed teaching |
25. Student motivation variety |
26. Time available for planning |
27. Learner preferences |
28. Feedback from students |
29. Exposing students to alternative perspectives (teaching beyond your own comfort zone) |
30. Teacher interest and expertise |