About+the+CRDI

** 11th Annual Course (Re)Design Institute **
The Institute is based on a model developed at McGill University (see: Saroyan & Amundsen, 2004) and has been adopted by colleges and universities across Canada (Weston et al., 2007). Whether you are looking to create a new course, completely renovate an existing one, or slowly remodel key lessons or core curriculum over time, this Institute is for you. Even if you just want to learn the basics of good course design, the investment of your time over the four-day program will be well worth the effort.


 * Institute Goals/Overview**
 * facilitate application of a set of course design tools both practical and conceptual in form
 * promote a learner/ing-focused approach to course design and teaching
 * engage participants in scholarly and reflective teaching and learning practice
 * provide a forum to network and share ideas, challenges, strategies, and questions about teaching, learning and design with other faculty
 * learn about teaching in a global classroom and what you can do to enhance the teaching/learning experience.

Laurier faculty and instructional staff who are:
 * Who should attend the Institute?**
 * actively charged with developing new courses or programs in keeping with larger curricular initiatives
 * committed to and interested in redeveloping an existing course or instructional project, either a complete retrofit or minor remodeling
 * planning on introducing a new course in the coming academic year
 * teaching your new or remodeled course in the coming academic year


 * Who is accepted?**

Up to twelve (12) participants are admitted each year; priority is given to those who:
 * have a specific/project course in mind for (re)development
 * can commit to and attend all four days, including pre-Institute preparation (about 2 - 3 hours)
 * are teaching their new or redeveloped course in the coming fall or winter term
 * are full-time faculty, contract academic staff, post-doctoral fellow, or doctoral student from one of Laurier's four campuses

NB: some evening work may be required of individuals during the program (e.g., reading, reflection, revision to materials)


 * What's in it for me?**
 * a hands-on, intensive learning experience that will take you away from your office for four days and engage you in a design process that is transferable to all courses
 * an opportunity to engage in scholarly and reflective practice on teaching and learning
 * an opportunity to share your ideas, challenges, strategies, and questions with others
 * the development of a course framework and skeletal syllabus that clearly names and aligns student/course outcomes, assessments, learning activities, content and instructional strategies
 * follow-up consultation and support (e.g., MyLS, rubric design, etc.)
 * a resource binder of teaching, learning, and course design materials
 * a certificate of completion signed by the Associate Vice President: Teaching and Learning

The institute will model many of the practices promoted by the course re/design process. Each day will be comprised of the following components:
 * CR/DI Format**
 * participant, facilitator and/or guest speaker presentations
 * small and large group discussions
 * individual and peer involvement in applied design activities (e.g., course mapping, learning outcomes, assessments/activities, instructional strategies, syllabus design)
 * self/peer feedback
 * individual study (e.g., readings) and personal reflection (evenings included)


 * Comments and Questions?** Please contact Dr. Jeanette McDonald (ext. 3211/jmcdonald@wlu.ca) or Shirley Hall at (ext. 5452/ shall@wlu.ca) in the Centre for Teaching Innovation and Excellence.


 * References**

Saroyan, A., & Amundsen, C. (Ed.) (2004). //Rethinking teaching in higher education: From a course design workshop to a faculty development framework//. Sterling, VA: Stylus.

Weston, C., Tovar, M., Amundsen, C., Barrington, J., Holmes, T., Light, T., McDonald, J., Van Gyn, G., & Caws, C. (2007). //The course design and teaching workshop: A Canadian educational development initiative//. A full-day pre-conference workshop presented at the annual conference of the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, Edmonton, Alberta, June.