Course Design Worksheets
Course Design Worksheet (CDW) Guide
The Course Design Worksheet (CDW) provides a blueprint for each CBU course. It is used to ensure that the Course Design Process remains integrated. A well-integrated course contains instructional materials, learning activities, and assessments that are in alignment with the course's expected Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) and University Student Outcomes (USOs).
The CDW also provides important documentation for accrediting bodies. The CDW shows internal and external evaluators that courses are carefully planned, beginning with the course’s topics, and learning objectives. Within the CDW, evaluators can see the cognitive level attributed to each learning activity along with the estimated number of engagement minutes for each activity.
When a course has a complete, accompanying CDW, we can be confident that the course will meet the expectations of the program.
Directions
- Open the Course Design Worksheet. A link to the Course Design Worksheet (Google Sheet format) will be provided by the CBU Teaching and Learning Center (TLC).
- Complete each of the nine (9) tabs in the Course Design Worksheet.
The following table contains a description of each CDW tab, along with links to video tutorials and AI-powered tools to aid with the CDW creation process.
| Description | Tutorials and Tools | |
|---|---|---|
| Topics | The “Topics” tab is used to list the key topics to be covered in the course, considering whether each topic builds on prior information, represents new information, and/or presents information that will be built upon in future courses. | Topics Tab (Video Tutorial) |
| Situational Factors |
The “Situational Factors” tab is used to describe the context of the class for design purposes. |
Situational Factors Tab (Video Tutorial) |
| Overview |
The “Overview” tab will include the Course Description and Course Level Objectives (CLOs) for the course. |
Overview Tab (Video Tutorial)
Course Objective Generator (AI-Powered Tool) Enter the course title, course description, level, length, and topics. The tool will generate measurable Course Objectives. |
| Required Texts and Materials | The “Required Texts and Materials” tab is used to list the course’s required materials, including textbooks, lab kits, Open Educational Resources, etc. | Required Texts and Materials Tab (Video Tutorial) |
| Critical Assessment Rubric |
The “Critical Assessment Rubric” tab is used to describe the scoring criteria and expectations for the course’s Critical Assessment. In most cases, the Critical Assessment functions as the course’s Final Project. |
Critical Assessment Rubric Tab (Video Tutorial)
Rubric Generator (AI-Powered Tool) Enter the assignment instructions and criteria. The tool will generate a rubric that can be used for evaluation. |
| Assignments |
The “Assignments” tab is used to describe the types of assignments offered in the course and display the alignment between those assignments and the Course Level Objectives. |
Assignments Tab (Video Tutorial)
Assignment Generator (AI-Powered Tool) Enter Module Objectives, course level, program of study, and target career. The tool will generate assignment ideas. |
| Faith Integration |
The “Faith Integration” tab is used to plan how Christian faith will intersect with course content. |
Faith Integration Tab (Video Tutorial) |
| Weekly Course Structure |
The Weekly Course Structure tabs are used to describe the Learning Activities that students will engage in as part of each Course Module. The CDW will contain either 8 or 14 Weekly Course Structure tabs, depending on the academic program that the course is associated with. |
Weekly Course Structure Tabs (Video Tutorial)
Module Objective Generator (AI-Powered Tool) Enter Course Objectives and module topics. The tool will generate Module Objectives.
Module Objective Evaluator (AI-Powered Tool) Enter Module Objectives. The tool will identify the Bloom’s Taxonomy level for each Module Objective suggest ways to make the Module Objectives more effective. |
| Course Summary |
The “Course Summary” tab displays totals of the course’s points and engagement minutes. |
Course Summary Tab (Video Tutorial) |
Big Ideas and Core Tasks
The Course Design Worksheet will be completed by a “Course Planner.” The Course Planner is the faculty member that serves as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for a Course Design Project. Course Planners will start the CDW process by completing the “Topics” tab. Once the “Topics” tab has been completed, Course Planners will be able to compare the course’s expected learning objectives with the topics that they have intended for the course. By comparing the planned Topics with the expected learning objectives, the Course Planner will be able to determine whether the topics are appropriate/necessary.