Curriculum and Course Design

• Elements of the curriculum include purpose and values of the learning, learner profile, learning outcomes, learning and teaching strategies that take account of the context and the needs of learners, workload, assessment strategy linked to the achievement of outcomes, delivery of the course, and an evaluation strategy to evaluate all aspects of the course.
• The planning process should explore the most suitable course development strategies. These fall into two broad strategies: importing courses from elsewhere – either with no, minor or major adaptations – and originating courses.
• Management of course development includes marketing, course production, maintenance, and evaluation.
• Through the instructional design process, course writers develop accessible and interactive learning resources by using a range of activities that give expression to the underpinning learning and teaching strategy. Suitable access devices are also used that make it easy for the learners to engage with the resources.
• Implementation of quality criteria is encouraged at the curriculum and course design stage, during instructional design of resources, course production, and delivery of the course. Summative evaluation of the course as a whole at specified intervals is integral to the quality assurance process to determine whether the course is meeting the specified course purpose and outcomes.
  

Useful Resources

Lockwood, Fred (1994). Materials Production in Open and Distance Learning, London: Paul Chapman Publishing.

Rowntree, Derek (1990). Teaching Through Self-Instruction: How To Develop Open Learning Materials, London: Kogan Page.

Wright, Clayton R (1987). Course Developer’s Manual, Alberta: Grant MacEwan Community College.

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