Course Design Institute
Dartmouth's Course Design Institute (CDI) introduces an integrated course design process that promotes student-centered teaching and learning. This process can be used to develop a new course or redesign an existing course. While CDI may be most valuable for faculty who are new to Dartmouth, it is suitable for anyone interested in course design.
Self-Study
CDI content (short videos, readings, additional resources) is freely available on Canvas to all Dartmouth users for self-study, and includes modules on:
- How Learning Works
- Course Design Foundations & Learning Outcomes
- Assessment
- Assignments & Activities
Enroll in Self-Study CDI Canvas Course
Live Institute
DCAL offers a live, facilitated Course Design Institute using a flipped format three times per year–in July, December, and March. Participants work through the self-study Canvas content independently before attending the live sessions. With support from a cohort of peers and guidance from CDI facilitators, participants practice applying the concepts from the asynchronous content to their own course designs during the live sessions.
During the live sessions, participants:
- Apply evidence-based principles of learning to the design of a course
- Write course learning outcomes and learning outcomes for at least one course unit
- Create an assessment plan for formative and summative aspects of the course
- Consider learning activities and assignments that address the course objectives.
The total estimated time required to participate in the live institute, including completing the asynchronous content and attending synchronous sessions, is 10-12 hours. Participants must apply to attend a particular offering of the live institute. Participation is limited to instructors teaching curricular academic courses at Dartmouth. Instructors of non-academic courses are encouraged to enroll in the CDI self-study option above. Each live institute is limited to 15 participants. Priority consideration will be given to applicants whose courses will run soonest.
The next live institute will take place July 18-20, 2022. The deadline to apply is June 18, 2022 at 11:59 pm.
Apply to July 2022 Live Institute
Please note: Applications will be reviewed after the deadline of June 18. Applicants will be notified of acceptance decisions the following week. In the meantime, applicants are encouraged to enroll in the CDI Canvas course (see above) to begin exploring the content. Applicants who are not invited into a given live institute are encouraged to apply to future offerings.
Participants have described their CDI experiences this way:
"It's a great way to make substantive progress on your course, be introduced to best practices, and build relationships with other faculty on campus. DO IT!"
"It was fantastic – a great opportunity to think carefully about teaching with caring experts on teaching."
"It may seem like a lot of time, but it's way better than learning everything we covered the hard way through three months (or three years!) of trial and error!"