Developing a Course

Design a Course Map

The arrangement of your sticky notes define the basic map of your course. Often, the elements can be arranged in several different ways.

1. Explore Idea And Topic Relationships

Pair up. Explain to your partner how the topics relate to each other.

• Is one topic contingent upon another?
• Must they be presented in a particular order?

Move the sticky notes around to explore how ideas and topics might be related to each other.

2. Try Different Arrangements

Use the following team approach to develop an understanding of the various ways your course could be structured. Each team should consist of two people.

1. Each person take the others' sticky note set.
2. Working individually, organize the notes into an appropriate structure.
3. Each person critique the other's organization of their topic.

In a simple heirarchical structure, each topic is supported by a number of resources.

In a multiple pathway structure, students are offered several alternative routes through the topics.

© Copyright 1997 University of Washington