Claude Skill

alterlab-teaching-design

Designs courses and teaching materials using backward design (Wiggins & McTighe), constructive alignment (Biggs), and Bloom's taxonomy alignment, generating rubrics, formative and summative assessments, syllabi, lesson plans, inclusive-pedagogy guidance, and online/hybrid course

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Skill manifest

Teaching Design — Course & Curriculum Design Agent

A comprehensive teaching design tool for faculty at all career stages. Covers the full course design lifecycle: from articulating learning outcomes through backward design, to constructing aligned assessments, building rubrics, drafting syllabi, and planning individual lessons. Supports face-to-face, online, and hybrid modalities with inclusive pedagogy principles throughout.

Overview

Teaching design is the systematic process of creating educational experiences that lead to measurable learning. This skill guides faculty through evidence-based frameworks for course design, helping transform disciplinary expertise into effective, equitable, and engaging learning experiences.

The skill integrates three foundational frameworks:

  1. Backward Design (Wiggins & McTighe, 2005) — Start with desired results, then determine acceptable evidence, then plan learning experiences
  2. Constructive Alignment (Biggs et al., 2022) — Align intended learning outcomes, teaching/learning activities, and assessment tasks
  3. Bloom's Revised Taxonomy (Anderson & Krathwohl, 2001) — Classify cognitive complexity of learning outcomes across six levels

When to Use This Skill

This skill should be used when:

  • Designing a new course from scratch
  • Redesigning or revising an existing course
  • Writing or refining learning outcomes and objectives
  • Creating assessment instruments (exams, projects, portfolios)
  • Building rubrics for grading consistency
  • Drafting or updating a course syllabus
  • Planning individual class sessions or lesson sequences
  • Transitioning a face-to-face course to online or hybrid format
  • Conducting curriculum mapping across a program
  • Implementing inclusive and accessible pedagogy
  • Preparing course-level evidence for accreditation reviews
  • Mentoring junior faculty on teaching practices

Does NOT Trigger

Scenario Use Instead
Writing a course's generative-AI use policy or syllabus AI statement alterlab-syllabus-ai-policy
Program-level assurance of learning for AACSB or ABET (outcome maps, closing the loop) alterlab-accreditation-aol
Writing an academic paper, including a SoTL paper about a course alterlab-paper-writer
Statistical analysis of student/grade data alterlab-statistical-analysis
Building a slide deck for a talk or lecture alterlab-scientific-slides

Core Capabilities

1. Learning Outcome Design with Bloom's Taxonomy

Learning outcomes are the foundation of all course design. Every outcome should be specific, measurable, and aligned to an appropriate cognitive level.

Bloom's Revised Taxonomy — Six Cognitive Levels:

Level Category Key Verbs Example Outcome
1 Remember Define, list, recall, identify, name List the five principles of effective survey design
2 Understand Explain, summarize, paraphrase, classify Explain the difference between formative and summative assessment
3 Apply Implement, use, execute, demonstrate Apply backward design to create a course module
4 Analyze Differentiate, organize, compare, deconstruct Analyze alignment between outcomes, activities, and assessments in a syllabus
5 Evaluate Judge, critique, justify, appraise Evaluate the validity of a rubric using inter-rater reliability data
6 Create Design, construct, produce, formulate Design an inclusive assessment strategy for a hybrid graduate seminar

ABCD Framework for Writing Outcomes:

A — Audience:    Who is the learner? (e.g., "By the end of this course, students will...")
B — Behavior:    What will they do? (Use observable, measurable verbs)
C — Condition:   Under what conditions? (e.g., "Given a dataset...", "Without references...")
D — Degree:      To what standard? (e.g., "with 80% accuracy", "meeting APA 7 standards")

Example — Well-Written vs. Poorly Written Outcomes:

POOR:   "Students will understand research ethics."
         (Problem: "understand" is not observable or measurable)

BETTER: "Students will identify three ethical violations in a given research scenario
         and propose corrections consistent with the Belmont Report principles."
         (A: Students, B: identify and propose, C: given a scenario, D: consistent with Belmont)

Outcome Mapping Template:

## Course: [Title]
## Program Learning Outcome Alignment

| Course Learning Outcome | Bloom's Level | Program Outcome | Assessment Method | Week(s) |
|------------------------|---------------|-----------------|-------------------|---------|
| CLO1: [outcome text]   | Apply (3)     | PLO2            | Project Phase 1   | 4-6     |
| CLO2: [outcome text]   | Analyze (4)   | PLO3            | Case Study Report | 8-10    |
| CLO3: [outcome text]   | Evaluate (5)  | PLO5            | Peer Review       | 12-14   |
| CLO4: [outcome text]   | Create (6)    | PLO1, PLO4      | Final Portfolio   | 15-16   |

2. Backward Design Process

Backward design inverts the traditional approach of starting with content and ending with a test. Instead, it begins with the end in mind.

Stage 1 — Identify Desired Results

Ask:

  • What should students know, understand, and be able to do?
  • What enduring understandings should they retain years later?
  • What essential questions will guide inquiry?
## Desired Results Template

### Established Goals
- [Institutional/program goals this course addresses]

### Enduring Understandings
Students will understand that...
1. [Big idea that transcends the course]
2. [Transferable principle]

### Essential Questions
1. [Open-ended question that provokes deep thinking]
2. [Question that recurs throughout the course]

### Knowledge and Skills
Students will know...              Students will be able to...
- [Key facts/concepts]             - [Key skills/processes]
- [Vocabulary/definitions]         - [Procedures/techniques]

Stage 2 — Determine Acceptable Evidence

Ask:

  • How will I know students have achieved the outcomes?
  • What performances or products will demonstrate understanding?
  • What criteria distinguish levels of quality?
## Evidence Plan

| Learning Outcome | Assessment Type | Format | Weight | Timing |
|-----------------|-----------------|--------|--------|--------|
| CLO1            | Summative       | Research proposal | 25% | Week 8 |
| CLO2            | Formative       | Weekly reflections | 10% | Ongoing |
| CLO3            | Summative       | Peer review exercise | 20% | Week 12 |
| CLO4            | Summative       | Final portfolio | 35% | Week 16 |
| CLO1-4          | Formative       | In-class activities | 10% | Ongoing |

Stage 3 — Plan Learning Experiences (WHERETO)

W — Where is the course headed? Help students see the big picture.
H — Hook students early. Engage curiosity with a provocative question or problem.
E — Equip students with knowledge, skills, and tools.
R — Rethink. Provide opportunities to revise and reflect.
E — Evaluate. Let students self-assess and get feedback.
T — Tailor. Differentiate for diverse learners.
O — Organize. Sequence for maximum coherence and engagement.

3. Constructive Alignment

Constructive alignment (Biggs et al., 2022) ensures that what you teach, how you teach it, and how you assess it are all pointing in the same direction.

Alignment Audit Template:

## Alignment Check

| Learning Outcome | Teaching/Learning Activity | Assessment Task | Aligned? |
|-----------------|---------------------------|-----------------|----------|
| CLO1: Analyze... | Case study discussions, worked examples | Case analysis report | Yes |
| CLO2: Create... | Lectures only | Multiple-choice exam | NO — misaligned |

Common Misalignment Patterns:

Problem Symptom Fix
Outcome says "create" but assessment is MCQ Students memorize instead of producing Replace with project-based assessment
Activities are passive but outcome requires application Students cannot transfer to new contexts Add active learning: problem sets, simulations
High-level outcomes but only low-level activities Students plateau at remember/understand Scaffold activities up Bloom's levels progressively
Assessment tests content not in outcomes Students feel blindsided; grade disputes Map every assessment item to a specific CLO

4. Assessment Design

Formative Assessment (Assessment FOR Learning)

Purpose: Monitor learning in progress, provide feedback, adjust teaching.

Techniques by Class Size:

Technique Small (<30) Medium (30-100) Large (100+) Digital?
Muddiest Point Write on cards Poll Everywhere LMS poll Yes
Think-Pair-Share Verbal With microphone With clickers Optional
Concept Maps Paper, share in groups Digital (Miro) LMS submission Yes
One-Minute Paper End of class End of class LMS auto-collect Yes
Exit Tickets Paper slips Google Form LMS quiz Yes
Peer Instruction Clickers + discussion Clickers + discussion Clickers + discussion Yes
Draft Submissions Written feedback Rubric + comments Peer review + spot-check Yes

Summative Assessment (Assessment OF Learning)

Purpose: Evaluate achievement at the end of a learning period.

Assessment Type Selection Guide:

Does the outcome require PRODUCTION of an artifact?
├── Yes → Project, portfolio, paper, presentation, design
│         Does it require COLLABORATION?
│         ├── Yes → Group project with individual accountability
│         └── No  → Individual project with milestones
└── No  → Does the outcome require PERFORMANCE in real-time?
          ├── Yes → Oral exam, demonstration, simulation, practicum
          └── No  → Does it require ANALYSIS or JUDGMENT?
                    ├── Yes → Case study, essay, critique, problem set
                    └── No  → Selected-response (MCQ, matching, T/F)
                              Use ONLY for Remember/Understand outcomes

Exam Blueprint Template:

## Exam Blueprint: [Course] Midterm

| Topic | Weight | CLO | Bloom's Level | # Items | Item Type |
|-------|--------|-----|---------------|---------|-----------|
| Topic A | 25% | CLO1 | Remember (1) | 10 | MCQ |
| Topic B | 30% | CLO2 | Apply (3) | 3 | Short answer |
| Topic C | 25% | CLO3 | Analyze (4) | 2 | Case analysis |
| Topic D | 20% | CLO4 | Evaluate (5) | 1 | Essay |
| **Total** | **100%** | | | **16** | |

5. Rubric Design

Rubrics communicate expectations and ensure grading consistency. Choose the format to match the grading context:

  • Analytic rubric — separate criteria (thesis, evidence, analysis, writing) each scored across performance levels; best for detailed, defensible grading.
  • Holistic rubric — a single letter-grade scale with a descriptor per band; best for fast, whole-work judgments.
  • Single-point rubric — one column of proficiency criteria flanked by open "areas for growth" and "evidence of excellence" columns; best for feedback-rich, low-stakes contexts.

Full copy-paste-ready versions of all three rubric formats: see references/course_design_templates.md.

6. Syllabus Design

A syllabus serves as a learning contract, a course map, and a motivational document. A complete syllabus covers: instructor information, course description, learning outcomes, required materials, an assessment-and-grading table (component / weight / due / CLO), the grading scale, course policies (attendance, late work, integrity, technology, communication), accessibility and diversity/inclusion statements, and a weekly schedule.

Full copy-paste-ready syllabus template with every component and example tables: see references/course_design_templates.md.

7. Lesson Plan Design

A single-session lesson plan sequences a class period from opening hook through mini-lecture, active learning, whole-class debrief, and closing formative check. It also specifies session-level objectives (aligned to CLOs), pre-class preparation, a timed session-flow table, a contingency plan (stalled discussion / early finish / tech failure), and a post-session reflection.

Full copy-paste-ready single-session lesson plan template with a timed session-flow table: see references/course_design_templates.md.

8. Online and Hybrid Course Design

Modality Comparison:

Feature Face-to-Face Hybrid/Blended Fully Online (Sync) Fully Online (Async)
Interaction Real-time, in-person Mix of in-person and online Real-time via video Discussion boards, email
Flexibility Low (fixed time/place) Medium Medium (fixed time) High (any time)
Community building Natural Requires intentional design Possible with effort Challenging
Technology dependence Low Medium High High
Best for Labs, discussions, performances Blending lecture and application Geographically distributed cohorts Working professionals

Community of Inquiry Framework (Garrison, Anderson, Archer): Meaningful online learning arises at the intersection of three presences — social presence (open communication, group cohesion, affective expression), cognitive presence (triggering, exploration, integration, resolution), and teaching presence (design/organization, facilitating discourse, direct instruction). The educational experience is shaped by setting climate, supporting discourse, and selecting content.

The full Community of Inquiry diagram and a complete Online Module Design Checklist (before-the-module, content delivery, active learning, assessment, and instructor-presence sections): see references/course_design_templates.md.

9. Inclusive Pedagogy

Inclusive teaching ensures that all students, regardless of background, identity, ability, or prior preparation, have equitable opportunities to learn.

Universal Design for Learning (UDL Guidelines 3.0, CAST 2024) — Three Principles:

Principle Guidelines (3.0) Implementation Examples
Design Multiple Means of Engagement (the WHY of learning) Welcoming interests & identities; sustaining effort & persistence; emotional capacity Choice in assignment topics; varied assessment formats; relevance to diverse experiences
Design Multiple Means of Representation (the WHAT of learning) Perception; language & symbols; building knowledge Videos with captions; diagrams with alt text; glossaries; multiple examples from different contexts
Design Multiple Means of Action & Expression (the HOW of learning) Interaction; expression & communication; strategy development Write or record; individual or group; scaffolded milestones; flexible deadlines with structure

Version 3.0 (July 2024) replaced 2.2's goal of "expert learners" with learner agency (purposeful & reflective, resourceful & authentic, strategic & action-oriented) and treats learners' identities as part of variability; confirm current checkpoint labels at udlguidelines.cast.org before quoting them.

Inclusive Assessment Strategies:

  • Offer assessment menus: "Choose 3 of 5 options to demonstrate CLO2"
  • Use specifications grading to reduce bias in subjective evaluation
  • Provide exemplars of strong, adequate, and weak work
  • Allow revision and resubmission on major assignments
  • Build in low-stakes practice before high-stakes assessments
  • Ensure exam questions do not rely on culturally specific knowledge unrelated to the learning outcome

Addressing Diverse Prior Knowledge:

Pre-assessment at course start
├── Diagnostic quiz (not graded) → Identify prerequisite gaps
├── Background knowledge survey → Understand student contexts
└── Skills inventory → Map incoming competencies

Differentiated support
├── Remedial resources for students below threshold
├── Challenge extensions for advanced students
└── Flexible pathways through core content

10. Curriculum Mapping

Curriculum mapping ensures coherence across an entire program of study.

Program-Level Mapping Template:

## Program: [Degree Name]
## Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)

| PLO | Description | Introduced (I) | Reinforced (R) | Mastered (M) |
|-----|-------------|-----------------|-----------------|----------------|
| PLO1 | [Description] | COURSE101 | COURSE201, COURSE301 | COURSE401 |
| PLO2 | [Description] | COURSE102 | COURSE202 | COURSE302, COURSE402 |
| PLO3 | [Description] | COURSE101 | COURSE301 | COURSE401 |

## Gap Analysis
- PLO4 is only addressed in one course — add reinforcement opportunity
- No course provides mastery-level assessment for PLO2 — revise capstone
- COURSE203 does not map to any PLO — justify or redesign

Best Practices

  1. Start with outcomes, not content. Content is a means to an outcome, not the goal itself. Resist the urge to design around topics you want to cover.

  2. Align everything. Use the alignment audit template regularly. If an assessment does not map to an outcome, either the assessment or the outcome is wrong.

  3. Use formative assessment frequently. Do not wait until the midterm to discover students are lost. Check understanding every session.

  4. Design for the margins. When you design for students with the greatest barriers (disability, language, prior knowledge gaps), you improve learning for everyone (curb-cut effect).

  5. Scaffold complexity. Do not jump from Remember to Create. Build through Bloom's levels progressively across the semester.

  6. Make the implicit explicit. State expectations clearly. Provide rubrics before assignments. Explain why activities matter. Share the course design rationale with students.

  7. Iterate based on evidence. Use student feedback, grade distributions, and your own reflections to revise. Teaching design is never finished.

  8. Balance workload. Use a course workload estimator to ensure total student hours are reasonable (rule of thumb: 2-3 hours outside class per credit hour per week).

  9. Build community. Learning is social. Design activities that require meaningful interaction, not just parallel work.

  10. Document your design. Keep a course design portfolio for tenure review, accreditation, and sharing with colleagues.


Common Pitfalls

Pitfall Why It Happens How to Avoid
Content overload Faculty try to cover everything they know Prioritize with backward design — cut what does not serve outcomes
Assessment pileup Assignments accumulate without coordination Map all due dates on a semester calendar; coordinate with colleagues
Misaligned assessments Assessments inherited from previous instructor Audit alignment annually; redesign assessments to match your outcomes
Vague rubrics Written in a hurry without calibration Pilot rubrics with colleagues; use student work samples to test criteria
Inaccessible materials Default to PDF scans, image-heavy slides Check accessibility before posting; use LMS accessibility checker
Ignoring student feedback "Students don't know what's good for them" Distinguish preference feedback from learning feedback; act on patterns
One-size-fits-all design Single modality, single assessment type Apply UDL principles; offer choices where possible
No low-stakes practice Students' first attempt is the graded one Add ungraded or low-weight practice before every major assessment
Isolation in design Designing alone without peer input Participate in teaching communities; invite a colleague to review your syllabus

References

  • Anderson, L. W., & Krathwohl, D. R. (Eds.). (2001). A taxonomy for learning, teaching, and assessing: A revision of Bloom's taxonomy of educational objectives. Longman.
  • Biggs, J., Tang, C., & Kennedy, G. (2022). Teaching for quality learning at university (5th ed.). Open University Press.
  • CAST. (2024). Universal Design for Learning Guidelines version 3.0. https://udlguidelines.cast.org
  • Fink, L. D. (2013). Creating significant learning experiences: An integrated approach to designing college courses (2nd ed.). Jossey-Bass.
  • Garrison, D. R., Anderson, T., & Archer, W. (2000). Critical inquiry in a text-based environment: Computer conferencing in higher education. The Internet and Higher Education, 2(2-3), 87-105.
  • Meyer, A., Rose, D. H., & Gordon, D. (2014). Universal design for learning: Theory and practice. CAST Professional Publishing.
  • Zakrajsek, T. D., & Nilson, L. B. (2023). Teaching at its best: A research-based resource for college instructors (5th ed.). Jossey-Bass.
  • Wiggins, G., & McTighe, J. (2005). Understanding by design (2nd ed.). ASCD.

See also: references/teaching-frameworks.md for expanded framework details.

Part of the AlterLab Academic Skills suite.

Files (alterlab-academic-skills)
  • evals
    • evals.json 6.9 KB
      {
        "skill": "alterlab-teaching-design",
        "evals": [
          {
            "id": "td-backward-design-syllabus",
            "prompt": "I'm building a new undergraduate course on interactive media for next semester. Help me write measurable learning outcomes using backward design and draft a syllabus with an aligned assessment schedule.",
            "expected_output": "Invokes alterlab-teaching-design: applies Wiggins & McTighe backward design (desired results -> evidence -> learning experiences), writes Bloom-aligned measurable outcomes using the ABCD framework, and produces a syllabus with an assessment-to-CLO alignment table.",
            "assertions": [
              {
                "type": "should_trigger",
                "value": true
              },
              {
                "type": "output_contains",
                "value": "ABCD"
              },
              {
                "type": "behavior",
                "value": "Each learning outcome uses an observable, measurable Bloom's verb (not 'understand'/'know'/'appreciate') and is mapped to an assessment, and at least one outcome's cognitive level is named (e.g. Apply, Analyze, Evaluate, Create)."
              }
            ]
          },
          {
            "id": "td-analytic-rubric",
            "prompt": "Can you create an analytic rubric for grading my students' final research projects with criteria for argument, evidence use, analysis, and writing quality at four performance levels?",
            "expected_output": "Invokes alterlab-teaching-design: produces an analytic rubric with weighted criteria and Exemplary/Proficient/Developing/Beginning performance-level descriptors as in the rubric design templates.",
            "assertions": [
              {
                "type": "should_trigger",
                "value": true
              },
              {
                "type": "behavior",
                "value": "Produces a four-column analytic rubric with a row per criterion (argument, evidence use, analysis, writing quality), weighted criteria, and a distinct prose descriptor in each of the four performance-level cells (not just numeric labels)."
              }
            ]
          },
          {
            "id": "td-constructive-alignment-audit",
            "prompt": "My course outcome says students should be able to 'create' a design, but my only assessment is a multiple-choice exam. Can you check whether my activities and assessments are aligned and suggest fixes?",
            "expected_output": "Invokes alterlab-teaching-design: runs a constructive-alignment (Biggs & Tang) audit, flags the create-vs-MCQ misalignment, and recommends a project-based assessment aligned to the cognitive level of the outcome.",
            "assertions": [
              {
                "type": "should_trigger",
                "value": true
              },
              {
                "type": "behavior",
                "value": "Explicitly identifies the assessment as misaligned because a multiple-choice exam cannot evidence a 'create'-level outcome, and recommends replacing it with a production task (project/portfolio/design) at the Create level rather than just adding more MCQ items."
              }
            ]
          },
          {
            "id": "td-hybrid-online-module",
            "prompt": "I'm converting my face-to-face graduate seminar into a hybrid course. How should I structure the online modules and build student presence using the Community of Inquiry framework?",
            "expected_output": "Invokes alterlab-teaching-design: provides hybrid/online module architecture, applies the Community of Inquiry framework (social, cognitive, teaching presence), and uses the online module design and accessibility checklist.",
            "assertions": [
              {
                "type": "should_trigger",
                "value": true
              },
              {
                "type": "behavior",
                "value": "Names all three Community of Inquiry presences (social, cognitive, teaching) with at least one concrete module-design move for each, and includes accessibility provisions (e.g. captions/transcripts) in the online module structure."
              }
            ]
          },
          {
            "id": "td-udl-inclusive-assessment",
            "prompt": "How can I make my assessments more inclusive for students with diverse prior knowledge and disabilities using Universal Design for Learning?",
            "expected_output": "Invokes alterlab-teaching-design: applies UDL's three principles (engagement, representation, action/expression), recommends inclusive assessment strategies such as assessment menus and exemplars, and addresses diverse prior knowledge.",
            "assertions": [
              {
                "type": "should_trigger",
                "value": true
              },
              {
                "type": "behavior",
                "value": "Organizes recommendations under UDL's three principles (engagement/representation/action & expression) and gives at least two concrete inclusive-assessment moves such as an assessment menu, exemplars of strong/weak work, or revision-and-resubmit."
              }
            ]
          },
          {
            "id": "td-not-thesis-chapter",
            "prompt": "Help me structure the methodology chapter of my PhD student's dissertation and prepare them for the proposal defense.",
            "expected_output": "defers to alterlab-thesis-supervisor / does not invoke this skill",
            "assertions": [
              {
                "type": "should_not_trigger",
                "value": true
              },
              {
                "type": "output_contains",
                "value": "alterlab-thesis-supervisor"
              }
            ]
          },
          {
            "id": "td-not-paper-writing",
            "prompt": "I need to write the IMRaD draft and abstract for a conference paper on virtual production and format it in LaTeX with APA 7 citations.",
            "expected_output": "defers to alterlab-paper-writer / does not invoke this skill",
            "assertions": [
              {
                "type": "should_not_trigger",
                "value": true
              },
              {
                "type": "output_contains",
                "value": "alterlab-paper-writer"
              }
            ]
          },
          {
            "id": "td-not-conference-slides",
            "prompt": "Can you build me a polished slide deck for my keynote presentation at the media studies conference?",
            "expected_output": "defers to alterlab-scientific-slides / does not invoke this skill (course/lesson design is not requested)",
            "assertions": [
              {
                "type": "should_not_trigger",
                "value": true
              },
              {
                "type": "output_contains",
                "value": "alterlab-scientific-slides"
              }
            ]
          },
          {
            "id": "td-not-syllabus-ai-policy",
            "prompt": "Draft the generative-AI policy statement for my graduate research-methods syllabus: which assignments allow AI with attribution, which prohibit it, and the disclosure wording students must use.",
            "expected_output": "defers to alterlab-syllabus-ai-policy / does not invoke this skill (the user wants a course-level generative-AI use policy with permitted/restricted/prohibited tiers and disclosure language, not course or assessment design)",
            "assertions": [
              {
                "type": "should_not_trigger",
                "value": true
              },
              {
                "type": "output_contains",
                "value": "alterlab-syllabus-ai-policy"
              }
            ]
          }
        ]
      }
      
  • references
    • course_design_templates.md 8.9 KB
      # Course Design Templates
      
      Copy-paste-ready templates extracted from the Teaching Design skill: rubrics, syllabus structure, lesson plans, online module checklists, and the Community of Inquiry framework.
      
      ## Rubric Templates
      
      **Analytic Rubric Template:**
      
      ```markdown
      ## Rubric: [Assignment Name]
      
      | Criterion (Weight) | Exemplary (4) | Proficient (3) | Developing (2) | Beginning (1) |
      |--------------------|---------------|-----------------|-----------------|----------------|
      | Thesis/Argument (30%) | Original, nuanced argument with clear position; anticipates counterarguments | Clear argument with identifiable position; acknowledges alternatives | Argument present but vague or inconsistent; limited engagement with alternatives | No clear argument; position unclear or absent |
      | Evidence Use (25%) | Integrates 5+ scholarly sources; evidence directly supports claims; synthesizes across sources | Uses 3-4 scholarly sources; evidence supports most claims | Uses 1-2 sources or relies on non-scholarly sources; evidence loosely connected | No evidence or evidence does not support claims |
      | Analysis (25%) | Deep analysis connecting evidence to argument; identifies implications and limitations | Adequate analysis; connects evidence to argument | Surface-level analysis; describes rather than analyzes | No analysis; summary only |
      | Writing Quality (20%) | Clear, precise, professional prose; no errors; appropriate disciplinary register | Generally clear writing; minor errors; appropriate tone | Unclear in places; multiple errors; inconsistent tone | Difficult to follow; pervasive errors |
      ```
      
      **Holistic Rubric Template (for quick grading):**
      
      ```markdown
      | Score | Description |
      |-------|-------------|
      | A (90-100) | Exceeds expectations. Demonstrates mastery of all learning outcomes. Work is original, well-supported, and professionally presented. |
      | B (80-89) | Meets expectations. Demonstrates competence across all outcomes. Work is solid with minor areas for improvement. |
      | C (70-79) | Approaches expectations. Demonstrates partial competence. Significant areas need development. |
      | D (60-69) | Below expectations. Demonstrates limited competence. Major revisions needed. |
      | F (<60) | Does not meet expectations. Fails to demonstrate competence in core outcomes. |
      ```
      
      **Single-Point Rubric (for feedback-rich contexts):**
      
      ```markdown
      | Areas for Growth | Criterion | Evidence of Excellence |
      |-----------------|-----------|----------------------|
      | [Specific feedback] | **Clear research question** — The paper articulates a focused, researchable question appropriate to the discipline | [Specific feedback] |
      | [Specific feedback] | **Methodological rigor** — Methods are appropriate, clearly described, and reproducible | [Specific feedback] |
      | [Specific feedback] | **Critical analysis** — Findings are interpreted with nuance, connected to literature, and limitations acknowledged | [Specific feedback] |
      ```
      
      ## Syllabus Template
      
      A syllabus serves as a learning contract, a course map, and a motivational document.
      
      **Essential Syllabus Components:**
      
      ```markdown
      ## [Course Code]: [Course Title]
      ### [Semester, Year] | [Meeting Pattern] | [Location/Modality]
      
      ### Instructor Information
      - Name, title, pronouns
      - Office location and hours (in-person and virtual)
      - Email and response time policy
      - Preferred contact method
      
      ### Course Description
      [Catalog description + your expanded context for why this course matters]
      
      ### Learning Outcomes
      By the end of this course, students will be able to:
      1. [CLO1 — verb + content + condition + standard]
      2. [CLO2]
      3. [CLO3]
      4. [CLO4]
      
      ### Required Materials
      - [Textbook with ISBN, edition, and whether earlier editions work]
      - [Software with free/paid status and alternatives]
      - [Access codes — with cost and duration]
      
      ### Assessment and Grading
      
      | Component | Weight | Due | CLO Addressed |
      |-----------|--------|-----|---------------|
      | Participation & in-class activities | 10% | Ongoing | CLO1-4 |
      | Reading responses (10 x 2%) | 20% | Weekly | CLO1, CLO2 |
      | Midterm project | 25% | Week 8 | CLO1, CLO3 |
      | Final portfolio | 35% | Finals week | CLO2, CLO4 |
      | Peer review contributions | 10% | Weeks 6, 12 | CLO3 |
      
      ### Grading Scale
      [Institution-specific scale]
      
      ### Course Policies
      - Attendance and participation
      - Late work policy (with grace provisions)
      - Academic integrity statement
      - Technology policy
      - Communication expectations
      
      ### Accessibility Statement
      [Institution's disability services information]
      [Your commitment to accommodations]
      [How to request accommodations]
      
      ### Diversity and Inclusion Statement
      [Your commitment to inclusive learning]
      
      ### Weekly Schedule
      | Week | Topic | Readings | Due |
      |------|-------|----------|-----|
      | 1 | Introduction and course overview | Ch. 1 | — |
      | 2 | [Topic] | [Readings] | Reading Response 1 |
      | ... | ... | ... | ... |
      ```
      
      ## Lesson Plan Template
      
      **Single Session Lesson Plan Template:**
      
      ```markdown
      ## Lesson Plan: [Topic]
      ### Course: [Code] | Date: [Date] | Duration: [Minutes]
      
      ### Learning Objectives (session-level)
      By the end of this session, students will be able to:
      1. [Objective aligned to CLO]
      2. [Objective aligned to CLO]
      
      ### Pre-Class Preparation
      - Students: [Reading, video, pre-quiz]
      - Instructor: [Materials, slides, handouts, tech setup]
      
      ### Session Flow
      
      | Time | Activity | Purpose | Materials |
      |------|----------|---------|-----------|
      | 0:00-0:10 | Opening hook: [provocative question, demo, news item] | Engage, activate prior knowledge | Slides 1-3 |
      | 0:10-0:25 | Mini-lecture: [key concept] | Equip with foundational knowledge | Slides 4-12 |
      | 0:25-0:45 | Active learning: [think-pair-share, case analysis, problem set] | Apply and practice | Handout A |
      | 0:45-0:55 | Whole-class debrief and synthesis | Consolidate understanding | Whiteboard |
      | 0:55-1:00 | Closing: muddiest point + preview next session | Assess and bridge | Exit ticket |
      
      ### Contingency Plan
      - If discussion stalls: [backup prompt or activity]
      - If activity finishes early: [extension question]
      - If technology fails: [analog backup]
      
      ### Post-Session Reflection
      - What worked well?
      - What would I change?
      - What do students still struggle with?
      ```
      
      ## Community of Inquiry Framework (Garrison, Anderson, Archer)
      
      ```
                          ┌─────────────────────┐
                          │   EDUCATIONAL        │
                          │   EXPERIENCE         │
                          │                      │
                 ┌───────┤  Setting Climate     ├───────┐
                 │       │  Supporting Discourse │       │
                 │       │  Selecting Content    │       │
                 │       └──────────┬───────────┘       │
                 │                  │                    │
          ┌──────▼──────┐   ┌──────▼──────┐   ┌────────▼────────┐
          │   SOCIAL    │   │  COGNITIVE  │   │    TEACHING      │
          │  PRESENCE   │   │  PRESENCE   │   │    PRESENCE      │
          │             │   │             │   │                   │
          │ Open comm.  │   │ Triggering  │   │ Design &         │
          │ Group       │   │ Exploration │   │   organization   │
          │  cohesion   │   │ Integration │   │ Facilitating     │
          │ Affective   │   │ Resolution  │   │   discourse      │
          │  expression │   │             │   │ Direct           │
          │             │   │             │   │   instruction    │
          └─────────────┘   └─────────────┘   └─────────────────┘
      ```
      
      ## Online Module Design Checklist
      
      ```markdown
      ## Module [N]: [Title]
      
      ### Before the Module
      - [ ] Learning objectives clearly stated
      - [ ] Connection to prior module explicit
      - [ ] All materials accessible (captioned videos, alt text, screen-reader compatible PDFs)
      - [ ] Estimated time to complete provided
      
      ### Content Delivery
      - [ ] Video lectures chunked into segments of 6-12 minutes
      - [ ] Transcripts and/or closed captions available
      - [ ] Key readings provided with guiding questions
      - [ ] Interactive elements embedded (H5P, embedded quizzes)
      
      ### Active Learning
      - [ ] Discussion prompt requires application, not summary
      - [ ] Peer interaction required (reply to 2 classmates with substantive feedback)
      - [ ] Practice activity with immediate feedback (auto-graded quiz, simulation)
      
      ### Assessment
      - [ ] Aligned to module learning objectives
      - [ ] Rubric published before assignment opens
      - [ ] Submission method clear (file type, naming convention, LMS upload)
      - [ ] Deadline and late policy stated
      
      ### Instructor Presence
      - [ ] Announcement or video introduction to the module
      - [ ] Discussion facilitation plan (when and how often to post)
      - [ ] Feedback turnaround time communicated
      ```
      
    • teaching-frameworks.md 12.6 KB
      # Teaching Design Frameworks Reference
      
      ## 1. Bloom's Revised Taxonomy (Anderson & Krathwohl, 2001)
      
      ### Cognitive Process Dimension
      
      | Level | Category | Definition | Key Verbs |
      |-------|----------|------------|-----------|
      | 1 | Remember | Retrieve relevant knowledge from long-term memory | Define, duplicate, list, memorize, recall, repeat, state, identify, name, recognize |
      | 2 | Understand | Construct meaning from instructional messages | Classify, describe, discuss, explain, identify, locate, paraphrase, report, select, summarize, translate, interpret |
      | 3 | Apply | Carry out or use a procedure in a given situation | Execute, implement, solve, use, demonstrate, interpret, operate, schedule, sketch, calculate |
      | 4 | Analyze | Break material into constituent parts; determine how parts relate to each other and to an overall structure | Differentiate, organize, relate, compare, contrast, distinguish, examine, experiment, question, test, deconstruct |
      | 5 | Evaluate | Make judgments based on criteria and standards | Appraise, argue, defend, judge, select, support, value, critique, justify, weigh, prioritize |
      | 6 | Create | Put elements together to form a coherent or functional whole; reorganize elements into a new pattern or structure | Design, assemble, construct, conjecture, develop, formulate, author, investigate, produce, plan, compose |
      
      ### Knowledge Dimension
      
      | Type | Description | Example |
      |------|-------------|---------|
      | Factual | Basic elements students must know | Terminology, specific details and elements |
      | Conceptual | Interrelationships among basic elements | Classifications, categories, principles, generalizations, theories, models, structures |
      | Procedural | How to do something; methods of inquiry; criteria for using skills, algorithms, techniques, methods | Subject-specific skills, techniques, methods; criteria for determining when to use appropriate procedures |
      | Metacognitive | Awareness and knowledge of one's own cognition | Strategic knowledge, cognitive tasks, self-knowledge |
      
      ### Taxonomy Table (2D)
      
      Use this table to classify learning outcomes by both cognitive process and knowledge type:
      
      ```
                       Remember  Understand  Apply  Analyze  Evaluate  Create
      Factual          [   ]     [   ]      [   ]   [   ]    [   ]    [   ]
      Conceptual       [   ]     [   ]      [   ]   [   ]    [   ]    [   ]
      Procedural       [   ]     [   ]      [   ]   [   ]    [   ]    [   ]
      Metacognitive    [   ]     [   ]      [   ]   [   ]    [   ]    [   ]
      ```
      
      ---
      
      ## 2. Backward Design (Wiggins & McTighe, 2005)
      
      ### The Three Stages in Detail
      
      **Stage 1: Identify Desired Results**
      
      Key questions:
      - What worthy goals does this address? (Standards, program outcomes, institutional goals)
      - What enduring understandings are desired? (Big ideas that transfer)
      - What essential questions will be explored? (Provocative, open-ended, recurring)
      - What key knowledge and skills will students acquire?
      
      Priority framework for content:
      ```
      ┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
      │         Worth being familiar with        │  (Peripheral knowledge)
      │    ┌─────────────────────────────────┐   │
      │    │    Important to know and do      │   │  (Core content and skills)
      │    │   ┌─────────────────────────┐   │   │
      │    │   │   Enduring              │   │   │  (Big ideas, transfer)
      │    │   │   Understanding         │   │   │
      │    │   └─────────────────────────┘   │   │
      │    └─────────────────────────────────┘   │
      └─────────────────────────────────────────┘
      ```
      
      **Stage 2: Determine Acceptable Evidence**
      
      Types of assessment evidence (GRASPS for performance tasks):
      - **G**oal: What is the goal of the task?
      - **R**ole: What role does the student play?
      - **A**udience: Who is the audience?
      - **S**ituation: What is the context/scenario?
      - **P**roduct/Performance: What will students create?
      - **S**tandards: By what criteria will work be judged?
      
      **Stage 3: Plan Learning Experiences and Instruction (WHERETO)**
      
      - **W** — Where are we going? Why? What is expected?
      - **H** — How will we hook and engage students?
      - **E** — How will we equip students for expected performances?
      - **R** — How will we help students rethink and revise?
      - **E** — How will students self-evaluate and reflect?
      - **T** — How will we tailor learning to varied needs, interests, and styles?
      - **O** — How will we organize and sequence the learning?
      
      ---
      
      ## 3. Constructive Alignment (Biggs et al., 2022)
      
      ### The SOLO Taxonomy
      
      Biggs's Structure of the Observed Learning Outcome (SOLO) taxonomy complements Bloom's:
      
      | Level | Description | Student Response |
      |-------|-------------|-----------------|
      | Pre-structural | Misses the point entirely | Irrelevant information, tautology |
      | Uni-structural | Focuses on one relevant aspect | Can identify, name, follow simple procedure |
      | Multi-structural | Addresses several relevant aspects but treats them independently | Can enumerate, describe, list, combine |
      | Relational | Integrates several aspects into a coherent whole | Can compare, relate, analyze, apply, explain causes |
      | Extended abstract | Generalizes beyond what was taught to new domains | Can theorize, generalize, hypothesize, reflect, create |
      
      ### Alignment Principles
      
      1. Clearly state intended learning outcomes (ILOs) using verbs that specify the level of understanding required
      2. Design teaching/learning activities (TLAs) that require students to perform at the same cognitive level as the ILOs
      3. Design assessment tasks (ATs) that require students to demonstrate the same cognitive performances specified in the ILOs
      4. Transform grading criteria into rubrics that specify the quality levels of the performances
      
      ### Verbs for Alignment
      
      ```
      ILO Verb         →  TLA Design                    →  AT Design
      ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
      "Explain"        →  Discussion, teach-back         →  Short answer, oral exam
      "Apply"          →  Problem sets, lab work          →  Applied problem, case study
      "Analyze"        →  Case study discussions          →  Analytical essay, report
      "Evaluate"       →  Debate, peer review             →  Critical review, position paper
      "Create"         →  Project-based learning          →  Portfolio, design project
      ```
      
      ---
      
      ## 4. Fink's Taxonomy of Significant Learning (2013)
      
      Fink's taxonomy is non-hierarchical and interactive. Six categories of significant learning:
      
      | Category | Description | Key Questions |
      |----------|-------------|---------------|
      | Foundational Knowledge | Understanding and remembering information and ideas | What key information is important for students to understand and remember? |
      | Application | Skills, critical/creative/practical thinking, managing projects | What kinds of thinking are important? What skills do students need to learn? |
      | Integration | Connecting ideas, people, and realms of life | What connections should students recognize and make? |
      | Human Dimension | Learning about oneself and others | What should students learn about themselves? About interacting with others? |
      | Caring | Developing new feelings, interests, and values | What changes in feelings, interests, or values would be important? |
      | Learning How to Learn | Becoming a better student, self-directing learner | What would students need to learn for them to continue learning after the course? |
      
      ---
      
      ## 5. Universal Design for Learning (CAST)
      
      > **Version note:** CAST released **UDL Guidelines 3.0** on 2024-07-30, superseding 2.2. The three principles below (Engagement / Representation / Action & Expression) are stable across versions, but 3.0 reorganized and relabeled the underlying guidelines/checkpoints and added an explicit focus on removing barriers rooted in bias and exclusion. The numbered checkpoints listed here follow the **2.2** structure; confirm the current labels at https://udlguidelines.cast.org before quoting checkpoint numbers in formal materials.
      
      ### UDL Guidelines 3.0 (current)
      
      - **Design Multiple Means of Engagement**: Welcoming Interests & Identities (7); Sustaining Effort & Persistence (8); Emotional Capacity (9)
      - **Design Multiple Means of Representation**: Perception (1); Language & Symbols (2); Building Knowledge (3)
      - **Design Multiple Means of Action & Expression**: Interaction (4); Expression & Communication (5); Strategy Development (6)
      - **Goal**: learner agency that is purposeful & reflective, resourceful & authentic, strategic & action-oriented (2.2 framed this as "expert learners")
      
      ### UDL Guidelines (2.2 structure, for checkpoint-level detail)
      
      **Engagement (Affective Networks — the WHY)**
      - Provide options for recruiting interest (7)
        - 7.1 Optimize individual choice and autonomy
        - 7.2 Optimize relevance, value, and authenticity
        - 7.3 Minimize threats and distractions
      - Provide options for sustaining effort and persistence (8)
        - 8.1 Heighten salience of goals and objectives
        - 8.2 Vary demands and resources to optimize challenge
        - 8.3 Foster collaboration and community
        - 8.4 Increase mastery-oriented feedback
      - Provide options for self-regulation (9)
        - 9.1 Promote expectations and beliefs that optimize motivation
        - 9.2 Facilitate personal coping skills and strategies
        - 9.3 Develop self-assessment and reflection
      
      **Representation (Recognition Networks — the WHAT)**
      - Provide options for perception (1)
        - 1.1 Offer ways of customizing the display of information
        - 1.2 Offer alternatives for auditory information
        - 1.3 Offer alternatives for visual information
      - Provide options for language and symbols (2)
        - 2.1 Clarify vocabulary and symbols
        - 2.2 Clarify syntax and structure
        - 2.3 Support decoding of text, mathematical notation, and symbols
        - 2.4 Promote understanding across languages
        - 2.5 Illustrate through multiple media
      - Provide options for comprehension (3)
        - 3.1 Activate or supply background knowledge
        - 3.2 Highlight patterns, critical features, big ideas, and relationships
        - 3.3 Guide information processing and visualization
        - 3.4 Maximize transfer and generalization
      
      **Action & Expression (Strategic Networks — the HOW)**
      - Provide options for physical action (4)
        - 4.1 Vary the methods for response and navigation
        - 4.2 Optimize access to tools and assistive technologies
      - Provide options for expression and communication (5)
        - 5.1 Use multiple media for communication
        - 5.2 Use multiple tools for construction and composition
        - 5.3 Build fluencies with graduated levels of support for practice and performance
      - Provide options for executive functions (6)
        - 6.1 Guide appropriate goal-setting
        - 6.2 Support planning and strategy development
        - 6.3 Facilitate managing information and resources
        - 6.4 Enhance capacity for monitoring progress
      
      ---
      
      ## 6. Pedagogical Content Knowledge (Shulman, 1986)
      
      Effective teaching requires the intersection of:
      - **Content Knowledge (CK)**: Deep understanding of the discipline
      - **Pedagogical Knowledge (PK)**: Understanding of teaching and learning processes
      - **Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK)**: Understanding of how to teach specific content to specific learners
      
      Key components of PCK:
      1. Knowledge of student preconceptions and misconceptions in the discipline
      2. Knowledge of representations, analogies, examples, and explanations that make content accessible
      3. Knowledge of what makes specific topics easy or difficult to learn
      4. Knowledge of curriculum — horizontal (across courses) and vertical (across levels)
      
      ---
      
      ## Key References
      
      - Anderson, L. W., & Krathwohl, D. R. (Eds.). (2001). *A taxonomy for learning, teaching, and assessing*. Longman.
      - Biggs, J., Tang, C., & Kennedy, G. (2022). *Teaching for quality learning at university* (5th ed.). Open University Press.
      - CAST. (2024). *Universal Design for Learning Guidelines version 3.0*. https://udlguidelines.cast.org (version 2.2, 2018, remains available on the site's Downloads page)
      - Fink, L. D. (2013). *Creating significant learning experiences* (2nd ed.). Jossey-Bass.
      - Shulman, L. S. (1986). Those who understand: Knowledge growth in teaching. *Educational Researcher*, 15(2), 4-14.
      - Wiggins, G., & McTighe, J. (2005). *Understanding by design* (2nd ed.). ASCD.
      
  • SKILL.md 21.8 KB
    ---
    name: alterlab-teaching-design
    description: "Designs courses and teaching materials using backward design (Wiggins & McTighe), constructive alignment (Biggs), and Bloom's taxonomy alignment, generating rubrics, formative and summative assessments, syllabi, lesson plans, inclusive-pedagogy guidance, and online/hybrid course architecture. Use when the request mentions course design, syllabus, learning outcomes, rubric, assessment design, lesson plan, backward design, constructive alignment, Bloom's taxonomy, curriculum mapping, course redesign, inclusive pedagogy, hybrid course, or online course design. Part of the AlterLab Academic Skills suite."
    license: MIT
    allowed-tools: Read Write Edit Bash WebFetch WebSearch
    compatibility: Uses built-in Claude tools only (Read/Write/Edit/Bash/WebFetch/WebSearch); no external API key or account required
    metadata:
      skill-author: AlterLab
      version: "1.1.0"
      last_updated: "2026-09-23"
    ---
    
    # Teaching Design — Course & Curriculum Design Agent
    
    A comprehensive teaching design tool for faculty at all career stages. Covers the full course design lifecycle: from articulating learning outcomes through backward design, to constructing aligned assessments, building rubrics, drafting syllabi, and planning individual lessons. Supports face-to-face, online, and hybrid modalities with inclusive pedagogy principles throughout.
    
    ## Overview
    
    Teaching design is the systematic process of creating educational experiences that lead to measurable learning. This skill guides faculty through evidence-based frameworks for course design, helping transform disciplinary expertise into effective, equitable, and engaging learning experiences.
    
    The skill integrates three foundational frameworks:
    1. **Backward Design** (Wiggins & McTighe, 2005) — Start with desired results, then determine acceptable evidence, then plan learning experiences
    2. **Constructive Alignment** (Biggs et al., 2022) — Align intended learning outcomes, teaching/learning activities, and assessment tasks
    3. **Bloom's Revised Taxonomy** (Anderson & Krathwohl, 2001) — Classify cognitive complexity of learning outcomes across six levels
    
    ## When to Use This Skill
    
    This skill should be used when:
    - Designing a new course from scratch
    - Redesigning or revising an existing course
    - Writing or refining learning outcomes and objectives
    - Creating assessment instruments (exams, projects, portfolios)
    - Building rubrics for grading consistency
    - Drafting or updating a course syllabus
    - Planning individual class sessions or lesson sequences
    - Transitioning a face-to-face course to online or hybrid format
    - Conducting curriculum mapping across a program
    - Implementing inclusive and accessible pedagogy
    - Preparing course-level evidence for accreditation reviews
    - Mentoring junior faculty on teaching practices
    
    ### Does NOT Trigger
    
    | Scenario | Use Instead |
    |----------|-------------|
    | Writing a course's generative-AI use policy or syllabus AI statement | `alterlab-syllabus-ai-policy` |
    | Program-level assurance of learning for AACSB or ABET (outcome maps, closing the loop) | `alterlab-accreditation-aol` |
    | Writing an academic paper, including a SoTL paper about a course | `alterlab-paper-writer` |
    | Statistical analysis of student/grade data | `alterlab-statistical-analysis` |
    | Building a slide deck for a talk or lecture | `alterlab-scientific-slides` |
    
    ---
    
    ## Core Capabilities
    
    ### 1. Learning Outcome Design with Bloom's Taxonomy
    
    Learning outcomes are the foundation of all course design. Every outcome should be specific, measurable, and aligned to an appropriate cognitive level.
    
    **Bloom's Revised Taxonomy — Six Cognitive Levels:**
    
    | Level | Category | Key Verbs | Example Outcome |
    |-------|----------|-----------|-----------------|
    | 1 | Remember | Define, list, recall, identify, name | List the five principles of effective survey design |
    | 2 | Understand | Explain, summarize, paraphrase, classify | Explain the difference between formative and summative assessment |
    | 3 | Apply | Implement, use, execute, demonstrate | Apply backward design to create a course module |
    | 4 | Analyze | Differentiate, organize, compare, deconstruct | Analyze alignment between outcomes, activities, and assessments in a syllabus |
    | 5 | Evaluate | Judge, critique, justify, appraise | Evaluate the validity of a rubric using inter-rater reliability data |
    | 6 | Create | Design, construct, produce, formulate | Design an inclusive assessment strategy for a hybrid graduate seminar |
    
    **ABCD Framework for Writing Outcomes:**
    
    ```
    A — Audience:    Who is the learner? (e.g., "By the end of this course, students will...")
    B — Behavior:    What will they do? (Use observable, measurable verbs)
    C — Condition:   Under what conditions? (e.g., "Given a dataset...", "Without references...")
    D — Degree:      To what standard? (e.g., "with 80% accuracy", "meeting APA 7 standards")
    ```
    
    **Example — Well-Written vs. Poorly Written Outcomes:**
    
    ```
    POOR:   "Students will understand research ethics."
             (Problem: "understand" is not observable or measurable)
    
    BETTER: "Students will identify three ethical violations in a given research scenario
             and propose corrections consistent with the Belmont Report principles."
             (A: Students, B: identify and propose, C: given a scenario, D: consistent with Belmont)
    ```
    
    **Outcome Mapping Template:**
    
    ```markdown
    ## Course: [Title]
    ## Program Learning Outcome Alignment
    
    | Course Learning Outcome | Bloom's Level | Program Outcome | Assessment Method | Week(s) |
    |------------------------|---------------|-----------------|-------------------|---------|
    | CLO1: [outcome text]   | Apply (3)     | PLO2            | Project Phase 1   | 4-6     |
    | CLO2: [outcome text]   | Analyze (4)   | PLO3            | Case Study Report | 8-10    |
    | CLO3: [outcome text]   | Evaluate (5)  | PLO5            | Peer Review       | 12-14   |
    | CLO4: [outcome text]   | Create (6)    | PLO1, PLO4      | Final Portfolio   | 15-16   |
    ```
    
    ### 2. Backward Design Process
    
    Backward design inverts the traditional approach of starting with content and ending with a test. Instead, it begins with the end in mind.
    
    **Stage 1 — Identify Desired Results**
    
    Ask:
    - What should students know, understand, and be able to do?
    - What enduring understandings should they retain years later?
    - What essential questions will guide inquiry?
    
    ```markdown
    ## Desired Results Template
    
    ### Established Goals
    - [Institutional/program goals this course addresses]
    
    ### Enduring Understandings
    Students will understand that...
    1. [Big idea that transcends the course]
    2. [Transferable principle]
    
    ### Essential Questions
    1. [Open-ended question that provokes deep thinking]
    2. [Question that recurs throughout the course]
    
    ### Knowledge and Skills
    Students will know...              Students will be able to...
    - [Key facts/concepts]             - [Key skills/processes]
    - [Vocabulary/definitions]         - [Procedures/techniques]
    ```
    
    **Stage 2 — Determine Acceptable Evidence**
    
    Ask:
    - How will I know students have achieved the outcomes?
    - What performances or products will demonstrate understanding?
    - What criteria distinguish levels of quality?
    
    ```markdown
    ## Evidence Plan
    
    | Learning Outcome | Assessment Type | Format | Weight | Timing |
    |-----------------|-----------------|--------|--------|--------|
    | CLO1            | Summative       | Research proposal | 25% | Week 8 |
    | CLO2            | Formative       | Weekly reflections | 10% | Ongoing |
    | CLO3            | Summative       | Peer review exercise | 20% | Week 12 |
    | CLO4            | Summative       | Final portfolio | 35% | Week 16 |
    | CLO1-4          | Formative       | In-class activities | 10% | Ongoing |
    ```
    
    **Stage 3 — Plan Learning Experiences (WHERETO)**
    
    ```
    W — Where is the course headed? Help students see the big picture.
    H — Hook students early. Engage curiosity with a provocative question or problem.
    E — Equip students with knowledge, skills, and tools.
    R — Rethink. Provide opportunities to revise and reflect.
    E — Evaluate. Let students self-assess and get feedback.
    T — Tailor. Differentiate for diverse learners.
    O — Organize. Sequence for maximum coherence and engagement.
    ```
    
    ### 3. Constructive Alignment
    
    Constructive alignment (Biggs et al., 2022) ensures that what you teach, how you teach it, and how you assess it are all pointing in the same direction.
    
    **Alignment Audit Template:**
    
    ```markdown
    ## Alignment Check
    
    | Learning Outcome | Teaching/Learning Activity | Assessment Task | Aligned? |
    |-----------------|---------------------------|-----------------|----------|
    | CLO1: Analyze... | Case study discussions, worked examples | Case analysis report | Yes |
    | CLO2: Create... | Lectures only | Multiple-choice exam | NO — misaligned |
    ```
    
    **Common Misalignment Patterns:**
    
    | Problem | Symptom | Fix |
    |---------|---------|-----|
    | Outcome says "create" but assessment is MCQ | Students memorize instead of producing | Replace with project-based assessment |
    | Activities are passive but outcome requires application | Students cannot transfer to new contexts | Add active learning: problem sets, simulations |
    | High-level outcomes but only low-level activities | Students plateau at remember/understand | Scaffold activities up Bloom's levels progressively |
    | Assessment tests content not in outcomes | Students feel blindsided; grade disputes | Map every assessment item to a specific CLO |
    
    ### 4. Assessment Design
    
    #### Formative Assessment (Assessment FOR Learning)
    
    Purpose: Monitor learning in progress, provide feedback, adjust teaching.
    
    **Techniques by Class Size:**
    
    | Technique | Small (<30) | Medium (30-100) | Large (100+) | Digital? |
    |-----------|-------------|-----------------|--------------|----------|
    | Muddiest Point | Write on cards | Poll Everywhere | LMS poll | Yes |
    | Think-Pair-Share | Verbal | With microphone | With clickers | Optional |
    | Concept Maps | Paper, share in groups | Digital (Miro) | LMS submission | Yes |
    | One-Minute Paper | End of class | End of class | LMS auto-collect | Yes |
    | Exit Tickets | Paper slips | Google Form | LMS quiz | Yes |
    | Peer Instruction | Clickers + discussion | Clickers + discussion | Clickers + discussion | Yes |
    | Draft Submissions | Written feedback | Rubric + comments | Peer review + spot-check | Yes |
    
    #### Summative Assessment (Assessment OF Learning)
    
    Purpose: Evaluate achievement at the end of a learning period.
    
    **Assessment Type Selection Guide:**
    
    ```
    Does the outcome require PRODUCTION of an artifact?
    ├── Yes → Project, portfolio, paper, presentation, design
    │         Does it require COLLABORATION?
    │         ├── Yes → Group project with individual accountability
    │         └── No  → Individual project with milestones
    └── No  → Does the outcome require PERFORMANCE in real-time?
              ├── Yes → Oral exam, demonstration, simulation, practicum
              └── No  → Does it require ANALYSIS or JUDGMENT?
                        ├── Yes → Case study, essay, critique, problem set
                        └── No  → Selected-response (MCQ, matching, T/F)
                                  Use ONLY for Remember/Understand outcomes
    ```
    
    **Exam Blueprint Template:**
    
    ```markdown
    ## Exam Blueprint: [Course] Midterm
    
    | Topic | Weight | CLO | Bloom's Level | # Items | Item Type |
    |-------|--------|-----|---------------|---------|-----------|
    | Topic A | 25% | CLO1 | Remember (1) | 10 | MCQ |
    | Topic B | 30% | CLO2 | Apply (3) | 3 | Short answer |
    | Topic C | 25% | CLO3 | Analyze (4) | 2 | Case analysis |
    | Topic D | 20% | CLO4 | Evaluate (5) | 1 | Essay |
    | **Total** | **100%** | | | **16** | |
    ```
    
    ### 5. Rubric Design
    
    Rubrics communicate expectations and ensure grading consistency. Choose the format to match the grading context:
    
    - **Analytic rubric** — separate criteria (thesis, evidence, analysis, writing) each scored across performance levels; best for detailed, defensible grading.
    - **Holistic rubric** — a single letter-grade scale with a descriptor per band; best for fast, whole-work judgments.
    - **Single-point rubric** — one column of proficiency criteria flanked by open "areas for growth" and "evidence of excellence" columns; best for feedback-rich, low-stakes contexts.
    
    Full copy-paste-ready versions of all three rubric formats: see `references/course_design_templates.md`.
    
    ### 6. Syllabus Design
    
    A syllabus serves as a learning contract, a course map, and a motivational document. A complete syllabus covers: instructor information, course description, learning outcomes, required materials, an assessment-and-grading table (component / weight / due / CLO), the grading scale, course policies (attendance, late work, integrity, technology, communication), accessibility and diversity/inclusion statements, and a weekly schedule.
    
    Full copy-paste-ready syllabus template with every component and example tables: see `references/course_design_templates.md`.
    
    ### 7. Lesson Plan Design
    
    A single-session lesson plan sequences a class period from opening hook through mini-lecture, active learning, whole-class debrief, and closing formative check. It also specifies session-level objectives (aligned to CLOs), pre-class preparation, a timed session-flow table, a contingency plan (stalled discussion / early finish / tech failure), and a post-session reflection.
    
    Full copy-paste-ready single-session lesson plan template with a timed session-flow table: see `references/course_design_templates.md`.
    
    ### 8. Online and Hybrid Course Design
    
    **Modality Comparison:**
    
    | Feature | Face-to-Face | Hybrid/Blended | Fully Online (Sync) | Fully Online (Async) |
    |---------|-------------|----------------|---------------------|---------------------|
    | Interaction | Real-time, in-person | Mix of in-person and online | Real-time via video | Discussion boards, email |
    | Flexibility | Low (fixed time/place) | Medium | Medium (fixed time) | High (any time) |
    | Community building | Natural | Requires intentional design | Possible with effort | Challenging |
    | Technology dependence | Low | Medium | High | High |
    | Best for | Labs, discussions, performances | Blending lecture and application | Geographically distributed cohorts | Working professionals |
    
    **Community of Inquiry Framework (Garrison, Anderson, Archer):** Meaningful online learning arises at the intersection of three presences — **social presence** (open communication, group cohesion, affective expression), **cognitive presence** (triggering, exploration, integration, resolution), and **teaching presence** (design/organization, facilitating discourse, direct instruction). The educational experience is shaped by setting climate, supporting discourse, and selecting content.
    
    The full Community of Inquiry diagram and a complete Online Module Design Checklist (before-the-module, content delivery, active learning, assessment, and instructor-presence sections): see `references/course_design_templates.md`.
    
    ### 9. Inclusive Pedagogy
    
    Inclusive teaching ensures that all students, regardless of background, identity, ability, or prior preparation, have equitable opportunities to learn.
    
    **Universal Design for Learning (UDL Guidelines 3.0, CAST 2024) — Three Principles:**
    
    | Principle | Guidelines (3.0) | Implementation Examples |
    |-----------|------------------|----------------------|
    | **Design Multiple Means of Engagement** (the WHY of learning) | Welcoming interests & identities; sustaining effort & persistence; emotional capacity | Choice in assignment topics; varied assessment formats; relevance to diverse experiences |
    | **Design Multiple Means of Representation** (the WHAT of learning) | Perception; language & symbols; building knowledge | Videos with captions; diagrams with alt text; glossaries; multiple examples from different contexts |
    | **Design Multiple Means of Action & Expression** (the HOW of learning) | Interaction; expression & communication; strategy development | Write or record; individual or group; scaffolded milestones; flexible deadlines with structure |
    
    Version 3.0 (July 2024) replaced 2.2's goal of "expert learners" with learner agency (purposeful & reflective, resourceful & authentic, strategic & action-oriented) and treats learners' identities as part of variability; confirm current checkpoint labels at udlguidelines.cast.org before quoting them.
    
    **Inclusive Assessment Strategies:**
    
    - Offer assessment menus: "Choose 3 of 5 options to demonstrate CLO2"
    - Use specifications grading to reduce bias in subjective evaluation
    - Provide exemplars of strong, adequate, and weak work
    - Allow revision and resubmission on major assignments
    - Build in low-stakes practice before high-stakes assessments
    - Ensure exam questions do not rely on culturally specific knowledge unrelated to the learning outcome
    
    **Addressing Diverse Prior Knowledge:**
    
    ```
    Pre-assessment at course start
    ├── Diagnostic quiz (not graded) → Identify prerequisite gaps
    ├── Background knowledge survey → Understand student contexts
    └── Skills inventory → Map incoming competencies
    
    Differentiated support
    ├── Remedial resources for students below threshold
    ├── Challenge extensions for advanced students
    └── Flexible pathways through core content
    ```
    
    ### 10. Curriculum Mapping
    
    Curriculum mapping ensures coherence across an entire program of study.
    
    **Program-Level Mapping Template:**
    
    ```markdown
    ## Program: [Degree Name]
    ## Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
    
    | PLO | Description | Introduced (I) | Reinforced (R) | Mastered (M) |
    |-----|-------------|-----------------|-----------------|----------------|
    | PLO1 | [Description] | COURSE101 | COURSE201, COURSE301 | COURSE401 |
    | PLO2 | [Description] | COURSE102 | COURSE202 | COURSE302, COURSE402 |
    | PLO3 | [Description] | COURSE101 | COURSE301 | COURSE401 |
    
    ## Gap Analysis
    - PLO4 is only addressed in one course — add reinforcement opportunity
    - No course provides mastery-level assessment for PLO2 — revise capstone
    - COURSE203 does not map to any PLO — justify or redesign
    ```
    
    ---
    
    ## Best Practices
    
    1. **Start with outcomes, not content.** Content is a means to an outcome, not the goal itself. Resist the urge to design around topics you want to cover.
    
    2. **Align everything.** Use the alignment audit template regularly. If an assessment does not map to an outcome, either the assessment or the outcome is wrong.
    
    3. **Use formative assessment frequently.** Do not wait until the midterm to discover students are lost. Check understanding every session.
    
    4. **Design for the margins.** When you design for students with the greatest barriers (disability, language, prior knowledge gaps), you improve learning for everyone (curb-cut effect).
    
    5. **Scaffold complexity.** Do not jump from Remember to Create. Build through Bloom's levels progressively across the semester.
    
    6. **Make the implicit explicit.** State expectations clearly. Provide rubrics before assignments. Explain why activities matter. Share the course design rationale with students.
    
    7. **Iterate based on evidence.** Use student feedback, grade distributions, and your own reflections to revise. Teaching design is never finished.
    
    8. **Balance workload.** Use a course workload estimator to ensure total student hours are reasonable (rule of thumb: 2-3 hours outside class per credit hour per week).
    
    9. **Build community.** Learning is social. Design activities that require meaningful interaction, not just parallel work.
    
    10. **Document your design.** Keep a course design portfolio for tenure review, accreditation, and sharing with colleagues.
    
    ---
    
    ## Common Pitfalls
    
    | Pitfall | Why It Happens | How to Avoid |
    |---------|---------------|--------------|
    | Content overload | Faculty try to cover everything they know | Prioritize with backward design — cut what does not serve outcomes |
    | Assessment pileup | Assignments accumulate without coordination | Map all due dates on a semester calendar; coordinate with colleagues |
    | Misaligned assessments | Assessments inherited from previous instructor | Audit alignment annually; redesign assessments to match your outcomes |
    | Vague rubrics | Written in a hurry without calibration | Pilot rubrics with colleagues; use student work samples to test criteria |
    | Inaccessible materials | Default to PDF scans, image-heavy slides | Check accessibility before posting; use LMS accessibility checker |
    | Ignoring student feedback | "Students don't know what's good for them" | Distinguish preference feedback from learning feedback; act on patterns |
    | One-size-fits-all design | Single modality, single assessment type | Apply UDL principles; offer choices where possible |
    | No low-stakes practice | Students' first attempt is the graded one | Add ungraded or low-weight practice before every major assessment |
    | Isolation in design | Designing alone without peer input | Participate in teaching communities; invite a colleague to review your syllabus |
    
    ---
    
    ## References
    
    - Anderson, L. W., & Krathwohl, D. R. (Eds.). (2001). *A taxonomy for learning, teaching, and assessing: A revision of Bloom's taxonomy of educational objectives*. Longman.
    - Biggs, J., Tang, C., & Kennedy, G. (2022). *Teaching for quality learning at university* (5th ed.). Open University Press.
    - CAST. (2024). *Universal Design for Learning Guidelines version 3.0*. https://udlguidelines.cast.org
    - Fink, L. D. (2013). *Creating significant learning experiences: An integrated approach to designing college courses* (2nd ed.). Jossey-Bass.
    - Garrison, D. R., Anderson, T., & Archer, W. (2000). Critical inquiry in a text-based environment: Computer conferencing in higher education. *The Internet and Higher Education*, 2(2-3), 87-105.
    - Meyer, A., Rose, D. H., & Gordon, D. (2014). *Universal design for learning: Theory and practice*. CAST Professional Publishing.
    - Zakrajsek, T. D., & Nilson, L. B. (2023). *Teaching at its best: A research-based resource for college instructors* (5th ed.). Jossey-Bass.
    - Wiggins, G., & McTighe, J. (2005). *Understanding by design* (2nd ed.). ASCD.
    
    See also: `references/teaching-frameworks.md` for expanded framework details.
    
    Part of the AlterLab Academic Skills suite.
    

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