Effective Course Design for Student Success

Abstract

Higher education has endured great changes since the turn of the 21st century, including changes in expectations for curriculum design, implementation, course delivery, and student experience. The emphasis is no longer on acquiring credentials until the minimum requirement is met; the emphasis is now on evidence of student learning and achievement of industry-specific outcomes. For this, many institutions are developing new innovative programs in a format that shifts the emphasis from what is being taught to what is actually learned. Students are provided with outcomes they must meet rather than inputs they will receive. This chapter will focus on how to write effective competencies and outcomes to ensure students have a clear understanding of what they must demonstrate to gain the credentials and degrees they seek.