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Teaching and Learning Centre

UFV/Teaching and Learning Centre/Teaching strategies/Curriculum development

Curriculum development

Quality curriculum comes from a thoughtful evaluation of student learning outcomes, assessment strategies, and delivery options. Backwards design is one process that can be utilized to develop curriculum. This resource page covers guiding principles of quality curriculum as well as information on developing learning outcomes.

Guiding principles for quality curriculum

Core values

A student’s education is a holistic journey that encompasses in-class and out-of-class experiences. A great curriculum acknowledges and fosters these connections as we prepare students to meet their goals.

Curriculum at UFV is:

  • reflective of our identity and strategic priorities as expressed in the UFV 2021-2026 Integrated Strategic Plan
  • intentional, in that it is designed with care to meet the criteria listed below; and
  • continually improving and adapting to changing contexts.

Principles of a quality curriculum

  1. Outcome-driven, aligned, and intentionally designed to achieve its purpose.
  2. Rigorous, meeting credential-level standards recognized by the Ministry, by professions, industry, and by academic communities, and striving for excellence.
  3. Current, relevant, and forward-looking.
  4. Connected to civic and personal obligations and growth as central to learning.
  5. Flexible — It provides varied modes of delivery, recognition of prior and alternative learning experiences, and multiple program pathways.
  6. Inclusive — It respects and honours people’s differing backgrounds, cultures, experiences, and identities as a foundation and support for each student’s success. It is in compliance with human rights legislation and reflects UFV’s commitment to internationalization, Indigenization, and access.

 

Developing learning outcomes

Download UFV's fillable guide for developing learning outcomes

 

Curriculum development workshops

Building a Student-Centred Syllabus

Online workshop

In this workshop we will explore ways to make your course syllabi more student-centred.

See upcoming sessions

Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW)

In-person workshop

The Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW) is an internationally recognized program that provides participants with opportunities to explore their teaching practice through experiential learning.  This workshop is designed for new and experienced educators alike.  As part of the ISW process, participants deliver mini-lessons and receive peer feedback from fellow participants.  In this model, feedback relates directly to the learning experiences of participants and is not formally evaluated.  The ISW is a unique opportunity to explore several aspects of teaching, from designing lesson plans, developing assessment devices, managing time, managing group process to experimenting with new approaches, all with the support and feedback of colleagues, and with the guidance of experienced UFV facilitators.

If you are looking for experience in developing and delivering engaging and participatory lessons and want to test-drive new ideas, then ISW is for you. 

Upcoming workshops:

  • December 12-15, 2024, Abbotsford campus
  • February 18-21, 2025, Abbotsford campus

Sign up today for one of our upcoming ISW offerings.

Workshop request form

Facilitator Development Workshop (FDW)

In-person workshop

The Facilitator Development Workshop (FDW) is the second level of training within the Instructional Skills Workshop program. Building on ISW experiences around teaching effectiveness, the FDW offers participants the opportunity to build facilitation skills within the ISW context.  Participants deliver mini-lessons and receive peer-feedback but also manage the feedback process.  This experiential learning approach provides space to learn new facilitation approaches and receive feedback from colleagues.  Like the ISW, learning in the FDW is not formally evaluated. 

The FDW is designed for those who will be delivering Instructional Skills Workshops at their own institution.  Successful participants will become ISW Facilitators. Others interested in facilitation may also find this workshop helpful.

Completion of the ISW is a requirement for participation in the FDW.

Upcoming workshops:

  • December 2-6, 2024, Abbotsford campus
  • April 7-11, 2025, Chilliwack campus
  • June 23-27, 2025, Abbotsford campus

Sign up today for an upcoming FDW guided by experienced UFV facilitators.

Workshop request form

Trainer Development Workshop (TDW)

In-person workshop

The Trainer Development Workshop (TDW) is the third and final level of training within the Instructional Skills Workshop program. Successful completion of the TDW provides participants with the tools to offer FDW sessions at their own institutions as an FDW Facilitator.  Using an apprentice model, TDW participants assist the trainer in all aspects of FDW delivery, receive feedback from FDW participants and trainer, and engage in reflective practice. 

Completion of the FDW and experience with delivering ISW sessions is a requirement for participation in the TDW.

Please reach out to tlcevents@ufv.ca to inquire about TDW opportunities at UFV.

Workshop request form

 

You may also be interested in 

One-on-one
Check under the hood

Submit your course for a thorough student-focused review
PDF download
Course design best practices

A best practices guide from Ryerson Learning and Teaching
Web content
Backwards design process

A detailed resource from Centre for Teaching at Vanderbilt University
Workshops
Find a workshop

See available workshops by topic of interest

Following successful offerings of the CRDI workshop in short 2-week timeframes, the Course (Re)Design Intensive has been reimagined to be offered throughout the Fall 2023 semester. 

If you are a UFV faculty member designing a new course or are redesigning a course for its six-year UEC review? Then this professional learning opportunity is designed for you. The Teaching and Learning Centre is offering a Course (Re)Design Intensive throughout the Fall 2023 semester that will provide you with the tools to engage effectively in the course design (or redesign) process. You will learn concrete curriculum development principles to think critically about your course outcomes, assessment, content, and activities from an Indigenized perspective that uses the 5R’s of relationships, respect, relevance, reciprocity, and responsibility as a framework. By the end of the workshop, participants will develop a robust course framework that will allow you to take your ideas and move them into the classroom. This intensive will be offered in a hybrid format combining two in-person sessions and two synchronous Zoom session, with asynchronous learning through Blackboard Learn. This is a hands-on program where participants will complete activities designed to develop course curriculum in an intensive and organized way resulting in UFV’s course development documentation and/or a new course syllabus.

Sessions are as follows:

  • September 22nd 2023 from 9-12 in G124 on the Abbotsford campus (in person)
  • October 13th 2023 from 10:30-12:30 via Zoom
  • November 3rd 2023 from 10:30-12:30 via Zoom
  • November 24th 2023 from 8:30-10:30 in G124 on the Abbotsford campus (in person)

This Intensive will be led by TLC’s Teaching and Learning Specialist (Curriculum and Assessment) Claire Hay who will provide ongoing support throughout the program.  Space is limited and registrations will be taken on a first come basis. For more information or to register, please email claire.hay@ufv.ca. Please register by Friday September 15th 2023 at noon.