Considering these factors helps align your course design with the needs of your learners, the subject matter, and the institutional context. Here are key questions to guide your reflection:  

Who are you?

• What do you love about teaching this course?

• What are your goals for designing this course?

Who are your students? 

• Consider their prior knowledge, skills, and experiences. 

• Are they traditional, first-year students, working professionals, or career changers? 

• What challenges might they face, such as balancing work and family commitments or navigating technology?  

What are the characteristics of your course?

• Is it an introductory course, or does it require advanced knowledge? 

• Are there prerequisites? Does the course build foundational skills or focus on specialized applications? What is the course placement in the curriculum?

• What are the most important component(s) of your course?

• What is the special challenge of teaching this subject well (online or otherwise)?

• Are course materials relatively stable or rapidly changing?

• What are you having trouble communicating to students?

• Where are students struggling?

• Are there concepts that are hard to understand?

How will online delivery impact your course learning environment?

• What is your vision of a positive teaching and learning experience?

• How, and to what extent, do you expect to change or adapt your campus-based course delivery for online delivery (content; assignments; media)?

What institutional goals and policies or departmental needs must you consider? 

• Are there specific learning outcomes your course must achieve? 

• Will others from the department be teaching from a copy of this course? 

• Will teaching assistants be used to help with course delivery? 

• How can your design reflect institutional priorities such as career preparedness?  

By thoughtfully addressing these questions, you can create a course that not only meets academic objectives but also resonates with your students and their unique contexts.

Related Information

• Situational Factors in Course Design