• University of New South Wales

Introduction to Educational Design in Higher Education

Learn about educational design in this second course of the Foundations of University Learning and Teaching program from UNSW

6,860 enrolled on this course

Abstract image which includes 3 special bubbles, within which a graph, globe, world globe, molecular symbol, organisational chart
  • Duration

    3 weeks
  • Weekly study

    4 hours

Central to effective teaching is providing students with strong educational design that offers opportunities to independently and collaboratively explore and acquire knowledge. Students can then apply what is learned to different contexts, in order to demonstrate that the learning outcomes have been achieved

This course will introduce you to effective educational design - taking into account the evolving higher education environment and current research into curriculum, educational design, assessment and feedback that supports student learning.

Explore what makes good educational design

Developing effective educational design requires careful planning and structured thinking to scaffold learning in order to maximise students’ potential for success.

In this course you will identify the principles and key steps teachers need to take to design effective educational opportunities for their students.

The course is based on the recognition that learning is most effective when it is guided by clear expectations, academic standards and an integrated curriculum, where the various components of the program, courses, classes, field trips, etc. are identified, aligned and linked to assessment.

Learn how to apply educational design in your own context

Students learn best when they are actively engaged: when they interact with their peers, tutors and course resources, when they are reflective and have opportunities to apply this knowledge.

Successful design therefore needs to ensure that students are given opportunities to take an active, interactive and reflective role in their studies. This course will provide you with an educational framework and an opportunity to design effective educational materials you can use in your own higher education context.

Understand learning experiences from start to finish

This course explores the relationship between the focus of the course, learning outcomes, teaching and learning activities and assessment.

By the end of the course you’ll be able to:

  • Describe established curriculum and learning design principles which support student learning in your context
  • Identify the role of constructive alignment and the principles of assessment and relate them to your context
  • Compare and contrast learning design models
  • Apply an integrated model to (re)design components of a course of study aligned to a program
Download video: standard or HD

Skip to 0 minutes and 5 seconds BOB FOX: How do we design courses to create effective learning environments? And what is the relationship between learning outcomes, activities, assessments, and their impact on course design and learning? And what are the other factors that influence design? I’m Bob Fox, and throughout this course, we’ll look at these questions by helping you to develop effective educational design through planning and structuring your thinking, to scaffold learning, in order to maximise student’s potential for success. We’ll be exploring curriculum and learning design principles, which support student learning in your context, and identifying principles of assessment and feedback.

Skip to 0 minutes and 47 seconds Whether you’re new to teaching, an experienced teacher, or working more broadly in education, this course will equip you with an integrated education model to design effectively for enhanced learning. I welcome you to this introductory course on Educational Design in Higher Education from UNSW Australia. And we look forward to taking this journey with you.

What topics will you cover?

  • Educational design
  • Factors influencing design
  • Models of design for learning
  • Constructive alignment
  • Integrated curriculum framework
  • Resources, Activity, Support, and Evaluation (RASE) model
  • Universal design for learning
  • Curriculum alignment
  • Writing learning outcomes
  • Design for online and blended learning
  • Work integrated learning
  • Designing assessment

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Describe established curriculum and learning design principles which support student learning in your context
  • Identify the role of constructive alignment and the principles of assessment and relate them to your context
  • Compare and contrast learning design models
  • Apply an integrated model to (re)design components of a course of study aligned to a program

Who is the course for?

This course is suitable for teachers, educational designers and those supporting learning and teaching within higher education.

What do people say about this course?

"A fantastic and thought-provoking enquiry into the design of curriculum. I will definitely recommend this course to others. Thank you for your time and effort to develop this course. "

Who will you learn with?

Professor, PVCE Portfiolio, UNSW. Concurrent appointment Professor of Innovation in HE (Adj), School of Education, UNSW. Awarded University Teaching Fellow, HKU.

Hello, I am a Continuing Professional Developer at The University of New South Wales, Australia (UNSW), working in the area of academic professional development.

Marina is a Principal Fellow (Higher Education Academy), an Australian National Teaching Fellow and has received national and university citations for outstanding contributions to student learning.

Who developed the course?

UNSW Sydney

Established in 1949 with a unique focus on the scientific, technological and professional disciplines, UNSW is a leading Australian university committed to making a difference

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn

Do you know someone who'd love this course? Tell them about it...

You can use the hashtag #FLedudesign to talk about this course on social media.