Course Design Support Programs
The Center for Teaching and Learning offers two different programs in support of course design and the Course Design Certificate. Both of these programs guide you through the process of developing effective, aligned, and student-centered courses:
- Course Design Institute (CDI): Each May, we offer our weeklong CDI over four days of in-person meetings. Applications for the 2027 CDI (May 17-20) will open in February.
- Course Design Academy (CDA): Each June, we offer the same content in the CDA, a month-long, fully asynchronous program. Applications for the 2027 CDA (June 1 – July 3) will open in February.
In both programs, you will complete substantial work towards a new or revised course design and toward the deliverables for the Course Design Certificate. In addition, these programs align with the “instructional design” component of effective teaching as defined in Boise State Policy 4750. More details about each of the programs are included below so that you can choose one that’s right for you.
Learning outcomes and deliverables
By completing any of these Course Design programs, you will make progress towards:
- Creating learning environments informed by your situational factors which support all learners
- Creating a set of clear, attainable, learning-focused, measurable and specific learning outcomes which span different levels of learning
- Designing summative assessments which allow students to demonstrate their mastery of the learning outcomes
- Creating a variety of learning activities that support student mastery of learning outcomes
Throughout each course design program, you will generate the following evidence of your learning:
- An analysis of your own situational factors
- A comprehensive set of course learning outcomes
- An authentic, transparent summative assessment aligned with one or more course learning outcomes OR a summative assessment plan for the full set of learning outcomes
- A scaffolding plan for one of your course learning outcomes
These work products lay the groundwork for the deliverables for the Course Design Certificate.
Course Design Support Program Options
Course Design Institute
Dates: May 17-20, 2027
Time commitment: Four 8-hour days
Modality: In person
Choose this experience if you:
- Want an immersive course design experience
- Like learning collaboratively & interactively with others face-to-face
- Benefit from structured learning experiences
- Want to design a course you’ll teach in fall OR spring semester
Applications will be available in February 2027.
Course Design Academy
Dates: June 1 – July 3, 2027
Time commitment: Five weeks, approximately 8 hours/week
Modality: Asynchronous
Choose this experience if you:
- Want to work through a supported course design process at your own pace
- Want more time to let the course design process unfold
- Can’t attend in person OR prefer more independent learning
- Want to design a course you’ll teach in fall OR spring semester
Applications will be available in February 2027.