Course Design

Course Design Studio sessions are designed to provide practical strategies for anyone involved in designing courses and learning experiences. They include a brief, high-level overview of the topic, step-by-step instructions on the specific tools mentioned, and dedicated time for both questions and hands-on, personalized support. 

The Course Design Intensive is a multi-day program, where you work in a supportive atmosphere, both individually and collaboratively, to design or re-design a UBC credit course that you teach or are planning to teach.

Tools for Designing Interactive Courses

In-person
Series:

Student engagement is a critical factor known to significantly enhance student learning outcomes. Learning technology can play an important role in fostering this engagement in university courses. In this workshop, we will explore different active learning techniques and demonstrate how learning technology can help leverage these techniques to foster student engagement in both in-person and online environments. This interactive, 90-minute workshop (more…)


Upcoming Dates

  • In-person
    October 26, 2026
    11:30 am - 1:00 pm

Facilitators

Course Design for Large Enrolment Classes: Turning Exams into Learning Using Two-stage Exams

Series:

Midterm and final exams are high-stakes evaluation events that can be stressful for many students. Changes in the exam structure may turn exams into valuable opportunities for peer learning through discussion and feedback. In a two-stage exam, students first complete a test individually, and then immediately work in small collaborative groups. In this one-hour workshop, guest faculty facilitators will discuss how they adapted this assessment approach for large classes, including exam design, classroom logistics, practical considerations for implementation, student feedback, and lesson learned. Participants will (more…)


Upcoming Dates

  • In-person
    November 17, 2026
    1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Facilitators

Designing Effective Assessments

In-person
Series:

Assessment is more than grading. It is about fostering learning through intentional design that gives students the opportunity to practice, receive feedback and improve learning throughout a course. In this interactive 90-minute workshop, you will explore fundamental principles and practical strategies for all stages of assessment design from planning to implementation. Grounded in the backward design framework, (more…)


Upcoming Dates

  • In-person
    November 24, 2026
    10:00 am - 11:30 am

Facilitators

Designing Your Course in Canvas

In-person
Series:

Designing Your Canvas Course is a hands-on, 90-minute workshop for faculty and staff who are new or would like to explore effective Canvas practices. Whether you are building your first course or refreshing an existing one, this session will guide you through the essential steps to set up a well-structured, accessible, and engaging course. We (more…)


Upcoming Dates

  • In-person
    December 2, 2026
    1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Facilitators

Designing your Course with Accessibility in Mind

In-person
Series:

Do you want to learn practical tips for making your course more accessible? By proactively removing barriers and offering flexible options, you create a learning environment where all learners can thrive. Small design changes intended to support students with disabilities often end up benefiting every student in your course. This session explores accessible course design strategies, informed by both accessibility guidelines and (more…)


Upcoming Dates

  • In-person
    December 3, 2026
    11:00 am - 12:30 pm

Facilitators

Course Design for Large Enrolment Classes: Creating Fair, Equitable, and Inclusive Group Work

Series:

While group work is widely used to promote student-led collaborative learning, many instructors continue to navigate how to make it equitable and effective in practice to meet intended learning outcomes. In this workshop, guest faculty facilitators will share how they address key design challenges such as individual accountability, equitable participation, and assessment of both process and product to support meaningful collaboration among students. Participants will leave with practical ideas for implementing and facilitating group work in their own courses. Browse the other events (more…)


Upcoming Dates

  • In-person
    December 9, 2026
    12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Facilitators