2016 Annual Conference

Explore Dee Fink's Integrated Course Design from his best-selling book, _Creating Significant Learning Experiences: An Integrated Approach to Designing Courses_ (2013, 2003). This systematic, course-design strategy can make important differences in both student learning and teacher satisfaction. Leave with materials to design your own course effectively.

Valuable for anyone teaching courses/classes in colleges/universities, continuing ed., professional development, in-service training, etc.

Q: What is a "Significant Learning" experience"? A: Engagement in learning that lasts and that adds value to the student's life, both now--and it is hoped--in the future. By focusing on Significant Learning (as opposed to trivialities, which unfortunately sometimes happens in some courses), students engage in learning that lasts and that adds value. Integrated Course Design begins with instructors paying attention to "situational factors" (e.g., number of students in the class, prior knowledge, expectation of stakeholders). Then they proceed to the 3-part "backward design" model (Wiggins, G. & McTighe, J. (2011, 1998) which Fink has improved upon for use in any discipline. This model consists of 1) learning goals/outcomes (using Fink's Taxonomy), 2) feedback and assessment, and 3) teaching-and-learning activities. Fink's Taxonomy of Significant Learning is valuable in formulating learning goals/outcomes (and assessments): learning how to learn, foundational knowledge, application, integration, human dimension, caring. Using Integrated Course Design, the instructor then creates a sequence of course activities and assessments that leads students to the construction of their own Significant Learning, guided by their instructor. This is the process of Integrated Course Design leading to Significant Learning.