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Course Design Institute (CDI)

An annual, in person, immersive three-day course design institute where participants develop a new, Canvas-ready syllabus for the upcoming academic year, guided by evidence-based practices, iterative discussion, and reflective learning communities.

The next Course Design Institute will take place in summer 2026.

Overview

The Course Design Institute (CDI) guides instructors step-by-step in creating a course where they can have confidence that all enrolled students will have the opportunity to achieve the course goals—no matter how rigorous or ambitious.

A new build is an invaluable opportunity to create a course that will work for everyone. Participants will learn leading-edge strategies of effective course design that prioritize activities that best promote student learning while also creating more efficient use of instructor time for their own sustained well-being.

To achieve that end, participants will follow a “backwards design” approach that leads them from first crafting meaningful learning outcomes to then creating the assessments aligned to those outcomes and, lastly, to sequencing activities aligned to the assessments and outcomes. Instructors who participate in the CDI can expect to leave with a Canvas-ready syllabus that includes a course map and student-centered course description and policies.

REGISTRATION FOR SUMMER 2026

Program Objectives

By the end of the Course Design Institute, participants should make progress towards

  • Writing course learning outcomes that are measurable and achievable within the specific learning and teaching context.
  • Planning authentic assessments and grading schemes aligned to learning outcomes.
  • Integrating activities to build students’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes so that they can achieve the course learning outcomes.
  • Creating a flexible, responsive design informed by feedback from a variety of perspectives.
  • Developing a Canvas course shell designed for accessibility.

What to Expect

  • Interactive Sessions: Reflect on the art and science of course design through engaging, hands-on workshops led by educational developers from the Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching and Northwestern IT Teaching and Learning Technologies.
  • Small Feedback Groups: Receive constructive feedback on your course ideas from peers and facilitators, fostering collaboration and innovation.
  • Expert Insights: Gain invaluable insights from Searle’s educational developers and Northwestern IT Teaching and Learning Technologies’ instructional designers sharing evidence-based practices, equipping you with the tools and strategies to create courses that captivate and motivate learners.
  • Practical Resources: Connect with Northwestern resources to support and enhance student learning outcomes.
  • Learning Communities: Connect with like-minded faculty members from diverse disciplines, fostering a supportive community of practice dedicated to advancing teaching excellence.

Eligibility

Any NU faculty, staff, or graduate student who will be the instructor of record for a course new to them or new to Northwestern during the 2026-27 academic year.

Registration

Join us for an in person experience, culminating in a final day held online.

Cohort size: 65 max.

Dates: Tuesday, August 25; Wednesday, August 26; Thursday, August 27.

Time: 10 AM - 3 PM CT

Location: Norris University Center (1999 Campus Dr., Evanston) 

You will need the following information to complete the registration form:

  1. Your name and Northwestern affiliation
  2. The term(s) you will be teaching the course you are creating during the 2025-26 academic year
  3. The course number, as listed in the catalog.
  4. Current course title and description (if available)
  5. Expected course enrollment (or enrollment cap)
  6. Any questions or requested topics (we can't make promises, but our goal is to customize to participants' needs as much as possible)

REGISTRATION FOR SUMMER 2026