Course Design Resources

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Strategies, Techniques and Tools

Here you can peruse information and resources on a variety of evidence-based teaching strategies, tools, and topics, such as course planning, syllabus design, inclusive teaching practices, engaging students in learning, grading strategies, and more. Browse through the available topics (additional topics are coming soon!) and email us with questions or for help applying any of the information to your specific courses.

Foundations of Course Design Click to learn who this is for

Create a blueprint for your course with learning objectives, learning assessments, and learning activities.

Who is this for?

All faculty who are creating or revising courses and want to strengthen the learning objectives and map them to learning activities and assessments.

Inclusive Course Design Click to learn who this is for

Learn about the varied needs of diverse learners and strategies for increasing their engagement and success.

Who is this for?

All faculty who want to explore strategies to make their courses more inclusive and accessible for all learners.

Assessing Student Learning Click to learn who this is for

Understand equitable grading practices and improve your assignment prompts and grading rubrics.

Who is this for?

Faculty who are looking to motivate their students via more equitable assignments and methods to assess those assignments.

Pedagogical Partners in Teaching

Several Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏÂÛ̳ offices provide additional teaching and course design resources for faculty. Contact these offices directly to learn more.  

Adams Library supports faculty and student (through chat, phone, text, and in person) along with . Library services for faculty include library instruction, distance education resources, open education, liaison librarians, course reserves, and tutorials (using and embedding library resources in Blackboard). The library also facilitates purchase requests, borrowing, interlibrary loan, special collections, and faculty publication submissions.

The American Democracy Project (ADP) is a multi-campus initiative focused on public higher education’s role in preparing the next generation of informed, engaged citizens. ADP at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏÂÛ̳ is considered one of the leading programs in the country for political and civic engagement and is often used as the model for initiatives by other colleges.

Learn About the American Democracy Project

Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏÂÛ̳ is committed to providing accommodations for students with disabilities and supporting them in achieving their academic goals. Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏÂÛ̳ students with disabilities who wish to request reasonable accommodations must meet with a member of the Center for Disability Access staff. To make an appointment, call the Center for Disability Access at 401-456-2776 or TTY (via RI Relay) 711, or register online to request accommodations.

Please Note: Faculty and staff should contact Human Resources to request disability accommodation. 

Learn About the Center for Disability Access

Center for Instructional Technology

The Center for Instructional Technology ensures technologies are integrated in the most effective way possible with all teaching styles. Instructional Technology offers expert assistance, advice, and support on instructional technologies and design based on best practices and educational research through consultations, high-quality professional learning programs, managing new instructional technology initiatives, and collaboration.

Blackboard Help for Faculty provides a comprehensive set of materials to help Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏÂÛ̳ faculty members get started with Blackboard Ultra. It covers topics such as navigating Ultra Base Navigation, building your Blackboard courses and ensuring they are fully accessible using Blackboard Ally, utilizing Kaltura video features, and working with Respondus 4.0 Test Generator and Respondus Lockdown Browser for creating and securing online tests.

Learn About the Center for Instructional Technology

User Support Services Help Center at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏÂÛ̳

The Help Center is a single point of contact for faculty/staff needs and provides information and assistance with classroom, audio/visual, computer, network and telephone technology support. Contact the Help Center for assistance with on-campus printing, Microsoft 365/account access, and other computer-related issues. Questions about course design in Blackboard should be directed to the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning; however, learning to set up a course shell and/or technological issues with Blackboard should be addressed to the Help Center. 

Learn About User Support Services

Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏÂÛ̳'s Common Book Program, Open Books – Open Minds (OBOM), engages students in dialogue with the college and Rhode Island communities. OBOM hosts a year-long series of events (including a teaching roundtable for faculty) inspired by the common book and involves students from all academic levels and diverse disciplines. OBOM especially encourages the participation of freshmen, all of whom receive a copy of the common book in Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏÂÛ̳ 100. 

Learn About Open Books — Open Minds

Writing@Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏÂÛ̳

Writing@Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏÂÛ̳ is a consortium of writing programs on Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏÂÛ̳'s campus have created a one-stop landing page for all things writing at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏÂÛ̳.  Visit their dynamic website for all manner of information.

Learn About Writing@Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏÂÛ̳

The Writing Board

The Writing Board acts as an advisory body, providing materials, suggestions, and support to departments and faculty members on topics related to Writing in the Discipline (WID) courses. They help to share information among programs and to sponsor faculty development relevant to the teaching of writing. The Writing Board also hosts formal and informal events to facilitate the discussion of writing and pedagogy across campus.

Learn About the Writing Board

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Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning

Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏÂÛ̳’s Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning (FCTL) promotes the professional growth and development of faculty as teachers and as scholars of teaching and learning.