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Thriving in Academe
Tales from Real Life

Active Designing for Active Classes

One way to enjoy your design process is by making it collaborative and visual. Start the process with a course chart and discussions with a colleague instead of a textbook and last semester’s syllabus.

I’ve worked with faculty in interdisciplinary workshops who play with ideas, rearrange course components, solve problems, and laugh a lot. With poster-size graph paper, we chart the rhythms that will dictate the semester. We pinpoint course content and events—such as vacations or Homecoming Weekend—that are likely to affect productivity. Multi-colored “sticky” notes locate topics, readings, student presentations, team meetings, and grading.

Too many tests? Not enough time to grade an assignment? Crowded week after fall break? Shift the notes. Too many papers to grade? Select alternative ways for students to demonstrate their mastery. Distractions near spring break? Plan for students to teach. Heading to a conference? Ask students to create course-related MP3 files to share.

We minimize the pressure of crunch times, assuring effective sequencing of material and experiences, and maximize learning. Once the course components are distributed effectively, we work on the syllabus. After one such workshop, a faculty member posted the chart on her office wall and said, “Now I need a chart for each course!”

Even if you can’t find a colleague as a design companion, try creating a visual representation of your course. Build a design that challenges without stressing.

—Marlene M. Preston
Virginia Tech

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