Teaching a condensed course (7, 5, or 3 weeks) presents unique challenges compared to a traditional semester-long course. If time feels tight in a regular course, it’s even scarcer in a shorter one. Are you feeling unsure about how to adjust your curriculum? Concerned about faster grading turnarounds? Here are key strategies to help you succeed:
1. Focus on Learning Outcomes
Learning outcomes are your guide and should remain unchanged unless the course’s credit hours change. Use the learning outcomes to map all course assessments, activities, and course content. Every element of your course should align with these outcomes.
2. Review your course materials
Organize your course materials into three categories (Wilson, 2007):
- Must Know/Do: Essential content and activities students need to meet the learning outcomes — non-negotiable. If these things are complex and important, introduce them reasonably early in the course.
- Need to Know: Important, but flexible in delivery or timing.
- Nice to Know: Supplemental material that can be made optional or removed if needed.
Tip: Consider drafting a course design plan (use this template) to maintain clarity and alignment.
3. Adjust Your Scaffolding
Since the timeline is compressed, revise how assignments and content are structured.
Strategies include:
- Combine assignments or topics where possible.
- Remove or make optional “nice to know” content.
- Shorten assignments and focus on key learning outcomes.
- Reduce the amount of time you want students to spend on an assignment or activity.
- Summarize material with PowerPoint slides or short recorded lectures.
- Incorporate active learning strategies like Jigsaw, Carousel, or Four Corners. These techniques can be adjusted to divide the content among students, allowing multiple topics to be covered quickly and efficiently. They also promote collaboration and help students practice explaining what they’ve learned to others.
Reminder: Always map assessments and activities back to the course outcomes, and aim for a consistent weekly workload.
4. Create a Realistic Grading Plan
Timely and meaningful feedback is even more critical in a condensed course. To manage grading effectively:
- Identify assignments that will require more detailed feedback versus those that won’t.
- Prioritize feedback for assignments that build on each other.
- Use rubrics to streamline grading and clarify expectations (Canvas rubrics).
- Leverage the Canvas Comment Library for efficiency.
- Consider alternative grading options where appropriate.
Reminder: Set realistic expectations for yourself and your students.
5. Gather Student Feedback
At the end of the course, ask students for feedback on:
- Their learning experience
- Time management challenges
- Learning opportunities and obstacles they encountered
- What they wish they had known before the course started
Use this feedback to fine-tune your course for future sessions.
Would you like more help with your condensed course design? Schedule a consultation with a CTL consultant.
References:
Kops, William J. (2014). Teaching compressed-format courses: Teacher-based best practices. Canadian Journal of University Continuing Education, 40(1):1-18.
Wilson, L. O. (2007). When backward is forward thinking: Radical changes in instructional designs for summer school. Presentation at the North Central Conference of Summer Sessions Annual Conference, Chicago, IL.
Author: Sarah Lausch