Curriculum Development and Renewal Series (CDRS)

[2 hours] Description: Curriculum design impacts the student experience in a program as learning outcomes are the guide and goal for all learning activities. Participants develop a foundational understanding of Outcomes-based Education and the Ontario College curriculum requirements as they position themselves and their program in the post-secondary landscape. Taking a holistic view of curriculum, participants explore the importance of creating inclusive and equitable curriculum and of responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Calls to Action as they relate to education through curriculum design.  

[3 hours] Description: Over the lifecycle of a program, curriculum is developed, reviewed, and renewed to ensure it meets the needs of students and industry as well as college and provincial requirements. Participants examine the elements of a program and the processes used to maintain it over time. Participants reflect on what stage their program is within its lifecycle to identify opportunities for continuous improvement.   

[3 hours] Description: Providing programs that support student success at the college and in industry relies on high-quality curriculum. Participants examine how quality is maintained at the college and program levels through provincial and local quality assurance processes. With Program Quality Review (PQR) as a focus, participants explore how quality assurance and renewal contributes to the continuous improvement of program curriculum.  

[3 hours] Description: Ongoing curriculum renewal supports the quality, relevancy and currency of programs. Major and minor program modifications are typically driven by Program Quality Review (PQR) or provincial or industry direction. Participants review the guidelines, requirements, and mechanisms for change management for single- and multi-delivery programs at the College.   

[3 hours] Description: Ontario College credentials are framed by an outcomes-based approach and the responsibility for guiding learners toward the program outcomes is shared across the various courses and learning experiences in the program. Participants practice writing and mapping learning outcomes to support clearly articulated and aligned curriculum. Reflecting on the power of learning outcomes in an Outcomes-based educational setting, participants examine how outcomes can be used to design programs that support vocational, professional, and interpersonal skill development.   

[2 hours] Description: Realizing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action as they relate to education requires intentional development of curriculum that decolonizes our learning environments and creates space for Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing. Participants examine relationality and Indigenous perspectives on education as well as approaches to integrating Indigenous topics and content into programs and courses. Reflective practice allows participants to identify where they are in their journey as well as supporting a discussion of how we can advocate for and participate in College actions towards Reconciliation.   

[3 hours] Description: Student-centered programs cannot exist without equity- and inclusion-minded curriculum design. Participants assess curriculum with a critical pedagogy lens and examine the role of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles in creating inclusive and equitable curriculum. Participants review how curriculum can be designed in ways that support the international student learning experiences and that lead to inclusive intercultural classrooms.

[3 hours] Description: Course-level curriculum communicates the role of a course in a program and guides the design of the learning experience. Exploring the backward design model of course development, participants practice developing elements of course curriculum. They examine the roles of course outlines and course section information and how use them to balance student workload. Participants examine how the roles, responsibilities, and resources that are part of the course development processes contribute to course quality.  

[3 hours] Description: Vocationally-focused curriculum prepares students to enter industry through the development of technical and professional skills. Participants discuss strategies for working with the Program Advisory Committee (PAC) to ensure the program curriculum is responsive to industry needs. Integration of Experiential Learning (EL) and Essential Employability Skills (EES) are explored as ways to best prepare students for the field.   

[3 hours] Description: To acknowledge that AC programs are just a part of students’ learning journeys, curriculum is designed to support the recognition of students’ past experiences. Participants examine how pathways and credit for prior academic and non-academic learning support students to continue their education.  

Session 1 and Session 5:

• 120 minutes of synchronous learning through Zoom

All other sessions:

• 60 minutes of asynchronous learning through Brightspace PLUS
• 120 minutes of synchronous learning through Zoom

• For new participants looking to complete the full series, enroll in Sessions 1-5 in one semester (14 hours) and Sessions 6-7 in another semester (14 hours). These semesters can be consecutive or there can be a gap between enrollment.
• Participants can enroll in individual sessions à-la-carte, working towards the full series over a longer period. Sessions 1 and 6 are 2 hours; all other sessions are 3 hours.
• Participants who completed the original version of CDRS between Spring 2021 and Spring 2023, can continue their learning! To complete all elements of the renewed series, enroll in the revised Session 1, Session 6, and Session 7, a total of 7 hours.
• Participants should be allocated SWF hours for their participation or paid the hourly meeting rate by their department.

Experienced or new program coordinators or those leading curriculum activities.

If you completed the original version of CDRS between Spring 2021 and Spring 2023, there are new sessions for you to join! To complete all elements of the renewed series, we recommend you register for the revised Session 1, Session 6, and Session 7, a total of 7 hours.