After teaching the final class of the semester or grading the final exam, we all look forward to a welcome respite. However, before taking a step back, first take the opportunity to make some notes about your courses this semester while everything is still fresh in thought. What went well? What was surprising or stood out to you? What do you definitely want to do again and what would you really like to do differently in the future?

These notes can be an important resource when you’re ready to take a closer look at course review and revision for the fall. 

Here’s what stood out to me as I listened to two podcasts from Teaching in Higher Ed, “Invisible Learning” and “The Art and Science of Online Teaching”:

Teaching a course is an iterative process requiring humility. We can’t change everything at once. We need to choose a couple of things to focus on and work on improving those things in the next course we teach, taking what we’ve learned and what we want to accomplish—making changes to be constantly improving but in manageable chunks.

I love the reminder about the need for humility and also “manageable chunks.” It can be tempting to feel overwhelmed or defensive about course feedback or proprietary about the ideas and approaches in our course. But listening and being willing to seek guidance and input opens the way for professional development and ultimately greater student learning. 

Where to start?

In addition to reviewing the notes you have taken, see what the CUNY School of Professional Studies website offers as focus points to inspire revision:

• Your academic program director
• Student evaluations
• Peer observations
• Student grades (individual and/or final assessments)
• Program requirements and design guidelines

For some of us, returning to in-person instruction in the fall provides the added opportunity to examine what we have learned about teaching and course design by pivoting to remote teaching over the past year. 

Are there elements of an online course that you’ve developed that would make sense to continue to use (or modify slightly) when you return to teaching in person? Perhaps ways of utilizing Canvas, Google Docs, online apps/platforms or even Zoom? Are there elements of in-person instruction that you will gratefully embrace?

In “The Art and Science of Online Teaching,” Stephanie Moore says a “design mindset” is not about a dichotomy between synchronous and asynchronous or remote and in person; it’s about finding the affordances that each offers, thinking about what you want to accomplish and what each format can enable or provide.

Finally, as you reflect, remember to focus on the positives as well as the areas for change. There’s a lot we’re doing well, and it’s important to remember that and build on that foundation. 

And since it’s also helpful and inspiring to hear what others are doing and thinking about related to their teaching and course design, consider sharing things that have worked well for you here in the comments.