Strong Start: Sharing Ideas for Syllabi & Course Setup in Blackboard (ONLINE Aug 29)

Looking for a space to think through your course design with others? Join us for a relaxed, discussion-based session where instructors share ideas about course syllabi and Blackboard course design.

This is not 'training' in the traditional sense (there’s no slide deck or preset content). Instead, we’ll create space for conversation, questions, and examples from one another. Whether you're wondering what policies to include, how to make your syllabus more student-friendly, or how to organize your Blackboard content so it’s easy to navigate, this is a chance to talk it through with colleagues.

We’ll also reflect on how course design decisions can support not only student success but instructor well-being, by making courses more manageable, sustainable, and aligned with your teaching values.

What to Expect:

• Facilitated by Cathy Mills (Cathy will prepare examples, links to resources, guiding questions, etc)

• Sample syllabi and example LMS space designs to spark discussion

• Insights from recent workshops and presentations on course design

• Interactive format with self-reflective activities and small-group conversations

• Use of Mentimeter, Padlet, and other digital tools

• Collaborative note-taking: Themes and key ideas will be captured and used to build shared resources to reflect back on

You’re encouraged to bring a draft syllabus, a Blackboard course you’re working on, or just come ready to listen, ask questions, and share ideas.

Find out more and contribute to the development of the session:
Cathy will be posting a schedule, agenda, sample slides, and discussion prompts on the Blackboard CoP site in the lead-up to the session. Feel free to visit that space and share your comments or suggestions!

Who should come:
Any instructor preparing for the upcoming term who enjoys learning from peers and exploring different ways to approach course planning and setup.

Let’s start the term by learning from one another and building strong, student-centered—and sustainable—courses.