Course Structure and Alignment

About This Page

Uploaded Image Course structure can vary depending on the subject and instructor. Some courses are organized by weeks, while others may be divided into modules, chapters, or units. Each is designed to guide your progress and build upon key concepts throughout the term.

This page gives you a high-level view of the structure and alignment of the course. Course alignment happens when critical course elements such as instructional materials, multimedia, activities, and assignments work together to ensure that learners achieve the Course Learning Objectives and Module Learning Objectives.

Course Learning Objectives (CLOs)

Course Learning Objectives describe what you will learn about and be able to do by the end of the course. You will achieve the CLOs by successfully engaging with the course materials, and completing all of the required activities and assessments in the course.

At the conclusion of the course, learners will be able to:

CLO 1

CLO 2

CLO 3

Module Learning Objectives (MLOs)

Module Learning Objectives describe what you will learn about and be assessed on in each module or unit of instruction. MLOs are usually more specific than CLOs. The relationships between the MLOs and the instructional materials, presentations and multimedia, tools and technology, activities, and assessments are indicated below.

For this example course, here is what one module would look like. In a real course, there would be one for each Module (typically 15-16 Modules).

Module 1 - Title

Module Learning Objectives (MLOs)

At the conclusion of the module, learners will be able to:

MLO 1.1 Verb ...objective. (CLO X)

MLO 1.2 Verb ...objective (CLO X)

MLO 1.3 Verb ...objective (CLO X)

Instructional Materials

Chapter A (MLO 1.X)

Chapter B (MLO 1.X)

Journal Article (MLO 1.X)

Presentations/Multimedia

PowerPoint (MLO 1.X)

Video A (MLO 1.X)

Video B (MLO 1.X)

Technology and Tools

Canvas Discussion Tool (MLO 1.X)

Canvas Assignment Tool (MLO 1.X)

Canvas Quiz Tool (MLO 1.X)

Cengage MindTap (MLO 1.X)

Activities

Practice Quiz (MLO 1.X)

Survey (MLO 1.X)

Simulation (MLO 1.X)

Assessments

Discussion (MLO 1.X)

Quiz (MLO 1.X)

Essay (MLO 1.X)

Homework (MLO 1.X)

Module Exam (MLO 1.X)