Graduate Student Course Design Retreat

This June the CTE will be piloting a Course Design Retreat for graduate students teaching courses at BC in the upcoming academic year. Modeled on our successful Course Prep Retreat that is open to all instructors, this program is open to graduate students designing their own BC courses, and specifically structured to support those designing a college-level course for the first time.

This five-day, in-person retreat runs from June 3 - 7 and provides instruction, community, and structured work time for those new to course design. Please indicate interest via the link below by May 5th.

Daily Activities: Each day will contain a mix of presentations, independent work time, and collaborative work time in which instructors can share ideas and receive feedback while cultivating a teaching community. Participants will be expected to be present for most of the business day, but exact hours of the retreat will be determined based on participant availability. Breakfast and lunch will be provided each day.

The retreat focuses on different aspects of course preparation each day, with participants identifying their own daily work goals within that general structure. A companion Canvas course provides resources targeted to retreat topics:

  • Introduction to backwards design and defining learning goals
  • Designing major assessments
  • Scaffolding student learning and mapping course rhythm
  • Planning course content
  • Constructing equitable learning environments

Additional Help Available: CTE staff are available each day of the retreat to serve as sounding boards for participants as they work out their ideas. Any questions about this program can be directed to cte-gradprograms@bc.edu.

Accommodation Requests

The Center for Teaching Excellence is committed to providing equal access to its events and programs. Individuals who anticipate needing accommodations or who have questions about access may contact cte-gradprograms@bc.edu.