Curriculum Design

Defining the learning experience for a module, course, program, curriculum, pathway, curation, or product bundle.

In a Nutshell

GOAL/ To create the blueprint for a multi-factor digital learning experience.
TIME/ 3 weeks - 2 months, though sometimes much longer.
OUTPUT/ Variable, but might involve curriculum map, unit templates, module outlines, or other design specs.

GOAL/

Designing complex, multi-part learning experiences can be a distinct challenge in today's digital landscape. Our methodology for curriculum design will always be tailored to the unique needs of the program or partnership in question. Depending on the end goal, our work may involve competitive research, disciplinary analysis, accreditation tracking, co-curricular support research, and more. Regardless, our process is always anchored in a few key questions.

1/ Who are our learners?

2/ What outcomes are they seeking from this experience?

3/ Which key values should drive the curriculum design?

TIME/

1/ Kick-Off

DURATION: 1-2 WEEKS

Once you submit a project request, a member of our team will reach out within 1 week to chat through the project. We may ask some follow-up questions and help to focus the scope of work to fit within our team's pedagogical expertise, while helping connect you to any other relevant collaborators across edX. 

2/ Design Work

DURATION: 3-5 WEEKS

Once the scope of work has been defined, our team will get to work. You'll likely have 1-2 strategists assigned to this work, who will help to anchor the process, bringing in vision and perspective from faculty, subject matter experts, and industry leaders.

3/ Delivery & Evaluation

DELIVERY: 5-7+ WEEKS POST

Prior to course design kick-offs, our strategists work closely with the Curriculum Management team to design deliverables that increase the capacity and alignment of any teams working on the development of future courses. Curriculum Design may yield future collaboration opportunities with our team; we'll help scope these opportunities, though may likely approach them as bespoke Strategic Consultations.

OUTPUT/

With many paths to the same outcome, our work is perhaps best understood in terms of its output: a spec for curriculum build, whether the curriculum will be a multi-year graduate degree, a curated set of open courses for an enterprise subscription learner, an executive education certificate… or anything in between.

OUTPUT EXAMPLES/ Please note: Most links will be restricted to 2U / edX employees due to partner confidentiality. These are designated with an asterisk (*).

NEXT STEPS/

Sound about right?

Not exactly right?

Have other questions?