Align your subject with its course

Students undertake a subject within the broader context of the course they are enrolled in, so it’s worth considering the student experience of their broader study as you plan your subject’s Canvas site. You may no longer have the opportunity to workshop with the entirety of the course teaching staff, or carry out a full curriculum mapping exercise, but there are some practical steps you can take that will help align your subject and its Canvas site to its broader context.

We know from student feedback that consistency is important for them. Learning a new and idiosyncratic file management system every time they undertake a subject would likely feel like a waste of energy.

The need for a level of consistency was a significant driver for the shift to the Canvas LMS at UTS. Similarly, the inclusion of a consistent ‘Get started’ module in each and every subject site by default is designed to give students a dependable location for key subject information.

Another concern for students is the perceived connection – or lack thereof –between the various subjects they undertake as elements of their education experience. If almost identical assignments are prescribed across multiple subjects – or if a subject relies upon skills and knowledge that has not been taught in previous subjects – then the student experience of a course will feel disjointed and incoherent.

You will be familiar with the idea of aligning assessment tasks to learning activities subject outcomes in subjects (often referred to as constructive alignment). The concept of alignment is also relevant at the course level. This is achieved through the curriculum mapping process (when a course is designed and re-accredited) where subjects are aligned to course-intended outcomes.

Mapping should typically capture how graduate-attributed and course–intended outcomes are introduced, developed and assessed. This provides a coherent and consistent student experience across the course. To ensure the approved course alignment is maintained, as designed and accredited, it’s essential that subjects coordinators collaborate as they design and develop their subjects.

Meet with subject coordinators from other related subjects

Check on how consistent the students experience of the subject canvas sites will be and share/compare each others’ sites. The goal isn’t to be identical, but it may be possible to make some adjustments that will help to achieve a more consistent student experience, plus exchange and build upon shared ideas for the subject sites.

Make the broader curriculum visible to students

Research suggests that assisting students to understand a subject within the context of the course program, assists them to recall prior knowledge and organise new information more easily. This might take the form of an extra page in the ‘Getting Started’ module, a component covered in the first week or even a course-level Canvas site.

Ask students to take an active role in situating your subject within their degree

Integrate opportunities for students to reflect on what they hope to achieve in your subject and how they see it relating to the larger course. For example, at the beginning of term you could ask students to consider the subject learning outcomes and write up their own related personal learning goals. These might be posted in a discussion space or captured through a Canvas quiz. At key points during the term, ask students to reflect upon these goals.