This Viewpoints Handbook is designed to help you with curriculum design, at module or whole-course level. The Handbook will give you all the information you need to run a curriculum design workshop with your course team, using our reflective resources - a learner timeline worksheet and best-practice pedagogical principles based around four themes - Assessment and Feedback, Information Skills, Learner Engagement and Creativity in the Curriculum.

1. VIEWPOINTS HANDBOOK
A PRACTICAL GUIDE
TO CURRICULUM DESIGN
(WORKSHOP FORMAT)

2. HANDBOOK – TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Page 2
CHAPTER ONE. VIEWPOINTS INTRODUCTION – WHAT WE DO
1.1 Viewpoints and curriculum design Page 3
1.2 The Viewpoints process Page 3
1.3 Workshop purpose Page 5
1.4 Benefits of having a Viewpoints workshop Page 5
1.5 Four themes, two views Page 6
CHAPTER TWO. USING THE VIEWPOINTS HANDBOOK
2.1 Who can use this Handbook? Page 8
2.2 What resources are included? (Download Pack) Page 8
2.3 Contents of Download Pack Page 8
2.4 What do you want to do? (Flow diagram) Page 10
CHAPTER THREE. HOLDING A WORKSHOP
3.1 Typical workshop format (Module-level) Page 11
3.2 Typical workshop format (Course-level) Page 12
3.3 Essential workshop preparation Page 13
3.4 Essential workshop resources Page 15
3.5 Roles in a workshop – who does what? Page 17
3.6 Recording workshop outputs Page 19
3.7 Hints and tips Page 21
CHAPTER FOUR. THEMES FOR YOUR WORKSHOP
4.1 Assessment and Feedback Page 23
4.2 Information Skills Page 26
4.3 Learner Engagement Page 29
4.4 Creativity in the Curriculum Page 33
CHAPTER FIVE. FOLLOW-UP TO YOUR WORKSHOP
5.1 Using your workshop outputs Page 37
5.2 More help and resources Page 39
CHAPTER SIX. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Page 40
APPENDIX 01. CREATING YOUR OWN WORKSHOP MATERIALS
A1 Printing and preparing workshop theme cards Page 43
A2 Printing and preparing timeline worksheets Page 43
A2.1 Make your own worksheet using flipchart pages Page 44
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3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Welcome to the Viewpoints Handbook, which is designed to help you with
curriculum design, at module or whole-course level.
This handbook will give you all the information you need to run a curriculum design
workshop with your course team, using our reflective resources – a learner timeline
worksheet and best-practice pedagogical principles based around four themes –
Assessment and Feedback, Information Skills, Learner Engagement and Creativity in
the Curriculum.
Chapter 1 gives you a brief summary of the Viewpoints approach, its purpose, and
the benefits of holding a Viewpoints curriculum design workshop.
Chapter 2 explains who might find this Handbook useful, and details all the
curriculum design resources available in the associated Download Pack (which can
be downloaded, free of charge, at http://viewpoints.ulster.ac.uk/resources.) A
useful one-page flowchart at the end of this chapter helps guide you through the use
of Viewpoints materials and the associated information in the Handbook, and makes
a good starting point for anyone thinking of planning a workshop on curriculum
design.
Chapter 3 provides a useful step-by-step information on running your own
workshop, including detailed summary plans (for module or course level
workshops), guidelines for workshop preparation, hints and tips on running a
successful workshop, details of where to get copies of necessary workshop
resources, and workshop roles.
Chapter 4 outlines the four themes in more detail, and explains the source of their
underpinning best-practice pedagogical principles.
Chapter 5 tells you what to do with your workshop outputs, and where to go for
more information.
Chapter 6 has a list of acknowledgments of all stakeholders and expert guidance
received, which has been fundamental in developing the Viewpoints approach to
curriculum design.
Finally, Appendix 01 explains how to create your own workshop materials, if you
cannot get access to original course worksheet timelines and theme cards (as
described in Chapter 3).
We hope you find this Handbook useful! If you have any comments, questions or
suggestions then contact us on tfl@ulster.ac.uk.
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4. CHAPTER ONE. VIEWPOINTS – INTRODUCTION - WHAT WE DO
1.1 VIEWPOINTS AND CURRICULUM DESIGN
Viewpoints is a JISC-funded curriculum design project at the University of Ulster.
We aim to help teaching staff create innovative, student-centred course designs.
We have created a series of user-friendly themed workshop resources to help course
teams reflect, discuss, and plan effective curriculum designs.
The resources use a learner timeline along with best-practice educational principles
to help course staff think about important stages in the learning process for
students.
1.2 THE VIEWPOINTS PROCESS
Our workshop is built around a three-part framework to inform, inspire and help
academics plan curriculum design.
1. We inform by giving you access to principles of good practice in curriculum
design.
Viewpoints poster, illustrating our ‘Inform-Inspire-Plan’ process
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5. 2. We inspire by encouraging you to use suggested best practice examples in your
designs.
Viewpoints Assessment and Feedback cards, with best practice pedagogical principles on each
3. Our workshop helps you plan your subsequent learning design based on these
principles and examples.
Photo of a Viewpoints workshop output – a completed timeline worksheet
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6. 1.3 WORKSHOP PURPOSE
Viewpoints have produced a simple but effective curriculum design workshop and
supporting resources, free for you to use. These can help teaching staff to:
• create/design a new course or module for approval;
• revise a course or module;
• plan for course revalidation.
This Handbook will explain how to use these resources and will show you, step-by-
step, how to deliver your own curriculum design workshop to plan your courses.
1.4 BENEFITS OF HAVING A VIEWPOINTS WORKSHOP
Academics in a Viewpoints workshop reading and discussing the examples
Curriculum development
• The workshop helps teams prepare for the complex course design process.
• It provides a simple, but comprehensive approach to curriculum planning.
• Viewpoints workshop outputs can be used for evidence for revalidation panels.
Participant feedback: “…a simple yet comprehensive approach to the priorities of
curriculum planning.” (March, 2011)
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7. Value for course teams
• The workshop allows for creative discussion and sharing of ideas around course
design.
• The process is built around reflection and effective team communication.
• Course teams can focus on shared priorities.
• It enhances effective teamwork/strengthens team building.
Participant feedback: “It was useful to work in a common environment with other
course teams and consider comparative approaches.” (December, 2010)
Value for students (the learner perspective)
• The workshop focuses attention on the learner experience.
• It is built around a central student timeline, and the workshop themes consider
key student interactions – leading to more learner-focused courses.
Participant feedback: “As I did [the workshop] with students who had completed the
course I received immediate feedback on what would be useful/beneficial”. (January,
2010)
Easy-to-use, quality resources
• Workshop resources are based on sound best-practice educational principles
(see Chapter 4, Themes for your workshop).
• Resources are simple to use.
• All resources are free and reusable.
• Staff are given links to other useful quality resources to help with curriculum
design.
Participant feedback: “Viewpoints are able to link us up with the correct resources and
use them as best we can.” (January, 2010)
1.5 FOUR THEMES, TWO VIEWS
We emphasise four different aspects of course design:
1. Assessment and Feedback;
2. Information Skills;
3. Learner Engagement;
4. Creativity and Innovation.
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8. Assessment and Feedback sample card Information Skills sample card
Learner Engagement sample card Creativity in the Curriculum sample card
Your curriculum design workshop can focus on one of these themes, or a
combination of them.
You can concentrate on module or whole-course level in your workshop. Some
workshops may have a combination of both approaches.
The workshop is focused around a student timeline framework, which helps
concentrate attention on the learner experience.
Course teams ‘storyboard’ their course plans on this student timeline, based on one
or more of the four different themes.
You’ll get a summary description of the workshop process and detailed instructions
for running your own workshop in Chapter Three – Giving a workshop.
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9. CHAPTER TWO. USING THE VIEWPOINTS HANDBOOK
2.1 WHO CAN USE THIS HANDBOOK?
This handbook will be useful to anyone who is involved in educational course design
– from planning an activity or assessment for a class, to amending a module,
creating a new course, preparing for revalidation or for an annual course review.
Educational staff (and students) who could benefit from using these materials
include:
• Course directors
• Module coordinators
• Subject teams
• Teaching staff and their students
• Staff Development
• Subject librarians
• Students’ Union groups/representatives
2.2 WHAT RESOURCES ARE INCLUDED WITH THIS HANDBOOK?
In addition to this handbook, there is a download pack available (compressed in ZIP
format) which contains all the resources you’ll need to have your own curriculum
design workshop with colleagues.
From facilitator crib sheets to printable cards, permission forms and presentation
templates for your workshop, all the resources are readily available, reusable and
free of charge! Download all the information from the following URL:
http://viewpoints.ulster.ac.uk/resources.
2.3 CONTENTS OF DOWNLOAD PACK
Module workshop resources
Use this set of resources if you are running a module-level workshop.
• Facilitator crib sheet – simple, concise 1-page instructions for running a
module-level workshop.
• Module cards – there are 4 sets of themed cards, related to the themes of
Assessment and Feedback, Creativity, Information Skills and Learner
Engagement, to be applied to module (re)design.
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10. • Module timeline (A4) – example of the layout of a module timeline worksheet
(miniature version, for reference only).
• Sample permission form – get workshop members to sign this form before the
workshop begins, if you’re taking photos or videos that will feature their image.
• Supporting resources – Quality resources/links for each of the four themes.
• Sample module outputs – a PowerPoint file with photos of module workshops in
the University of Ulster – for reference.
• Workshop output template (Word document) –this template can be used to
record and type up notes, based on the module timeline worksheet completed by
the group.
• Template for module workshop presentation – a PowerPoint template for a
Viewpoints workshop, which you can adapt slightly for use with your own team.
Course workshop resources
Use this set of resources if you are running a course-level workshop.
• Facilitator crib sheet – simple, concise 1-page instructions for running a
course-level workshop.
• Course level cards – there are 4 sets of themed course-level cards, related to the
themes of Assessment and Feedback, Creativity, Information Skills and Learner
Engagement, to be applied to course (re)design.
• Course timeline (A4) – example of the layout of a course timeline worksheet
(miniature version, for reference only).
• Sample permission form – get workshop members to sign this form before the
workshop begins, if you’re taking photos or videos that will feature their image.
• Supporting resources – links and further information for each of the four
themes.
• Workshop output template (Word document) – this template can be used to
record and type up notes, based on the course timeline worksheet completed by
the group.
• Template for course workshop presentation – a PowerPoint template for use in
a Viewpoints workshop, which you can adapt for use with your own team.
• Diagrams of course design processes – diagrams that explain the processes of
new course design, module design, revalidation etc. at the University of Ulster.
We’ll explain how to use these resources in detail in Chapters 3 and 4 of this
Handbook.
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11. 2.4 WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
Figure 1 The main steps in the Viewpoints curriculum design process
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12. CHAPTER THREE. HOLDING A WORKSHOP
3.1 TYPICAL WORKSHOP FORMAT (MODULE-LEVEL)
Time needed: roughly 1.5 hours
This facilitator’s ‘crib sheet’ is also available within the Download Pack, (Module
section) along with a PowerPoint workshop presentation template.
ACTIVITY INSTRUCTIONS TIME/ROLE
Workshop Briefly introduce the Viewpoints tools and resources, 5 mins
introduction and show a few examples of how they can be used for
curriculum design at module level.
(Facilitator,
(Show PowerPoint presentation slides - Introduction) group
coordinator)
Session outline Introduce the workshop tasks one by one. Tell the 5 mins
groups what they will be doing at each stage.
(Facilitator)
(Show PowerPoint presentation slides– Session Outline)
Task 1 Each group considers their key challenge and agrees an 10 mins
objective for the session. They record the objective on
Agree objective the module timeline worksheet. (Groups)
Task 2 Groups select one of the four themes to consider for 10 mins
their objective (either Assessment and Feedback,
Choose one Information Skills, Learner Engagement or Creativity). If (Groups)
theme there is a chance, Tasks 1 and 2 could be done pre-
workshop, to save time.
Task 3 Groups read the front of their chosen set of theme cards 10 mins
(one principle per card). They select the
Choose selected cards/principles that can help them address their (Groups)
principles objective.
Task 4 Groups map selected principles to the timeline and (if 15 mins
relevant) prioritise them. (Note: they can place the same
Map principles cards in more than one place on the timeline) (Groups)
to timeline
Task 5 Groups turn over the cards on the timeline, to display 15 mins
the relevant examples on the reverse. (Note: if time’s
Select examples short, they should only turn over the most important (Groups)
cards). They tick the examples that could support their
objective. Then they should stick cards on the timeline
using Blu-Tack (or any other sticky stuff), for
presentation later.
Task 6 Groups discuss how their ideas could be used in 10 mins
teaching practice. They write on the worksheet using
Review ideas & Post-its or markers. (Groups)
write plan
Task 7 Groups agree any final reflections and action points to 10 mins
take forward. They record this on the student timeline.
Action points (Groups)
Task 8 One or two members from each group present their 5 min/group
completed worksheet and briefly feed back on their
Share plans progress/conclusions. (Individuals
from groups)
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13. CHAPTER THREE. HOLDING A WORKSHOP
3.2 TYPICAL WORKSHOP FORMAT (COURSE-LEVEL)
Time needed: roughly 1.5 hours
This facilitator’s ‘crib sheet’ is also available within the Download Pack, (Course
section) along with a PowerPoint workshop presentation.
ACTIVITY INSTRUCTIONS TIME/ROLE
Workshop Briefly introduce the Viewpoints tools and resources, 5 mins
introduction and show a few examples of how they can be used for
curriculum design at course level.
(Facilitator,
(Show PowerPoint presentation slides - Introduction) group
coordinator)
Session outline Introduce the workshop tasks one by one. Tell the 5 mins
groups what they will be doing at each stage.
(Facilitator)
(Show PowerPoint presentation slides – Session Outline)
Task 1 Each group considers their key challenge and agrees an 10 mins
objective for the session. They record the objective on
Agree objective the course timeline worksheet. (Groups)
If there is a chance, Task 1 could be done pre-workshop,
to save time.
Task 2 Groups read all the course-level theme cards with their 15 mins
objective in mind (Assessment and Feedback,
Consider themes Information Skills, Learner Engagement and Creativity). (Groups)
They discuss – do they need to redesign anything around
these themes? (e.g. assessment workloads throughout
the course, or information skills needs over time).
They select the themes that are important to their
objective at course level.
Task 3 Groups decide what parts of the course (which 15 mins
modules/semesters) they might like to redesign around
Map themes to these themes. (Groups,
modules / facilitator)
semesters (Note: give groups the module-level cards and examples
to read, for more clarity).
Teams note down ideas (on Post-its) in the relevant
course area.
Task 4 Groups discuss how their ideas could be implemented in 15 mins
their teaching practice. They write their plans below the
Review ideas / Post-its on the timeline, using markers. (Groups)
Write plan
Task 5 Groups agree any final reflections and action points to 10 mins
take forward. They record this on timeline.
Action points (Groups)
Task 6 One or two members from each group presents their 5 min/group
completed course timeline worksheet and briefly feeds
Share plans back on their progress/conclusions. (Individuals
from groups)
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14. 3.3 ESSENTIAL WORKSHOP PREPARATION
Before you start
1. Book your room (based on the number of attendees) and check out size and
layout beforehand.
2. Work out how many groups you will have (and therefore, how many
tables/resources you’ll need), based on the number of people attending the
workshop. As a general rule, you could have five or six people per
group/table. Smaller groups of three or four people also work, but bear in
mind larger groups might be less productive, so keep them small if possible.
3. You may have to rearrange the room layout (putting tables and chairs in
clusters for each group, and laying out workshop materials on each table) so
leave extra time for that before the workshop starts.
4. Check that the tables in the room are appropriate for the size of the
worksheets, which will be laid flat on each table. Smaller, round tables can
cause a problem. Fixed small tables (such as fixed single desks) are not
suitable.
5. Test any technology you need beforehand (e.g. laptop with projector,
PowerPoint slides, digital video camera, digital camera batteries or audio
equipment, if using.) If you’re using the Viewpoints PowerPoint template
from the Download Pack, be sure to edit it to include your own team’s
information.
6. If possible, share the themed card sets beforehand with groups, so that they
are familiar with them. There is a lot of information, especially on some of
the module-level cards, so it helps to be familiar with them before the
workshop if possible.
7. If there’s time, agree your objectives or key challenges with the group
members prior to the workshop, and (if holding a module-level workshop)
decide which of the four themes you’re going to focus on. This will give you
more time for discussion during the workshop itself.
Photo of groups in a workshop setting
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15. Arranging the room
Arrange tables in the room with workshop materials for each group. It should be
easy for the group leader and participants to move around the worksheets and
tables.
Photo of a blank timeline worksheet
Each table should have the following materials on it:
1. 1 large course or module timeline sheet.
2. If you’re holding a module-level workshop, you’ll need 4 sets of your chosen
module theme card per team (e.g. 4 sets of Information Skills cards for each
group). You only need to bring the card sets for your chosen theme. It’s
easiest to focus on only one theme at a time for a module workshop – too
many cards/themes can make your workshop confusing and too time-
consuming.
3. If you’re doing a course-level workshop, each group will need 1 printed
course card per theme (i.e. 1 Assessment and Feedback course card, 1
Creativity course card, 1 Information Skills course card, and 1 Learner
Engagement course card). It’s advisable to carry a set of each of the module-
level cards as well, for reference.
4. Dry-wipe whiteboard marker pens for writing on the timeline worksheet.
(Ordinary markers will indelibly mark the reusable laminate worksheets, so
they are not suitable. However, if you’re using your own paper worksheets,
then you can use normal markers.)
5. Several packs of Post-its and pens for each group.
6. Blu-Tack (to stick completed cards to the timeline, for presentation at the
end).
If you have more participants, remember to scale up the resources needed – for
example, if you have 18 participants and have decided to divide them into three
groups in your workshop, you will need 3 timeline sheets, 12 printed module cards
per theme, extra Post-its and markers, etc.
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16. 3.4 ESSENTIAL WORKSHOP RESOURCES
Workshop PowerPoint slides
In the Download Pack, there is a template PowerPoint presentation available that
facilitators or group coordinators can use to introduce the workshop and the
resources. Before the workshop, read the slides and edit them so that they suit
your workshop plans and your available timeframe.
Borrowing essential workshop resources
1. One of the main resources you’ll need for the workshop is a timeline worksheet.
There are a small number of reusable laminated worksheets available for use by
University of Ulster staff. Both module and course level worksheets are available on
loan from Technology Facilitated Learning in Jordanstown.
Image of a module-level timeline worksheet
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17. If you want to borrow one of these large worksheets, contact Technology Facilitated
Learning on tfl@ulster.ac.uk, or alternatively telephone +44 28 90368434 to request
Viewpoints workshop resources.
Make sure to let them know at least a week in advance and specify:
• Whether you need module or course-level worksheets;
• How many timeline worksheets you need for your workshop.
You can borrow the required number of worksheets, wipe them clean afterwards and
return them to Technology Facilitated Learning.
2. You will also need to borrow the required number of module or course-level
theme card sets (see above, Arranging the room, for the required number of
cards).
University of Ulster staff can borrow module or course cards for each theme from
Technology Facilitated Learning, as before. Remember to tell them how many you
need to borrow, based on your workshop attendance numbers.
Assessment and Feedback course card Information Skills course card
Learner Engagement course card Creativity in the Curriculum course card
You MUST return resources after use, so that other teams can have the chance to
use them.
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18. External teams needing resources
If you’re in another educational institution and want to use the workshop resources,
you can contact the department of Technology Facilitated Learning in the University
of Ulster on tfl@ulster.ac.uk.
TFL can give you access to the original high-resolution files for printing cards and
A0 timeline worksheets, on request. You can then arrange to have your own cards
and worksheet printed for you by a professional printer.
These original printing files are also available via our website, at
http://viewpoints.ulster.ac.uk/resources. (Note: the file size of these professional
printing files is very large, to ensure good print quality, so only use them if you are
having worksheets and cards printed professionally).
Resources – troubleshooting
If you can’t get access to any of the available resources in time for your workshop,
then read Appendix 01 of this Handbook for guidance (Creating your own
workshop materials). This guide tells you how to make your own resources, step-
by-step, using source materials from the Download Pack.
However, bear in mind that creating your own resources is time-consuming, so
should only be done if you have no other alternatives – set aside an afternoon to
create and compile your resources, if you need to do this!
You’ll need access to a printer (which prints double-sided, if possible), some glue or
a stapler, scissors, A4 paper, A1 flipchart sheets, sticky tape and markers, as well
as the relevant Download Pack resources.
3.5 ROLES IN A WORKSHOP – WHO DOES WHAT?
Group coordinator
This person is the main point of contact for the workshop. They can request a
workshop and liaise between the facilitator and the group members. They can also
help introduce the workshop with the facilitator.
Facilitator
The facilitator leads the workshop. They should help the group to discuss their
objectives effectively, and help them to plan, using the workshop materials. Each
workshop should take approximately 1.5 hours.
As a facilitator you will need to do the following:
• Introduce the session (along with the group coordinator, if there is one).
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19. • Keep an eye on the time (moving people on to the next task if they are
spending too long on one part of the workshop). However, be flexible. You
don’t want to stop valuable contributions.
• Try to encourage all group members to contribute.
• Keep participants focused.
Use the facilitator crib sheet (included in your Download Pack) to remind you of
what you need to do during the workshop.
Group members
There will be five or six group members per group in the workshop (depending on
course team size, of course. Smaller teams are possible.)
Group members are responsible for discussing and recording their objectives and
plans for their module/course redesign, with guidance from the workshop facilitator.
They use course or module theme cards, the student timeline worksheet and their
subsequent discussions and notes to come up with a themed plan for their course or
module.
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20. 3.6 RECORDING WORKSHOP OUTPUTS
You’ll need to keep a record of what was discussed in your workshop.
• You can do this by taking a digital photograph of your completed timeline
worksheet. This will give you a record of your discussion as visual output,
which you can then paste into a Word document and circulate. To take a
photo of the whole timeline, you can put the worksheet on the floor and take
a photo standing from above.
Photograph of a sample worksheet output from a Viewpoints workshop
• If you have time, type up your chosen examples and notes from this digital
photograph. You will then have a written record of your discussions which
you can use as groundwork evidence for course redesign. You will find a
blank template in the Download Pack (Word document format). Download all
the Viewpoints resources from http://viewpoints.ulster.ac.uk/resources.
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21. • If possible, you could photograph the workshop sessions at different stages
of the process, and video the final workshop task, when one or two members
from each group briefly feed back on their progress. However, this is not
essential.
• If you are capturing photos or videos of your groups, it’s important to make
sure that all participants have read, understood and signed the image
permission form provided in the Download Pack. Do NOT use images of any
staff member who has not consented to use of their image – this is unethical.
Image of a sample permission form
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22. 3.7 HINTS AND TIPS
Here are some useful tips that may help facilitators when delivering workshops.
These tips have come from the Viewpoints workshop team and their own extensive
experience of planning and delivering course design workshops, so they are based
on real-world examples.
1. Emphasise the fact that the cards are only prompts. They are there as
guides to help in the discussion of one of the four key curriculum
development themes.
2. Emphasise that the timelines are only prompts as well, and can be adapted
to suit course teams’ needs.
3. Choose the objective and the theme before the workshop, if possible. This
will free up time for detailed discussion and tailored planning.
4. Distribute copies of the cards to groups beforehand, so that they are familiar
with the principles and examples before the workshop - so this can prevent
information overload.
5. If you can’t get hold of the timeline worksheets or card sets, read Appendix
01 of this Handbook, a troubleshooting section that will show you how to
make your own resources. Set aside sufficient time (e.g. an afternoon) to
create the necessary resources, and make sure you have all the materials to
hand.
6. If groups are using the same card at different points on the student timeline,
suggest to them that they’ll probably want to use different examples at
different points.
7. Let groups know that there are no right/wrong answers, and encourage them
to record any of their own ideas not listed.
8. Students can work well within the Viewpoints process as it is so learner-
focused – and can provide valuable input and a fresh perspective to group
discussions.
9. Timings given for the workshops are only suggestions. They are best used as
prompts to keep the slowest groups on schedule. (It’s common for some
groups to work ahead of the suggested schedule – let them move to the next
task, if that’s the case).
10. In workshops, some people may find it more useful to work alone or in pairs.
Be flexible and do whatever works best for your teams (or whatever you have
enough resources for). Make sure smaller groups or individuals still share
their findings with other team members.
11. To save time in a module workshop, one person could take responsibility for
reading out the examples for a selected principle, while another member
could mark down the selected examples that apply at that stage.
12. Group members can use different coloured markers to record on the timeline
(for example) their current teaching practice in one colour, and what they
aspire to do in another. If they do this, remind them to add a colour key to
their worksheet.
13. Make use of written and photographed outputs in your planning. Don’t have
a good creative discussion and then forget to record anything. Essential
information may be lost!
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23. 14. If you’re recording photos or videos of your session, be sure to get ALL
participants to complete the image permission sheet from the Download
pack. Go to each group member individually to collect their completed
permission sheets, so you can identify which members have not consented to
their image being used.
15. Don’t schedule workshops for a Friday afternoon – group members will most
likely be tired and demotivated!
16. Providing refreshments (such as tea, coffee and scones or sandwiches) will
help motivate your group to complete the intensive workshop process.
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24. CHAPTER FOUR. THEMES FOR YOUR WORKSHOP
4.1 ASSESSMENT AND FEEDBACK
Summary
The Assessment and Feedback theme will help you create an innovative assessment
and feedback strategy for a module or a course. Staff can use a set of Viewpoints
Assessment and Feedback cards in their course planning, for inspiration and ideas.
Pedagogical background
The principles of good assessment and feedback practice are based on the REAP
principles of good assessment design from the REAP project in Scotland. The cards
also use the REAP implementation techniques from the QAA Enhancement Theme –
The First Year Experience – Transforming Assessment and Feedback.
Assessment and Feedback – the Principles
There are nine principles of good assessment and feedback practice listed on the
Assessment and Feedback prompt cards:
• Clarify good performance
• Encourage time and effort on task
• Deliver high quality feedback
• Provide opportunities to act on feedback
• Encourage interaction and dialogue
• Develop self-assessment and reflection
• Give assessment choice
• Encourage positive motivational beliefs
• Inform and shape your teaching
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25. Module level cards
There are nine module level cards in a set. Each card is devoted to one particular
principle of good assessment and feedback.
Sample Assessment and Feedback module level card - front
Sample Assessment and Feedback module level card - back
A single Assessment and Feedback principle (for example, “Encourage time and
effort on task”) and a brief description of its meaning appears on the front of the
module card. When you turn the card over, you will see a list of
examples/implementation ideas for that particular principle.
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26. Staff can put these cards on the module timeline (repeating the same card at several
different points if needed) and then turn the cards over and tick the relevant
examples, then note down their own ideas.
Course level cards
The front of the course level cards state their purpose (to help staff redesign
assessment and feedback) and describe, briefly, effective assessment and feedback
practice.
Assessment and Feedback course level card - front
Assessment and Feedback course level card - back
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27. All nine principles of good assessment and feedback design appear on the back of
the course level card.
Academic staff using these cards in a course-planning workshop can place an
Assessment and Feedback course card on the timeline worksheet as a prompt to
help them consider the principles in relation to their course. They can then note
down their ideas on Assessment and Feedback on Post-its and place them where
they are relevant at different points during the course.
Finally, they can note down their own ideas and action points.
Supporting handouts
Useful supporting handouts specific to the theme of Assessment and Feedback are
available for download, from the Download Pack on the Viewpoints website.
4.2 INFORMATION SKILLS
Summary
The Information Skills theme will help you think about your students’ information
skills needs (e.g. research/study skills) for a module or a course. Staff can use a set
of Viewpoints Information Skills cards in their course planning.
Subject librarians working with teaching staff or students can also use this theme to
raise awareness of the how the demand for information skills is distributed
throughout a course or module.
Pedagogical background
The principles of good information skills management are based on the SCONUL
Seven Pillars Model of Information Literacy. The examples on the back of the module
level cards are adapted from Information Skills Benchmarks, a paper by Peter
Godwin from the LIS. This paper has the SCONUL Seven Pillars Model as its basis.
26

28. Information Skills – the Principles
There are seven principles of good information skills practice listed on the
Information Skills prompt cards:
• Define the task and understand the topic
• Identify appropriate resources
• Search effectively
• Find and extract information
• Compare and analyse information
• Organise and share information ethically
• Interpret information and create new content
Module level cards
There are seven module level cards in a set. Each card is devoted to one particular
principle of good information skills design.
Sample Information Skills module level card - front
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29. Sample Information Skills module level card - back
One single principle (for example, “Find and extract information”) and a brief
description of its meaning appears on the front of the card. When you turn the card
over, you will see a list of examples/implementation ideas for that particular
principle. Staff can put these cards on the module timeline (repeating the same card
at several different points if needed) and then turn the cards over and tick the
relevant examples, then note down their own ideas.
Course level cards
The front of the course level cards give a definition of what constitutes good
information skills and describe, briefly, how the cards will help staff come up with a
sound information skills strategy.
Information Skills course level card - front
28

30. Information Skills course level card - back
All seven principles of good information skills design appear on the back of the
course level card.
Academic staff using these cards in a course planning workshop can place an
Information Skills card on the timeline worksheet in order to consider where in the
course students will have a certain information skills need (e.g. they need to define
their task, or organize the information they have gathered). They can then select the
specific Information Skills principles relevant to their course.
Finally, they can note down their own ideas and action points.
Supporting handouts
Useful supporting handouts specific to the theme of Information Skills are available
for download, from the Download Pack on the Viewpoints website.
4.3 LEARNER ENGAGEMENT
Summary
The Learner Engagement theme will help you think about how to create courses that
are engaging for students and learner-focused. Staff can use a set of Viewpoints
Learner Engagement cards in their course planning for inspiration and ideas.
Pedagogical background
The principles of learner engagement are based upon the 8 Learning Events Model
developed by LabSET, University of Liège, Belgium.
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31. Learner Engagement – the concepts
The Learner Engagement cards list eight teacher/learner interactions (learning
events), which can be applied to a course or module to enhance the learner
experience:
• Receive
• Create
• Debate
• Explore
• Experiment
• Imitate
• Practice
• Meta-learn (Self-reflect)
Module level cards
There are eight module level cards in a set. Each card is devoted to one particular
teaching and learning interaction.
Sample Learner Engagement module level card - front
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32. Sample Learner Engagement module level card - back
On the front of the card, there is one single learner/teacher interaction (for example,
“Practice”) and a brief description of its meaning. When you turn the card over, you
will see a list of suggested resource types, sample interactions, possible tools and
technologies to use and types of assessment.
Note: the back of the ‘Receive’ and ‘Meta-learn’ cards are slightly different in format
and content to the rest of the module card set.
In a workshop, staff can put these cards on the module timeline (repeating the same
card at several different points if needed) and then turn the cards over and tick the
relevant examples, then note down their own ideas.
Course level cards
The front of the Learner Engagement course level cards state their purpose (to help
staff identify possible teaching and learning interactions that support the learning
process).
31

33. Learner Engagement course level card - front
Learner Engagement course level card - back
All eight possible Learner Engagement interactions appear on the back of the course
level card.
Academic staff using these cards in a course-planning workshop can place a Learner
Engagement card on the timeline worksheet as a prompt to help them consider the
principles in relation to their course. They can then select the specific Learner
Engagement interactions relevant at different points in their course. Finally, they
can note down their own ideas and action points.
Supporting handouts
Useful supporting handouts specific to the theme of Learner Engagement are
available for download, from the Download Pack on the Viewpoints website.
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34. 4.4 CREATIVITY IN THE CURRICULUM
Summary
The Creativity in the Curriculum theme will help you incorporate creativity and
innovation into a module or a course. Staff can use Viewpoints Creativity cards in
their course planning, to help inspire them to make courses more innovative for
students.
Pedagogical background
The Creativity principles listed on these cards are adapted from the work of the
University of Ulster’s Centre for Higher Education Practice ‘Creativity in the
Curriculum’ group.
Creativity in the Curriculum – the Principles
There are nine creativity ideas listed on the Creativity in the Curriculum prompt
cards:
• Enquiry-based learning
• ‘Open-box’ modules
• Negotiation
• ‘Real-life’ learning situations
• Novel approaches to tasks
• Assessment that focuses on process
• Use of debates
• Beyond the discipline
• Collaborative learning
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35. Module level cards
There are nine module level cards in a set. Each card is devoted to one particular
Creativity principle.
Sample Creativity module level card – front
One Creativity principle (for example, “Enquiry-based learning”) and a brief
description of its meaning appears on the front of a card.
Examples and implementation ideas for the back of the module cards are currently
being developed for the Creativity theme, in conjunction with the University of
Ulster’s Creativity in the Curriculum group.
Staff can put these cards on the module timeline (repeating the same card at several
different points if needed) and then note down their own ideas.
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36. Course level cards
The front of the course level cards explain what is meant by the term ‘Creativity in
the Curriculum’ and briefly describe how the cards identify examples of creative /
innovative teaching practice, as well as fostering student creativity.
Creativity course level card - front
Creativity course level card - back
All nine principles of creative course design appear on the back of the course level
card.
Academic staff using these cards in a course-planning workshop can place a
Creativity card on the timeline worksheet as a prompt to help them consider the
principles in relation to their course.
35

37. They can then select the specific Creativity principles relevant to their course and
note down their own notes.
Finally, they can note down their own specific ideas and action points.
Supporting handouts
Useful supporting handouts specific to the theme of creativity and innovation are
available for download, from the Download Pack on the Viewpoints website.
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38. CHAPTER FIVE. FOLLOW-UP TO YOUR WORKSHOP
5.1 USING YOUR WORKSHOP OUTPUTS
Once you’ve held your curriculum design workshop, you should then have a
tangible output to use. This will be a completed curriculum timeline (either at
module or course level) with your course design objective, theme cards (such as
Information Skills) attached to it, relevant examples ticked and your own notes and
action points noted down.
Photo of a finished workshop output – a completed timeline worksheet
As a record, we recommend you take a photograph of your completed curriculum
timeline. You can then paste it into a Word document and circulate amongst your
colleagues, to remind yourselves of what you discussed, and what plans you made.
What should you do next with this output?
Completing a Viewpoints workshop is really the beginning of a process – kick-
starting an important discussion that you and your colleagues need to have about
curriculum design.
37

39. If you have time, it could be useful to type up the points discussed in the workshop,
so that you have a printed summary of your plans.
The Download Pack includes a simple workshop output template, in Word format,
which can be used to record and type up all your notes from your worksheet, based
on your module timeline worksheet.
Image of a sample typed-up output from a Viewpoints workshop session
Suggested uses
Use your completed timeline:
• As a basis for deeper discussion on module/course (re)design.
• To see where your course might have gaps/needs (e.g. where you might need
more defined assessment and feedback at any point).
38

40. • As evidence for course validation committees.
• As a foundation for writing supporting course documents, when
documenting a new course or planning a module.
5.2 MORE HELP AND RESOURCES
Viewpoints have compiled a series of help resources to help you with your
curriculum design.
These resources link to more quality resources around the themes of Assessment
and Feedback, Creativity, Information Skills and Student Engagement.
These are available as part of the download pack mentioned in Chapter Two.
Download the full set of help resources, templates and printables from
http://viewpoints.ulster.ac.uk/resources.
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41. CHAPTER SIX. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
JISC Curriculum Design Cluster C
For expert guidance, we are indebted to our project funders, JISC, as well as the
advice and guidance of our project’s Critical Friend, Peter Bullen, Emeritus
Professor at the University of Hertfordshire, previous Director of the Blended
Learning Unit, and former head of their CETL/Ford Professor of Automotive
Engineering.
The direction and focus of the Viewpoints project has been informed and influenced
by the critical feedback from our Viewpoints Steering group, which met once a
quarter for the duration of the project, to discuss Viewpoints developments, reports,
prototypes, workshops and institutional embedding.
Our project has benefited greatly from the feedback and support of our JISC project
partners in JISC Curriculum Design Cluster C:
• the PiP project (Principles in Patterns) in Strathclyde, which is developing a
new technology-supported approach to curriculum design at the University
of Strathclyde;
• OULDI at the Open University (the Open University Learning Design
Initiative, which aims to develop and implement a methodology for learning
design.
Stakeholders in the Viewpoints project
The Viewpoints project has also been influenced by feedback and evaluation from
important stakeholders within the University. Feedback has come in the form of
consultations, presentations, one-to-one meetings, workshops, pilot sessions
(mainly with Ulster staff, and a few students) and internal/external dissemination.
Our stakeholders throughout the project have included the following key partners in
the University of Ulster:
• Academic Staff
• Heads of School
• PVC (Teaching and Learning)
• Students
• Academic Office
• Quality Management and Audit Unit
• Staff Development
• Centre for Higher Education Practice
• The Department of Access and Distributed Learning
• Student Support
40

42. • Ulster Library
• Student Marketing
• International Office
• Career Development Centre
The REAP Project (Assessment and Feedback)
The nine Assessment and Feedback principles in our Assessment and Feedback
theme were based on the REAP principles of good assessment design from the REAP
project in Scotland.
The cards also use the REAP implementation techniques from the QAA
Enhancement Theme – The First Year Experience – Transforming Assessment and
Feedback.
REAP stands for Re-engineering Assessment Practices. REAP piloted the redesign of
formative assessment and feedback practices across these three institutions.
The three REAP partners involved were the University of Strathclyde (lead), the
University of Glasgow and Glasgow Caledonian University.
In January 2011, the University of Ulster set up a Working Group on Assessment
and Feedback for Learning. (For more detailed information, read the 2011 Ulster
Teaching and Learning paper, Assessment and Feedback for Learning).
Professor Denise McAllister, the Teaching and Learning PVC, helped establish this
group (along with the Centre for Higher Education Practice) as a response to Ulster’s
poor performance in the 2010 National Student Survey as regards assessment.
The aim of the Working Group is to create a set of assessment principles for
University practitioners in every faculty to embed into practice.
This group adopted a subset of the REAP Principles of good assessment design to
embed into university practice.
Viewpoints resources are aligned with this initiative through the use of the REAP
principles and common summary descriptions. This will allow our Assessment and
Feedback cards to be embedded into practice throughout the University.
SCONUL Seven Pillars of Information Literacy (Information Skills)
The seven principles of information skills management developed for this theme are
based on the SCONUL Seven Pillars Model of Information Literacy.
The Seven Pillars Model was designed to be a practical working model and contains
ideas about the range of information skills needed in higher education, as well as
touching on the relationship between information skills and IT skills.
It also considers the notion of progression in higher education (from first year up to
research level) and the growing development of information skills needed.
41

43. The examples on the back of the cards use and adapt information from Information
Skills Benchmarks, a paper by Peter Godwin from the LIS, itself based on the
SCONUL Seven Pillars Model.
The subject and subject assistant librarians at the University of Ulster have been
invaluable in their help and continuing support in revising and amending iterations
of the theme text, suggesting revisions to the wording of examples and coming up
with relevant alternatives.
8 Learning Events Model (Learner Engagement)
The Learner Engagement theme is based upon the 8 Learning Events Model
developed by LabSET, University of Liège, Belgium.
The 8 Learning Events Model (8LEM) documents 8 specific ways of teaching and
learning. The model connects the student's needs and the teacher's provision, and
considers their interactions. Learner and teacher actions are complementary and
interdependent.
CHEP Creativity in the Curriculum group (Creativity)
The nine creativity prompts within the Viewpoints Creativity theme are derived from
the work of the University’s Creativity in the Curriculum Group, via the Centre for
Higher Education Practice (CHEP).
The Creativity in the Curriculum group is building on work produced by Ulster’s
Working Group on Creativity and Innovation in the Curriculum in 2007.
The current CHEP Creativity project aims to identify innovative practice across the
University, and also tries to promote ways of developing student creativity within
subject curricula.
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44. APPENDIX 01 CREATING YOUR OWN WORKSHOP MATERIALS
A1. Printing and preparing workshop theme cards
For each table, (if you’re doing a module workshop) you will need four sets of the
theme cards you have pre-selected with your groups. If you’re doing a course-level
workshop, you’ll need one set of each of the themed course-level cards per group.
For example, if you’re looking at Assessment and Feedback in your module-level
workshop and you have two tables, you will need to print out 4 x 2 sets of each card
in the Assessment and Feedback theme pack = 8 copies of each card.
From your download pack, select the relevant level of workshop (module or course)
and the correct set of cards for your objective (Assessment and Feedback, Creativity,
Information Skills or Learner Engagement). These card sets will be in the form of
PDFs.
1. Open the relevant PDF (e.g. AssessmentFeedback_module.pdf) and choose
File>Print.
2. When your printing options come up on your computer screen, print two to
a page and (if your printer supports this option) choose double-sided
printing (front and back). Print the required number of each card set – 4, 8
or other multiples.
3. If your printer doesn’t support double-sided printing, you can glue/staple
pages together to join the front and the back of cards. Match up the titles of
cards to get the front and back of each card.
4. Cut the cards to size (using scissors or a guillotine if you have one) and glue
or staple together if necessary.
A2. Printing and preparing timeline worksheets
You will need one or more timeline worksheets for your workshop – either module or
course-level, depending on what you want to work on. Each group (averaging 5 or 6
people per group) will need one timeline worksheet.
These worksheets are A0 size (i.e. 16 times the size of an A4 page, or two times the
size of a large flipchart) so it is not possible to print these on a standard printer,
unless you have specialist equipment.
You have a few different options for preparing worksheets for a workshop. Bear in
mind it will take a bit of time (at least an afternoon), to prepare all these resources,
so remember to factor this into your workshop preparations.
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45. A2.1 Make your own worksheet using flipchart pages
For this you will need:
• Two A1-size flipchart blank pages
• One marker pen
• Sticky tape
• A copy of the A4 module or course-level timeline (mini version), for reference,
to help you with the layout.
Instructions
a. Put the flipchart pages
together – arranged
landscape orientation,
i.e. their longest sides
joining together.
b. Stick the long sides
together using Sticky
tape.
44

46. c. Turn the page over and
take out the small A4
example worksheet –
this will guide you in
creating the layout of
your worksheet.
d. Write your section
titles on your
worksheet, in roughly
the same relative
position as the
example worksheet.
At the top, you will
write Module or Course
as a heading
(depending on which
level you’re working
with.)
The next title is
‘Objective’ – the reason
for your workshop
redesign.
Then, divide the
worksheet into four
equal sections – for
module level, this is
Induction, First Few
Weeks, Mid-semester
and Final Phase.
(For course level, this
will be Year 1, Year 2,
Year 3 and Year 4).
Finally, write the title
‘Action Points’ at the
very bottom of the
sheet.
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47. e. If you wish, divide off
the sections using tape
or a pen and ruler, so
that you have distinct
sections on your
worksheet.
f. You’re ready to start
using your worksheet –
as described in
Chapter 3 - placing
cards (which you
should have already
printed out) on the
timeline and writing
your own notes below.
46

48. http://viewpoints.ulster.ac.uk/resources