Designing a Course from Scratch
You now have the tools — needs analysis data, content selection principles, and sequencing criteria. This lesson brings everything together and walks you through the process of designing a complete course from scratch. The course design process One of the most widely used frameworks for course design in education is called backward design — developed by Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe. The core idea is simple: Start with the end in mind. Decide what students need to be able to do by the end of the course, then work backward to design the learning experiences that will get them there. This is different from the traditional approach of starting with content and hoping students end up where you want them to be. The three stages of backward design: [IMG:tesol160_16-6.png]
✓Applied to ESL course design:
Step 1: Define course goals and learning outcomes
Before selecting content, define what students will be able to do by the end of the course.
Course goal (broad): "Students will develop the English skills needed for professional communication in an international business environment."
Learning outcomes (specific): - Students will be able to participate effectively in business meetings in English - Students will be able to write clear, professional emails in English - Students will be able to give a short presentation in English - Students will be able to understand business news articles and reports Step 2: Design the course structure [IMG:tesol160_16-7.png]
✓Step 3: Design individual units
Each unit should have:
Sample unit plan
[IMG:tesol160_16-8.png]
- A clear theme or topic
- Target language (grammar and vocabulary)
- Skills coverage (reading, listening, speaking, writing)
- A communicative outcome — what students can do by the end of the unit
- Assessment — how learning will be checked
✓Step 4: Write a course overview document
A professional course overview includes:
- Course title and level
- Target learners and context
- Course goals and learning outcomes
- Syllabus type and rationale
- Unit-by-unit content breakdown
- Assessment plan
- Materials and resources list
- Teacher notes and flexibility guidelines
Start with the end in mind. Know what success looks like for your learners before you decide what to teach — then design the course that gets them there. Key takeaway : - Explain the backward design framework and how it applies to ESL course design - Write clear course goals and measurable learning outcomes - Design a unit plan with integrated skills and a communicative outcome