Photo Caption: The Summer 2025 Cohort of the Course Development Institute.
As part of Provost Rahul Shrivastav’s commitment to active learning, the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning (CITL) hosted the 2025 Course Development Institute for Active Learning on May 12-16, 2025.
Offered for over 20 years, the Course Development Institute (CDI) is an opportunity for IUB instructors to design an engaging, student-centered course with expert guidance and a supportive community of peers. Based on a model of backward course design (Wiggins and McTighe, 2005), it helps instructors build courses from the ground up, starting with their learning outcomes.
Photo Caption: CDI participants engage in a group discussion.
Over five interactive morning sessions, participants explore course design through collaborative activities, guided discussions, and active learning strategies, receiving structured feedback from colleagues in interdisciplinary teams along the way. Many of these activities are also utilized to model evidence-based teaching strategies.
By the end of the week, participants will walk away with all the core components of their new course, including:
- Clearly defined and meaningful course goals and learning outcomes that promote student engagement and success
- A major final assignment that aligns with course objectives
- A plan for incorporating active learning strategies that keep students engaged
- A structured sequence of assignments that supports skill-building and mastery
- A strong foundation for a syllabus that communicates course expectations and learning goals effectively.
Photo Caption: CDI participants engage in a group discussion.
This is an intensive, high-impact experience, requiring approximately 40 hours of engagement over the week, including group workshops and independent work. Participants have the support of institute facilitators and a multidisciplinary community of colleagues who share a passion for teaching. Graduate students and staff are welcome to apply, but priority will be given to faculty participants.
We will begin taking applications for the 2026 CDI in April, 2026. To keep on top of the application announcement and other opportunities, subscribe to the CITL Friends newsletter.
For more information about the CDI, contact the facilitators:
- Sarah Pedzinski (spedzins@iu.edu)
- Leslie Drane (lesdrane@iu.edu)