Flexible Course Design - 7 Modules in 7-Week or Full Semester Terms

This article outlines a strategy for the design of “accordion courses,” which is a 7-module course designed to be taught in either a 7-week or a full semester, 15-week session. The core principle is to stretch out or condense the timeline for the existing content and due dates rather than adding/subtracting coursework. This approach allows for a single course to be maintained as opposed to having two separate courses to update every time something in the course needs to be changed. 

Overall Strategy

According to policy 4080, student workload and learning expectations are the same for all course lengths. Longer course length allows students to spread their work out over more days, giving them more time and flexibility to engage with readings and activities. Longer courses also give the instructor more time to incorporate instructor feedback. Typically, students are enrolled in multiple courses at the same time. 

Accelerated courses allow students to focus on fewer courses at once and give students more flexibility to complete their degrees when class schedules need to change for work and family commitments. The weekly student workload is increased based on the length of a course. A 7-week course has approximately twice the amount of work to be completed each week as compared to a full semester course. 

Module Breakdown and Due Date Distribution

Create a 7-module course that can be used across two course lengths

For a 7-week format

Each module will span one week. Due dates are spread across the week.  Typically, there are 2-3 due dates per module.

For a 15-week format

Each module of the accordion course will span approximately two weeks. The three due dates per module can be strategically spaced throughout this extended period and continue to be consistent across all modules.

Here's how the 7 modules could be distributed across 15 weeks, ensuring three due dates per module.

• Week 1-2: Module 1

• Week 3-4: Module 2

• Week 5-6: Module 3

• Week 7-8: Module 4

• Week 9-10: Module 5

• Week 11-12: Module 6

• Week 13-14: Module 7

• Week 15: Course Wrap-up, Final Project/Exam (if applicable), Course Evaluations

Module Schedule (Weeks 1-2: Module 1)

Option 1: This table illustrates how a single module, with 3 due dates can be easily transitioned between a 1-week or a 2-week timeline. 

Option 2: This table illustrated the use of a consistent 3 due dates each week.  This example uses Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday due dates for both 7-week and 15-week course lengths. The activities to be completed throughout the module are spread out for the longer time frame. 

Considerations and Adjustments

For Faculty

Option 1 makes it easier for the faculty member to adapt the course to different course lengths because it is a single set of due dates. Faculty simply need to specify what the due dates are within the course. 

Option 2 required a little more course setup on the instructor’s behalf because each module changes from three to six due dates.  

For Students

Students are resilient and able to adapt to all formats of courses. Best practice is to provide students with a predictable pattern of due dates.