Experience Matters

When It Comes to Courseware

Junction follows our own version of the “backwards design” (BD) philosophy. This philosophy is rooted in results from cognitive psychology research as well as student achievement studies. Our philosophy borrows from these and incorporates Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy as well as some of our own elements. This blended approach does not depend on the amount of material covered, as is generally the case in a typical syllabus. Instead it takes a focused approach to ensure that all learning activities and instruction are guiding the student to the final outcomes. Our philosophy is based on five key tenets:

  1. Minimize Distractions:  A holistic approach to course design enhances learning, course focus and minimizes distraction from unnecessary or extraneous content.Backwards design focuses on creating a deeper understanding of the content
  2. Build Understanding:  Backwards design focuses on creating a deeper understanding of the content and materials to show demonstrated content knowledge.
  3. Avoid the Firehose:  Presenting content and material in small, digestible “chunks” keeps students motivated and focused and lessens the possibility of overwhelming them with information overload.
  4. Focus on Outcomes, Not Inputs: The most effective courses are designed with the end goal in mind. By beginning with the final desired results, often a comprehensive summative assessment. Backwards Design establishes clear goals and forces learning objectives to align to those goals.
  5. Always Improving:  Data has to be part of the process. Metrics, rooted in student engagement and learning performance, and combined with regular instructor and student feedback, guide our course design and development decisions and inform continuous improvement.

Junction courseware is used by thousands of students at dozens of colleges and universities in a mix of blended/hybrid and fully online settings.  All of our courseware is editable for your needs and can be used with, or in place of, a traditional textbook – at substantially lower cost – supporting affordability initiatives while improving enagagement and student performance.