I’m pretty
weird when it comes to my classes. I don’t view it in sections, modules, or any
other kind of subdivision. To me, a course is not something with bits and
pieces that can be swapped out. It is an entire entity constructed for a
purpose.
I know there
are some instructors out there who view their courses in the same way, or, as I
want to connect this to writing, as a short story anthology. The instructor
picks out each story they want to use, and can even change their minds later
during the course. The stories (modules) they choose don’t have to have any
relation to one another. One part has no bearing on the other part.
To continue
the story idea, all the stories could even have the same author, and the same
characters, but are still separate stories. It won’t have a bearing on any
other story module in the class.
I tend to
think of my classes as a novel. It is one large entity, where everything that
happens in it is aimed at moving the whole novel forward. Everything works
together towards that point.
I think
classes should be designed like a novel. Every piece of instruction should be
focused on that overarching goal. Each piece of subplot and conflict will
eventually be resolved in the climax.
A side
effect of this type of design is the student investment. It takes more to
invest in a novel with a long, complicated plot rather than a short story. This
is something that can’t simply be picked up for a week and then disregarded as
you move on to another story. This takes real investment in time, energy, and
mental effort. It’s a long haul marathon instead of a series of sprints.
Consequently,
students who aren’t willing to make such an investment won’t make it to the
end, but those who do often get more out of the class than if it were an
anthology.