In-depth course designed for experienced university teachers involved in curriculum development who wish to reconsider how courses are created, from the first spark of an idea to a fully mapped-out syllabus. Requires previous teaching experiences and completed a basic course in higher education teaching and learning, UL1 or equivalent. For teachers at Stockholm University, Karolinska Institutet and KTH (Stockholm Trio). The course corresponds to two weeks of full-time studies (equivalent to 3 credits).

About the course

Drawing inspiration from two approaches: game-based collaborative ideation and the ABC method for course design, participants will move through the five stages of design thinking. The format ensures time for reflection and iteration between workshops, helping ideas mature into concrete course designs. By the end of the course, you will have developed a course design that is both creative and structurally aligned with learning outcomes, together with a selection of tools and methods for continuously and reflectively improving your courses.

Content and structure

The course has five obligatory course days on campus organized as half-day workshops, each aligned with a stage of the design thinking process. The course also requires preparation between the course days and after the last course day.

Workshop 1. Empathise   

• Aim: Understand learners 
• Focus: Explore student perspectives, needs, and challenges through playful exercises and peer dialogue 
• Outcome: Insights into your learners and their contexts

Workshop 2. Define   

• Aim: Clarify goals   
• Focus: Translate learner needs into clear learning outcomes   
• Outcome: Drafted student learning outcomes

Workshop 3. Ideate   

• Aim: Generate ideas   
• Focus: Use collaborative and game-based methods to brainstorm learning activities and assessments   
• Outcome: A wide range of creative options for structuring your course

Workshop 4. Prototype   

• Aim: Build structure   
• Focus: Apply the ABC method to develop a draft course design: argue for choosen learning activities and assessments   
• Outcome: A structured course prototype with aligned components

Workshop 5. Test 

•  Aim: Refine and iterate   
• Focus: Present and review prototypes with peers, gather feedback, and identify improvements   
• Outcome: A refined course blueprint with practical steps for implementation

Between workshops, participants will carry out short reflection and drafting tasks to prepare for the next stage.

Registration

The course is primarily intended for, and free of charge to, employees of (or affiliated with) Stockholm University, as well as employees of Karolinska Institutet and the Royal Institute of Technology. After submitting your application, you will receive a confirmation from the system that it has been received. Once your application has been processed, you will receive a notification through the booking system regarding your placement. Your registration is binding, and cancellations later than four weeks before the course start will result in a 2000 SEK charge billed to the department. By registering, you confirm that your participation in the course has been approved by your department head or equivalent.

Register for the course in our course portal

Access to our course portal is restricted to users with a Stockholm University (SU) account

Participation in the course is free for employees of Karolinska Institutet and the Royal Institute of Technology through the Stockholm Trio collaboration. We also welcome participants from other universities and colleges, subject to availability and a course fee. Please register via the link below. After submitting your application, you will receive a confirmation from the system. If a place becomes available, we will contact you a couple of weeks before the course starts.

Applications for external applicants and Stockholm Trio