Narrative Course Design: Aligning an Authentic Summative Assessment to Your "Why"

Every great course tells a story, and every great story builds towards a meaningful climax. In this interactive workshop, participants will reimagine their online course through the lens of narrative design, focusing specifically on the summative assessment that brings the course’s purpose vividly to life.

Using guided AI prompts, faculty will clarify their "authorial intent," the core purpose, learning goals, and deeper "why" behind their course. With AI as a creative partner, faculty will critically evaluate how authentically their current summative assessment aligns with their clarified intent, and revise their assessment instructions for clarity and professional relevance.

This workshop emphasizes designing assessments that connect coursework to real-world challenges, disciplinary practices, and stakes that matter to students. Faculty will leave with a reimagined summative assessment that serves as a compelling climax to their course.

This session is geared toward anyone teaching online at UVA. It is part of the Plot Twists and Perspectives: Designing Online Learning That Resonates series, in partnership with UVA Online Education and Digital Innovation. Additional events include:

• Take It or Leave It: AI and Digital Innovation - Thursday, October 2, 3:00-4:00 PM ET
• Action Scenes: Making the Most of Synchronous Online Teaching - Thursday, October 16, 3:00-4:15 PM ET
• Coming soon: The Plot Thickens: Creating Dynamic Online Learning Materials - Thursday, February 12, 3:00-4:15 PM ET
• Coming soon: Know Your Audience: Student Experiences Learning Online - Thursday, March 19, 3:00-4:15 PM ET