As the academic year comes to a close, many instructors begin thinking about what worked well in their courses and what they might like to change. Making changes doesn’t necessarily mean starting over from scratch. Summer can be a great time to refresh your course by focusing on a few manageable updates without undertaking a complete course redesign.

One place to start is with your syllabus. Consider updating it with a more welcoming tone, clarifying course expectations, or adding information about available student support resources. You might also review your AI policy – or create one if you do not already have one – to ensure students clearly understand your expectations regarding AI use in your course. Other considerations include participation expectations and communication guidelines to ensure they still reflect your current teaching practices. Take a look at this article for more ideas about improving your syllabus.

Another area to review is your course website. Take a few minutes to review your site from a student’s perspective. Are course materials organized in a logical way? Are there any broken links, outdated information, or unclear instructions? A well-organized course site communicates to students that you are prepared and invested in their learning. Small adjustments can help students navigate the course more easily and reduce confusion throughout the semester. See this article for helpful tips about setting up a course in Canvas.

Summer is also a good time to review your course content and make sure it meets accessibility requirements. For example, you might need to review the accessibility of your slides, check the quality of your video captions, or ensure that PDFs are readable by screen readers. Take advantage of built-in accessibility checking tools in Microsoft Office and Canvas.  Making incremental changes can improve access for all students and help create a more inclusive learning environment. Additional best practices in accessibility can be found in this article.

You may also want to reflect on student feedback from previous semesters. Were there assignments that students struggled with or frequently found confusing? Did the same questions arise repeatedly? Reviewing course evaluations, student emails, or your own notes can help identify areas where a few targeted revisions could improve clarity and support student success. The University of Wisconsin has put together some strategies for interpreting student feedback that may be helpful.

Finally, consider identifying one new teaching strategy you would like to try next semester. It could be as simple as incorporating a brief think-pair-share activity, using an exit ticket, or adding a reflection prompt to a class session. If you need ideas, the CTEI created a set of active learning cards containing several activities that engage students in online, in-person, and hybrid environments. Browse through the cards and contact our center if you have any questions.

Course improvement is an ongoing process. Rather than trying to change everything at once, focus on one or two updates that will have the greatest impact on your students. Small, intentional changes made over time can lead to meaningful improvements for both you and your students in the coming semester.

Amy Brusini, Senior Instructional Designer
Center for Teaching Excellence and Innovation 

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