Mapping course innovation in higher education: a multi-faceted analytical framework

This paper presents a multi-faceted analytical Course Innovation Framework (CIF) that can help institutes of higher education analyze multiple aspects of course innovation. The CIF was constructed by integrating insights from literature, policy documentation and course-innovation practices at Wageningen University and Research in the Netherlands. The resulting CIF considers multiple stages of course innovation – intended, implemented and attained – along with multiple innovation processes organized into the following five clusters: Rationale for the Innovation; Nature of the Innovation; Innovation in Teaching and Learning; Evaluation and Dissemination Strategy; and Consistency and Reflection. University stakeholders experienced the CIF as usable and relevant. This study is intended to generate a multi-faceted understanding of course innovation and to provide university policy-makers and educators with inspiration or even guidance in their efforts to analyze, map and decide upon their course-innovation practices.