Pacing Guide


Each Athens Technical College (ATC) course must include a pacing guide or course schedule within the Blackboard “Start Here” module. The pacing guide serves as a planning tool that enables instructors to organize course content, activities, and assessments throughout the semester or term, ensuring alignment with learning objectives and state standards.


A comprehensive pacing guide outlines key dates, including assignment deadlines, labs, exams, and holidays. It helps both instructors and students manage time effectively, stay on track, and ensure that all course material is completed within the designated timeframe.


Typically, a pacing guide is organized by week or module and may include the following elements:

  • Learning objectives

  • Required readings, videos, lectures, and labs

  • Assessments or assignments


Key Components of a Course Pacing Guide


A well-structured course pacing guide should include the following elements:

  • Content Outline: Clearly identifies the topics and concepts to be covered each week or within each module, chapter, or unit.

  • Learning Activities: Specifies the assignments, readings, videos, discussions, and other instructional activities that support student engagement and mastery of the material.

  • Assessments: Describes the quizzes, tests, exams, projects, and other evaluation methods used to measure student learning and progress.

  • Course Objectives: List the learning outcomes from the course syllabus that students are expected to achieve by the end of each module and/or the course.

  • Timeline: Provides a visual or tabular schedule indicating when each topic, activity, and assessment will occur throughout the term.


Benefits of Using a Pacing Guide


Implementing a pacing guide offers several advantages for both instructors and students: 

  • Promotes Student Success: A clear structure and timeline help students stay on track, manage their workload, and achieve their learning goals.

  • Provides a Clear Roadmap: Pacing guides keep both instructors and students organized and focused on course objectives throughout the term.

  • Ensures Efficient Use of Time: Thoughtful planning ensures that all required content and activities are covered within the designated timeframe.
  • Facilitates Effective Learning: Pacing guides support the design of engaging activities and assessments that align with course objectives and promote meaningful learning.
  • Allows for Flexibility and Adjustment: As living documents, pacing guides can be revised to accommodate varying term lengths, student needs, and instructor feedback.

   

Four Easy Steps for Creating a Pacing Guide


A concise, well-aligned pacing guide starts with clear goals and breaks those goals into manageable steps. Use the four steps below to build a practical pacing guide you can use and share with students.

1. Start with the end in mind

 

Clarify the course's primary purpose before you plan the week-to-week sequence. Ask: what should students be able to do by the end of the term? Possible end goals include mastery of academic skills (research, writing, critical thinking), development of workplace competencies, or preparation for a certification exam. Let that outcome drive your selection of module objectives and the overall pacing of the course.

 

2. Identify module objectives

 

Break the course goal into smaller, teachable module objectives. Each module (or week/unit) should include 3–4 clearly defined, measurable objectives that directly link to course-level outcomes. Use specific action verbs (e.g., describe, analyze, apply, evaluate, create) and write objectives so they can be assessed. (If you want guidance on writing measurable objectives, consult the Revised Bloom’s Taxonomy or KMS resources.)

 

3. Select resources to meet objectives

 

Match instructional materials to each module objective. Inventory available resources and choose the ones that best support the intended learning:

 

  • Textbook and publisher materials

  • Digital learning platforms and media

  • Open Educational Resources (OER) and low-cost materials

  • Hands-on exercises, labs, or industry projects

 

Select resources based on the type of learning required: hands-on projects for workplace skills, readings or lectures for theory, multimedia for visual concepts, etc. Make a short note in the pacing guide linking each objective to the primary resources you’ll use.

 

4. Plan learning activities and assessments

 

Decide how students will engage with the content and how you will measure their progress. For each module, indicate:

 

  • Learning activities (readings, videos, discussions, labs, practice exercises)

  • Formative checks (quizzes, reflections, in-class activities)

  • Summative assessments (tests, projects, portfolios, performance tasks)
     Schedule due dates and assessment windows so assessment types align with objectives and allow time for feedback and revision.

5. Choose the Pace of Your Lessons 

The final step in creating your pacing guide is to map out when each lesson or module will be taught throughout the semester. Begin by reviewing the academic calendar and noting holidays, testing periods, and institutional events that could affect your schedule.


Allow time in the first week for orientation, drop/add, and no-show reporting, and reserve the final week or two for review and preparation for final exams.


Next, divide your course objectives by the number of instructional weeks in the term to determine how many objectives can realistically be covered each week. Prioritize critical or complex objectives that require additional time, and allocate more weeks or lessons to those areas.


Finally, build in flexibility. Some lessons may require students to spend additional time understanding and mastering them. A well-designed pacing guide includes enough margin to adjust the schedule as needed while still maintaining overall course progress.

 

Pacing Guide Example


A pacing guide might break a 15-week semester into modules, each covering a specific topic. For example: 

  • Weeks 1-3: Introduction to the course, key concepts, and foundational readings.
  • Weeks 4-6: Module on topic A, including readings, lectures, and a quiz.
  • Weeks 7-9: Module on topic B, including readings, group project, and a midterm exam.
  • Weeks 10-12: Module on topic C, including readings, presentations, and a research paper.
  • Weeks 13-15: Review, final exam, and course wrap-up.

 

More detailed pacing guide examples are available in the Blackboard Faculty Training Course, ABCD1000. Please contact your department/program chair or dean with any questions.

 

Technical Support


The Center for Teaching and Learning is available to assist. Please submit a Blackboard Support Request from your OKTA Dashboard. 

 

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