What is the primary purpose for piloting a course?

The primary purpose of piloting a course is to validate the curriculum and its supporting materials. This process involves testing the course with a small group of participants to ensure that the content is accurate, relevant, and effectively meets the learning objectives. During this phase, instructors can observe how well the instructional methods resonate with learners and if the materials facilitate understanding and retention of the course content.

Piloting allows for the identification of any gaps or weaknesses in the curriculum before a full rollout, which is critical to ensure that students receive a quality educational experience. Feedback collected during a pilot can inform necessary adjustments to enhance the course's effectiveness, ensuring the curriculum aligns with educational standards and learner needs.

It's also important to understand that while assessing instructor readiness, generating student feedback, and confirming equipment needs are valuable components of the instructional design process, they are not the primary goals of a course pilot. The focal point of a pilot is rather the validation of the curriculum itself.