Team Leadership Curriculum Development: A Descriptive Account of Employing Backward Design in a Cross-Cultural Setting

This article presents a curriculum design aimed at enhancing team leadership skills among the student leaders of a university choir in Central Asia. The unique context revolves around a university without a fine arts program where students establish various student clubs to explore creative interests. The focus is on the university choir, led by a director who struggled initially to align with the students’ preference for contemporary songs over classical repertoire. To address this challenge, a leadership team was formed, but the lack of formal training in leadership hindered their effectiveness. The curriculum design followed a backward design approach, emphasizing desired learning outcomes, including cognitive and affective domains. The design encompassed activities such as academic prompts, reflective exercises, and collaborative planning sessions spread over two sessions. Assessment involved informal checks, academic prompts, and observing behavioral changes post-workshop. The aim was to equip the leaders with practical leadership skills to improve overall team effectiveness.