Problem: Knowing what is needed in a course is critical to the success of course development. Smith (2014) notes that there needs to be an emphasis on the big picture when planning a course. One of the first things that need to be completed is a needs assessment. This will answer the question of what the content is to be used and will determine your course's direction. In other words, the needs assessment will inform the overall plan for your design. How does a course designer go about looking at this big picture of course design when there are so many fine details that need to be carefully planned out? How do you prioritize what elements to focus on based on the results of the needs assessment?