Heather,
A well-prepared syllabus is the foundation upon which the course is built. By sharing and discussing it with students everyone starts on the same page in terms of course polices, requirements and expectations. This reduces confusion and anxiety and gets the students to think about what they need to do to be successful in the course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
A well-prepared syllabus prevents miscommunication later. A clearly written syllabus helps the student know what the expectations are. A syllabus is also valuable for the instructor in order to make sure they are continuing to meet the objectives in a timely manner.
Jennifer,
This is such an important point because students need to see you as the learning leader. If you are not prepared or organized then you will not be respected nor listened to with any depth.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
This is very important so the student sees that you are organized and ready to teach their course. An inaccurate Syllabus shows that maybe you just threw it together and really aren't taking ownership and pride in the course.
JoAnn,
This is a very good point about the value the syllabus plays in creating a mindset for students. By having a well prepared syllabus you the instructor sends a message that this is what the course is about and this is what you need to do to be successful. At that point it is up to the students assume responsibility to put forth the needed effort to be successful.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I think the syllabus can really tell the story of the classroom and the course. I think this can make the decision whether a student wants to stay in school or quit. This gives them the forefront of every thing that will be done for that course. I think with looking at the syllabus a student can have their mind made up if they want to continue or stop.
Kevin Paul,
This is a necessary part of instructional planning. Without an overall plan it is tough to show students where the course is going.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I think it's important so that an instructor has an overall plan and students like to see the whole scope of a course.
Carly,
It is a valuable part of the instructional delivery process so it needs to be clear and concise so the students can see what they course expectations are and what it takes to meet those expectations.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
First and foremost it is a great way for the instructor to make their goals, course objectives, grading policies, forms of assessment, daily instruction topics, etc known to the students. If students act confused or pretend they didn't get this information passed on to them, the instructor can always refer back to the syllabus. It is the backbone of the course. it is also an important resource for the instructor, so that the instructor can stay on topic and adequately plan a well-paced course.
Diane,
This is a great resource for you and your fellow instructors. This helps to get all students on the same page and brings consistency to each course and program.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I agree that the syllabus is the most important document in every class. In the last institution that I worked we had a universal syllabus. After using it for one year I saw how important this was. Having the entire school use the same syllabus makes it so much easier for the students to peruse and locate important information. It is a pain to change over your syllabus at first to a new format, but once done it only takes updating. Our syllabus was also interactive, meaning that it had a outline first page and students could click on a content area and immediately be taken there. With my syllabus being 35 pages this was a nice feature.
Thanks, Diane Osso
Most syllabi are already prepared for me at my current schools. I do make a few changes to ensure it is closely related to my field of experience and study.
Jeff,
I commend you for the way your syllabus is laid out because you are giving your students a road map to follow so they will know what they are expected to do and read. You are right about this aiding them in their planning of both time and effort.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Alan,
It is what gets everyone on the same page in terms of starting off a course. A well prepared syllabus reduces confusion and answers many of the questions that students have about how the course is going to operate. By having these questions answered via the syllabus it gives more opportunity to focus on the course content and start the learning process.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
A well-prepared syllabus is a vital component of each and every course, as noted in the materials from ED 101 as well as the other student postings. One thing I had to the syllabus is what is covered in class each week (Chapters/reading assignments, etc.) so students can be prepared for class, but also when assignments and/or tests are due, so students can more effectively plan their term.
A well-prepared syllabus sets the stage for student success. A well-prepared syllabus explains course requirements, course objectives, grading scales, late work policy, assignment due dates, and etc. so students know what is expected of them.
The syllabus will mirror your own organization and preparedness. If the syllabus is a mess and difficult to follow, you are telling the students that your instructional method will also be a mess and difficult to follow. A good syllabus shows attention-to-detail. If you want that from students, you have to show them how from the beginning.
Shawn,
Well said and this reflects the true value of a well prepared syllabus.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
A well-prepared syllabus leaves nothing to the imagination. It clearly states the goals, objectives, materials, policies, assignments, deadlilnes and structure of the course. It also sets the tone or "climate of the course. It allows both the students and instructor to know exactly where they stand at any given point in time and how they got there.
