Nancy,
Good point about how the syllabus can keep everyone informed and forward focused. This is critical if everyone is going to see how the course is going to benefit them and their career plans.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
A syllabus set the standard for what the course. It is part of your first impressionl.
The syllabus is the recipe for sucess. It needs to be refined as the instructor teaches the class for a 2nd or 3rd time. It must be clear yet allow for differenecs in class types.
Erika,
Good analysis of how the learning environment and related support materials can help students be successful. This is how it should be for our students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Not only having a well-prepared syllabus for the students to understand what to expect during the class, but it also show how you as an instructor are prepared yourself. For example, are you able to follow the policies, can you complete the stated course objectives and deadlines, how well you know and understand the material. Most students are either very new to the college enviroment and are usually nervus. With having a good instructor that shows leadership will help the classroom enviroment itself and help the students comprehend better.
Bronzel,
So true and so important in terms of getting everyone on the same page from the beginning of the course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Having a well-prepared syllabus is like night to day. It is a must have. You need it to ensure that the students have a detail road map of the course.
Ghaleb,
So true and so important. Without a well prepared syllabus no body, including both instructor and students have any idea of what is going on.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Jared,
Good point about the value of a well prepared syllabus. An instructor would be better off not having a syllabus rather than handing out an outdated or incorrect one. Also, this takes credibility away from the instructor as you say if the syllabus is a mess. The students then wonder what else is wrong or going to be poorly done in the course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
My name is Moses Megliorino... Using a well prepared syllabus demonstrates to students the foundation of the course. The syllabus itself shows what is expected of each student.
It is critical to have the syllabi as a road map for the course and incorporated with the lesson plan that will give the students clear directions and understanding of how the course will proceed and the material will be covered.
It is essential to have a well-prepared syllabus so that students know where the course is going, but more than that, it can really establish credibility or diminish credibility if your syllabus is a mess. As a student, it always bothered me when an instructor didn't stick to the syllabus or was clearly using a recycled syllabus that he/she never bothered to update. Neglecting to do this basic, fundamental thing right from the beginning told me how much an instructor really cared about teaching the course.
Mary;
Great idea with the quiz - I am definitely going to use it for my next class!
Kristy
Kerry,
Putting a schedule in a syllabus is an individual choice for an instructor. I don't put the schedule in my syllabus. I give a Class Calendar out with the topics that are going to be covered, field trips, guest speakers, etc. on it. By keeping it separate in the form of a handout I can make adjustments on it as needed due to weather or other factors and the syllabus remains unchanged. This is important because I want the students to know that what is in the syllabus is what guides us for the duration of the course. With the calendar being a separate handout they can see that I am flexible when I need to be with dates and activities.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
A guideline for students to know what is expected in the course, also gives the instructor a road map for following the guidelines. The syllabus allows questions to be assessed as how much the student will learn, or can learn in the amount of time that is given within the printed syllabus material. It is an accountability for the course.
Should the syllabus have a schedule built in, such that students can know week by week?
Mouda,
Good point because without a well prepared syllabus there will be student frustration and lack luster performance since no one really knows what the expectations of the course are.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
It is important to have a Well-prepared Syllabus so students will know the expectations or requirements of them for the course and it is also good to keep you on track while planning lesson: how much time you're working with for each subject
this allows the students to follow what the course outline intails and what they are to expect from the course outline. Students will follow the syllabus to the tee
I believe that it is imporatant to have a well planned syllabus so that the students and teacher have goals.
With an adult student they are unique and bring insteresting and sometimes supportive experiences that can faciliate the instructor as well
