in my brief experience I have found that students don't always take notes or ask questions when they should. Having a well prepared syllabus gives me a foundation by which I can explain what needs to be done but also acts as documentation to support me and the student in the event they do not pass the course or are having problems keeping up with the course. Each student needs to be assessed as to their skill set and abilities for the course they are taking so the syllabus can be modified, however, care must be taken when modifying the syllabus so that the remainder of the class does not feel either slighted or that too much favortisim is being given. I know that sounds elementary for a college course but not all students learn in the same manner or at the same speed and that must be taken into consideration.
It is important to have a well-defined syllabus for the course so that the instructor and the students can follow along with pace of the course and the information to be covered. It also lets the students know what and when things are expected of them and what the policies are.
Noah,
Right you are. We can have fun and enjoy our students and the interactions we have with them. For me, this is what keeps me coming back to the classroom.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Dr Meers,
It never occured to me to add my own requirements. Many times I have felt frustrated trying to stick to the syllabus and by the guildlines set by the school. I now see that it is like a road map, taking us through our course of study. No one ever said we can't have a little fun on our journey, right?
Liset,
Right you are. It is the document that guides the content, expectations and requirements of the course. It needs to be clear and concise so all students will follow it throughout the course.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
The syllabus will provide a comprehensive set of guidelines , the students know more about the class requirements , policies , class content .
Why I use a well prepared syllabus is to give the students direction. They all lead such busy lives and heads up in what they will be responsible for is much appreciated by the student body.
Jeff,
Knowing expectations greatly reduces student frustrations and stress. The syllabus gives them the direction they need to move through the course.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Carrie,
I agree with your assessment of the value of a well developed syllabus. It is a road map (GPS) for everyone in the class.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
It is important to allow the students to know what to expect and when! They have structire and a guide to refer to to see where we are and where we are going.
I rely on my syllabus pretty much every day. In every class, I am always pointing the students to the syllabus when I bring up what we are about to discuss, learn, test or do. I still get the random student that will try and challenge me on a due date or quiz date, but my response is always, "Well..did you check the syllabus like I've told you to do?" Most students like to follow along with it and map out their schedule of learning as well and a syllabus helps them do that.
Jacqueline,
This is important information for instructors to have and follow. The syllabus is the road map (GPS) for the course so it needs to be concise and clear for the students to follow and understand.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
A well-prepared syllabus provides both the student and instructor with guidelines and rules regarding what will happen in the classroom and the expectations of both students and instructors. Well prepared syllabi can help an instructor stay on track in the course to make sure all required material is covered and keeps students aware of upcoming assignments, tests, etc.
A well-planned syllabus is the road map to a course. It provides what is to be expected throughout the course as well as what is to be attained.
David,
So true. We all like to know what is going on and students are no exception. Clear and concise information about the course is essential right from the very beginning.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Students feel secure about expectations and are put at ease if they are informed about class requirements in a detailed manner.
Having a well-developed course syllabus requires the instructor to organize early and think precisely about teaching. It will help students know what is expected from them from the start of the course, and the syllabus will allow them to plan their semester efficiently.
John,
I like this. The syllabus is the cornerstone of the communication between you and your students. You and they will be referring to it throughout the course when questions come up about assignments and course requirements. As a result it need to be accurate, concise and clear.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I call my syllabus the "bible" because it tells what subjects the course covers, the attendance policy, the grade components and weightings and I add a column of due dates by class number.
It also tell the objective of the course and what skill set(s) the students should be able to do when the course is completed.
I believe that it helps not only the instructor stay on track but it puts the students mind at ease when a difficult subject is broken into manageable pieces in a class to class format. I think it also allows the student to plan around the class before hand ( no more missed class due to home life conflicts).
