Making Your Course Syllabus "Stand Out"
I believe that making your course syllabus stand out can be accomplished through the use of color, rather than the commonly used white computer paper. That way students will be able to easily locate the syllabus each class meeting since it is an important element of classroom management as the operations manual. Additionally, separate key points through bolded headings, the use of bullets and numbers, different font sizes, etc.
I found folders on sale 15 for a $1. They where colored stripes an dots and stood out. I passed all my hand outs to the class the frist day insided these crazy looking folders. It will be hard for them to lose the patterned folder.
Hi Steven,
I have known some instructors to use color sheets to make their syllabi stand out for every other page.
Patricia
we have many copies of the syllabus and when they say they lost one we give them another one. I do like the idea of highlites but am unable to get it done through the usual channels.
Hi Nicholas,
I like to make my syllabus stand out by using color paper. I explain to them the importance of keeping their syllabus. Students need to understand the syllabus is a great reference to refer to. I don't think students would frown upon purchasing a $1 clear-covered binder, although students do play the no money card often.
Patricia
This policy seems closely related to marketing skills. In my classroom, I would definitely use these techniques. the syllabus is such an important piece of information for students. Unfortunately, a good amount of our adult students would lose it quickly, throw it out, or disregard it completely. Would asking them to purchase a clear-covered binder be a good idea? A lot of adult students use money as an excuse for something like that so maybe it wouldn't be such a great idea?
That's a great idea about separating the course objective from the lesson plan
Hi Kathleen,
The syllabus needs to be as long as you want it to be to meet accreditation guidelines and personal rules. The course objectives must be listed on the syllabus. The learning objectives are to be listed on the daily lesson plans.
Patricia
How long is a course syllabus expected to be? Should there be goals or learning objective set out for each day?
