improve teaching with a syllabus
The course syllabus serves at least seven basic purposes (Rubin, 1985). Some of these directly serve your students and are readily apparent to them. The very process of writing a well-constructed syllabus forces you to crystallize, articulate, organize, and communicate your thoughts about a course. This thought and writing produces an enriched syllabus, which compels you to publicly reveal your previously well concealed assumptions.Your syllabus allows you to share your pedagogical philosophy. Students may not perceive it in quite this way, but that is one of the things you achieve through the syllabus. A syllabus tells your students whether you view learning as an active or passive process and whether you emphasize knowledge enhancement, skill building, or a combination of both.
Hi Judith,
A syllabus is very helpful, but it does not give the students everything they need. As the instructor, we are to give our students everything they need.
Patricia Scales
I have noticed with my students, the syllabus does provide an outline of the class,however, it does not provide them with the structure they need to be on track and provide them with the details they need on a day to day or week to week basis. In addition to the syllabus, a calendar with due dates of assignments and quiz dates with general quiz chapters or topics have been helpful for the students to know what is coming.
Hi Rich,
Excitement helps with retention! Students love learning while having fun. As the instructor, we have to make class engaging.
Patricia Scales
Hi Anthony,
I concur! Much is told from the syllabus! Students need to be made aware of the importance of the syllabus.
Patricia Scales
Getting students excited about the material that is going to be covered in your course is very important. Students will come to class with a pre-conceived notion of what will be discussed and how it will flow. But they don't know you! In the process of covering the SOP's for the course, students will quickly decide if you are going to deliver what they were expecting or not. Always be sure to bring excitement to the audience and demonstrate your passion and willingness to share your knowledge and experience. This will help grab your students and show them this class is not just bla-bla-bla but has something not to be missed every day for the duration of the course.
