A syllabus should be easy to follow
I'm sure this it taken for granted but I took a class recently and I really wasn't sure what was due when. There were conflicts in the syllabus becuase the syllabus was shared between and online and on-ground courses. All on-ground information was not applicable to me so I just needed to ignore it.
Throughout the class the instructor had to keep making announcements about what was due when because none of us could follow the syllabus.
I think syllabus should be easy to follow and show exactly what is due when. I agree that the syllabus should be the road-map for the course.
I agree. The syllabus really sets the stage. A long boring complicated syllabus is a bad way to start a course!
Zara,
We all like to know what is expected of us from the very beginning. Students included!
Shelly Crider
You are correct the easier to use the better the students understand what is expected of them in the class.
Hi
I agree with your post. Another problem is when the instructor is given a sample of another instructor’s syllabus and he/she tries to follow it to the letter. A lot of times mistakes are overlooked and students become confused by something that is mentioned or due and yet it was never mentioned in class.
Bill Becker
Jodi,
That has actually happened to me as the instructor. The University posted information and I posted information and they did not match. I like it better when there is one master list of information. I know some people learn better with redundancy, but it opens up too many opportunities to present conflicting information. I always tell students the syllabus is the ruling document.
Angie
rebecca,
Agreed. That is what we as instructors like as well... Straight forward information.
Shelly Crider
The most critical element of the course is to know what is due and when - information that the syllabus provides. It should be very straitforward and simple to use otherwise the students become frustrated before they even get to the course content.
Rebecca Smith
