I am lucky the syllabus for the class I am teaching has been well made. I just need to incorporate my experience and teaching style.
Auguste,
The syllabus is the road map for the course and as a result everyone knows the direction the course will be going as well as what they expectations are during the course. This sets the stage for student success and satisfaction.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
A course without a syllabus is a chaos.
The syllabus set the climate of the class.It allows the students to know the policies,the requirements,the assignments,the deadlines,the passing grade of the class.
A well-prepared syllabus is important because it tells the students what they should expect to do in the class. It is less stressful for the students to know that they will take a quiz in the class instead of an impromptu quiz that they didn't know anything about.
A course syllabus helps you establish the expectations and policies of the course. It is your contract with your students. As problems arise, it helps you hold students and yourself accountable to the course policies and rules. Details are crucial so course policies are clear.
Gina,
Your last sentence is critical in getting a course off to a good start. The more a student can see and understand the course expectations the better. A well prepared syllabus is valuable to students as the communication tool for expectations.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
A well-prepared syllabus is essential to a course because it keeps students informed and helps them stay focused. They do not have any questions about the material to be covered, due dates or how there grades will be calculated. Reducing these questions takes away a lot of anxiety for them.
Dave,
Like the way you are thinking already. You are using your developing expertise to make sure your students have the most comprehensive and current information. Keep up the good work and continue your effort to impact lives.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I am a new instructor but have noticed that there are a few items in our syllabus for all of our classes that need to be added and it needs to be updated. That will be one of my first endeavors.
Dave Wood
Richard,
Standardized syllabi is common with a lot of career colleges. When faced with a standardized syllabus an instructor needs to be able to personalize the content and delivery in a way that makes the course his/hers. I prepared a supplemental handout that expands on the standardized syllabus so I can be sure to get across to my students how I am going to conduct the class and what my expectations are for them.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I have taught in a couple different college settings/trade schools and have had the "college made generic syllabus" and my own made up syllabus. It is very frustrating dealing with schools that force you to use their "college handbook syllabus". I prefer to make my own and craft it the way I feel the class should be laid out. Ofcourse we are hitting all the objectives for the course but we are travelling down my road as the instructor.
Maria,
Thank you for helping to reinforce the value of a syllabus. The syllabus is the road map (GPS) for the course and as a result it needs to be clear and concise so it will be easily understood by students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Hayli,
Thank you for the reinforcement of how important the syllabus is to the success of a course. Your experience with syllabi as a student helps you to see how you want to develop your own when that opportunity arises. This is a valuable document that should not be overlooked.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
A well prepared syllabus allows you to not only supply course specific information but allows you as the instructor to 1. Update course curriculum information with new relevant information from the field , 2. Return to topic if you get off track with lively student discussion--easy to determine where one left off and to get back on track.
As a new instructor I haven't had to make a Syllabus however, as a recent student I can tell you that a well-prepared Syllabus is a wonderful tool to have during a course. I was always prepared for class with homework ready to turn in. Even if I missed a class. I was prepared for quizzes or tests. Most adult students have busy lives. With three kids to raise, my job and school I can honestly say I don't know what I would've done without my Syllabus to look at to prepare myself for my next class.
I teach as a second job and having a syllabus neat and organized makes it so much easier to teach my classes
Having a well written out syllabus helps the students understand what is required of the class
Minnie,
It is the document that guides and informs throughout the course so it needs to be clear and concise to enhance understanding of the course requirements.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I agree. The course syllabus is definitely a contract between the student and Instructor. A well-developed syllabus give the students a clear outline of the course objectives, standards, attendance criteria. Students who are absent can keep-up with deadlines and other requirements although they are not in class.
Julie,
This is the road map or in today's culture the GPS for the course so it needs to be clear and concise in organization and content.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
