April,
Right you are. As a result of a well prepared syllabus being shared with students their anxiety is reduced and many of their questions are answered. This way they can focus on getting started doing the work that is needed for course success.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
A well written syllabus is very important to define the class course, requirements, expectations, resourses, grades, policies and guidelines for the students. This provides the student with necessary information about the course and what is required and expected of them.
I pass the syllabus and the students immediately look at all the content to prepare themselves in achieving their goals associated with the subjects. I also see your quiz as a great idea.
Thank you.
because your students will literally challenge you to get out of doing the work that needs to be done. I have a road map along with syllabus that I follow. students will push and push to get out of work.
My Institution has standardized syllabus for all courses. I make an addendum with a calendar and add in any speakers or field trip experiences in.
RICHARD,
Good way to share information with students yet hold them accountable for having received it. This way they cannot say they did not get it so you can't hold them to meeting the course requirements.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I think that a syllabus providing a summation of materials, goals, objectives, calendar of academic events, professional and personal expectations, and other information the instructor deems relevant, provides a clear template for student success. Further, should there be a student signatory page therein; it also serves as the legal agreement between the student and the institution.
It informs the students what exactly to expect and how they should be prepared for the course.
Yvette,
Good way to hold students accountable for knowing what is in the syllabus. Testing them over it helps them to spend time looking at it and internalizing the policies and requirements of the course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Technically, the syllabus should be created by the institution that you are providing instruction for. However, it is your job as an instructor to dissect that information and make it your own as you incorporate it into your plan to execute.
I not only pass out the syllabus, I also have the class read it and the following class day they are tested on it. One to many times most students place the syllabus in their folders and backpacks and never read it.
As an instructor beginning a few weeks into a class, the syllabus is a very helpful tool to know what has been covered and where to begin.
RICHARD,
So do we and that is why I have my own handout to give specifics to the students. I include dates, and assignments so the students will know how to plan their work to achieve success in the course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Our school has its own syllabus but it is very confusing. I try to lay it out in simple terms with a schedule of what needs to be done and when.
Jared,
A well prepared syllabus gets everyone on the same page on the first day. The students then can get a picture in their minds of what they need to do to be successful in the course. A well prepared syllabus also reduces anxiety for many students because it answers their questions and helps to get them settled into the course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
A well-prepared syllabus allows students to assess what will be expected not just of them but of the course. It is a great resource pertaining to time, resources needed, and goals. It helps the students and the instructor know what to expect.
Edward,
Thank you for sharing your experience with us as it serves to reinforce the growth that occurs in us as educators. It is a learning experience for sure and we need to be ready to learn and be life long learners and this is how we will bring about instructional improvement.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Students need structure and one of the best ways to provide that structure is to provide them with a well-defined syllabus that is a comprehensive document that details expectations, requirements, deadlines, grading methodology, and contact information along with office hours for extra help.
it is very important, why? well my first year teaching my syllabus lets just say was not up to par. Students looked at it as if it were the 10 commandments. Written in stone, I changed thing around, added things, and I threw the students for a tail spin. Have EVERYTHING in writing so you do not get in the same problems I did.
By having a well prepared syllabus, you seem very organized and ready to teach. You are not fumbling and looking unprepared.
