Hi Janice,
I agree with your comment about when to introduce the syllabus. What are some ways you have found successful for taking your students through the syllabus?
Gary
I think a syllabus should be introduced and explained at the start of each class.
Hi Dawn,
With the approach your schools uses with a standardized syllabus for the courses they and the faculty know what is to be covered. The good news is that you get to personalize the course as you see fit. This helps to make the course your own plus the students get to see how you bring in your own career experiences to help reinforce the content. This makes for a good learning situation for everyone.
Gary
The syllabus is the contract between the instructor and the student. It's not entirely written in stone, but it allows the students to see in advance how the course will progress, the schedule of assignments, rules for the class, etc., all the pertinent info. I, too, work with a syllabus that is already prepared in advance by the school. Every instructor who teaches my course uses the same one. We are told that we are to meet the objectives in it but how we go about that is up to us. I think it's great for the most part, so I don't deviate from it very much, but I like to add a little something to it once in a while. I add some current events that relate to the material, for instance I might bring in and discuss and article. I am permitted to add a few extra credit points so I might create an assignment or activity for it.
A syllabus is a road map and blue print of what students will need know in completing the class successfully. From textbook to grading criteria to day to day activities, it contains what they will need to learn, as well as policies.
best when divided into sections for easy understanding.
Tiffany
I refer back to my syllabus almost daily to help new students focus and prioritize
I guess we are lucky because we are provided a current and up-to-date syllabus for each course by the campus. These syllabi ensures consistancy of courses from one campus to another. The syllabus lets the students know what text they will use, the topics to be covered and the timeline they will be covered in. They also offer grading information and other key information standard to the college.
From this the instructors prepare our propectus.
Because as mentioned in this course material, the syllabus is a contract between the instructor and the student. It is a good reference tool that the student has to look back on throughout the semester. Dates are important as well as classroom policies. It should be clear and concise.
It has been my experience both as a student and instructor that a well-prepared syllabus sets the tone for the class, establishes that student / teacher relationship,lets the students know you are prepared and organized, and gives them a chance to see if they are well prepared for the course with the necessary pre-requisits and does there current schedule allow them to meet the course requirements such as writing papers or reading books.
I am lucky and I have this already prepared for me in advance of the courses.
It is important to have a well-prepared syllabus is because it can narrow down what topics you will be covering in the alloted time, how the grading will occur, what texts you will be using, letting the student know what additional materials they will need, and letting the student know what they need to pass the course. Sometimes syllabus also list class polices such as late work, assignments, ect.
All this aids in preparing not only the instructor but also the student for what is required for the entire term. This can help a student learn to plan ahead if any unforseen situations arises during the term; such as sickness (or sometimes the birth of a baby).
Hi Edward,
You make a good point with the studying from midnight to 4am example, even though you were kidding. By giving a weekly schedule the students can work on creating segments of time that will be productive to them in relation to their classes in addition to coping with the other parts of their lives.
Gary
This is good. when I attended medical school the instructors had a similar format. Weekly schedule. It gave me some structure and the ability to plan out my week and where I can squeeze in studying ( from midnight to 4 am ) haha....no....really :)
Hi Michael,
This is not uncommon. Many colleges want every instructor to use the standardized syllabus for the course they are teaching. What I have done in this situation is to create an addendum to the syllabus where I personalize my assignments, expectations and course specific requirements. This way I can make the course more my own and I am still using the syllabus that the college requires.
Gary
Dr. Meers,
A well-prepared syllabus is very important to a class; however, my current educational practice doesn't allow instructors to formulate their own syllabi. The syllabi that my campus uses is very weak. I cannot deviate from that document what so ever.
Hi Tracey,
You make a good point about the effectiveness of a weekly calendar. You can have an entire course calendar to show the students the big picture but they do need the weekly reminders of due dates and activities that are going to be conducted. They have a lot going on in their lives and it is easy to forget something along the way. These reminders help them to keep the course activities in the front of their memory banks.
Gary
A well prepared syllabus shows your students a level of professionalism about the instructor and institution and allows students to understand the plans for the course and variety of information about the course.
I usually do a monthly calendar but tried a weekly approach last mod with sucess. This was for a group of first time students. Just beginning their program. It seemed to help as they were not overwhelmed by too much at one time. We just went week by week and the students seemed to respond well and better than previous classes who had a monthly view.
If you use a well prepared syllabus it shows the class they can have confidence in you as a classroom manager. The students will feel more at ease if they see how time is layed out for the course and that it is possible to complete all things within the deadlines.
A well-prepared syllabus demonstrates that one cares about the subject and the students. I t moreover, helps to set a tone that the course is important and necessary for student learning.
Hi Joyce,
Well said in relation to the need for a well prepared syllabus. A well prepared syllabus as you know can save so much time and student frustration because they learn what the expectations are and have most of their questions answered.
Gary
