Hi Nicole,
With this understanding you will have I know a very well developed syllabus which will serve both your students and you well.
Gary
As a previous student myself, I always depended on my course syllabus. If it wasn't detailed enough, I had a sence of concern on how this course may go for me as a student. So, as a new teacher I will understand the importance of a detailed and accurate syllabus.
Hi Sriram,
Great question because the size and contents of the syllabus does boil down to common sense. Many of the polices you mentioned such as snow days and tornado responses can be put in a general operation manual that the college gives to each student or that you distribute each time you start a class. I like to keep the syllabus focused on the course and include the polices, requirements and expectations as they relate. By having a college policy handout you cover the items that are general non-discrimination statements, etc. Check with your college about how they want to handle this. As you say it is easy to make the syllabus thicker than the textbook.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers,
While the requirements of having a well developed syllabus is common sense, where do we draw the line? For instance, the school may promote generic policies on snow policies and making up class work due to weather emergencies declared. The department within the school may plagiarism & academic honesty and associated penalties. The course itself may require some specific policies (for instance programming assignments should be free of compiler errors). As you start putting more and more of these policies in the syllabus, there must be a prerequisite class for one to learn the syllabus itself.
I have had students then critique the syllabus for not including a policy on tornado alarms, diversity, sexual harassment, etc. So, where do we draw the line on what is expected of common sense versus what is expected to be known unless stated in the syllabus.
Please share your thoughts.
Thanks.
Sriram Rajagopalan, PhD, PMP
Hi Ximena,
That's a good point and I definitely agree that having the student sign a sheet confirming the reading, comprehension, and acceptance of the syllabus is a good reinforcement.
Approaching with the same idea, I had students sign a single page telling that they have read the requirements listed in the syllabus with detailed guidelines. However, the school reacted to this in the faculty meetings suggesting not to use such signature enforcement as this binds the school to litigation. So, one has to be careful with organizational, local, regional, and national legal requirements of having such signatures.
Thoughts, anyone?
Thanks.
Sriram Rajagopalan, PhD, PMP
Having a well prepared syllabus helps students and instructors track and monitor the requirements of the class. It lays out the expections which allows students to prepare for what the class requires. The more information everyone has up front,the more likly the class will run smooth as students appreciate knowing upr front what is expected of them.
I believe a well prepared syllabus is essential for every class. The students will know what top expect and they will not be able to tell you they were never told that. I also have the students sign a document saying they received it and understood it!
Hi Jason,
Right you are. This is why it is so important to have a well developed syllabus. It is a working document that helps to guide student and support the instructor.
Gary
The students need to know in advance what they can expect. They need to see what they are recieving for their tuition. The document also hold the institution and the instructor accountable to deliver what is promised.
It is very helpful for students that are prepare for class.
Hi Barbara,
I wish you the best with this new course. You are going to do fine based upon the great comments you shared in the forums. Develop your general outline and then give students additional handouts covering specifics as you go along and you will do fine.
Gary
I would agree with you. I think once the students signs the syllabus he becomes liable for what is covered in the class and it makes them feel like they should try their best to hold up their end of the "contract".
I am in a situation this coming quarter that I just found out they changed the name of the course as well as the focus, no book listed under that required, and the syllabus is due tomorrow. Therefore, I will take the advice of some of those taking this course and make it very general. I have an idea of what I want to accomplish as I've taught the previous course before it was altered. There will be similarities, just not specifics. I just ordered a book I've never seen. The responses from others in this course were very helpful, and that's what I'll be doing.
I have learned by experience that it is very important to have a well prepared syllabus. The first class I taught I did not have a very detailed syllabus and it showed throughout class that I wasn't prepared as I should of been. Learning that during my first class showed me that I need to be prepared. From that point I take it upon myself to do the best I can to be fully prepared for class, and this section has given me some good instructions on how to do so.
So that the students know what is expected of them and what they can expect from you.
Indeed, your response is very insightful. Personally, a well prepared syllabus helps me decide what topics will be covered and at what pace as well. I learn that each class has different pace. One syllabus may work on one class but may not do well on others. So I carefully prepare my syllabus base on each class individually. Well prepared syllabus can show my students that what well prepared I am as an instructor, and how important I take my materials seriously. More importantly, it can minimize misunderstandings about my expectations and other course procedures and instructions. Whatever the case, the goals are still the same is that the syllabus is the general directional indicator of where I’d like the students to be going with their learning and experiences in my classroom.
The syllabus identifies what is expected of the student from policies to the course exams. When everything about the course is spelled out in a syllabus, students know exactly what to expect. It also provides concrete information for when questions arise. If the instructor follows the guidelines with all students it also ensures equality.
I agree with most everything said in this forum, but I also find that the more detailed my syllabus the greater chance that all assignments will be turned in on time and my students are prepared for all quizzes and exams. On many occasions when I have everyone get ready to take a quiz and a students says "What quiz?" almost all the other students will say, "It was on the syllabus!"
A well prepared syllabus gives your students a fair overview of the course. It sets the expectations you have and puts them at ease, knowing what they will need to accomplish. It also allows them to prepare before class, by knowing what chapters will be covered beforehand.
A well prepared syllabus also acts as a roadmap through the course for the instructor, ensuring that all course objectives are met and all material is covered.
In short, it is a tool of communication between the students and instructor as to the overall expectations of the class. It ensures each student if fully aware of policies, procedures, objectives, and course materials and locates all that information in one convenient location.
It is the blueprint for your students success for the semester and the blueprint for the instructor to guide the students to course completion. A well-prepared syllabus sets the tone for the level of instruction, expectations, mastery of the content for the course.
