Dana,
This way everyone is informed and you are still in compliance with the school requirement.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
This is a very good solution to the college-supplied syllabus. All courses I teach are accompanied by a syllabus that is not to be altered. Although some instructors inform students that they make changes, they don't do it in writing and that never made me feel comfortable. This is a good compromise. Thanks!
Billie Kay,
I think this approach is balanced for everyone. The standard syllabus content makes sure college policies are covered and then the specifics as included by the instructor makes it his/her own.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
John,
You hit upon a good point. Even if you are using a standardized syllabus make sure to have an addendum that covers the specifics of your course. This way you are personalizing the course to you and your students.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Lois,
Good point. If you are going to require it or have a dead line for it,(no matter what "it" is) put it in the syllabus. The result will be reduced student questioning and confusion.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
A well prepared syllabus will show you and the students what is to be learned in the classroom. This also aids in setting priority levels of the information to be given.
Having a well-prepared syllabus gives the student a clear structure of the course along with what is to be expected. It also keep us both focus.
My department takes a mixed approach. We have a standard syllabus format and items that go on each syllabus, such as Instructor hours, textbook, course description from the college catalog, and learning objectives. Then each instructor is allowed to set up the activities and policies that will help the students meet those objectives. This provides a consistent and clear structure that is helpful to both instructor and students, and it also allows for instructor input and creativity as to delivery. This mixed approach increases instructor morale, and benefits the students by giving them a teacher who is teaching from his/her passion and expertise.
So that students and professors should have a clear guideline on what to do on a subject matter. ex. to clear disputes on how many points are taken off on a late assignment with a valid excuse.
Because I am a new instructor, having a well-prepared syllabus will be very important for me. This tool will keep me on track in the classroom and provide as a reference for daily instruction. By learning from a well structured syllabus, I will have a better knowledge of how to build my own in the future.
A well prepared syllabus provides the student with the direction of the course that you are going to present. The key word is "well prepared". even if you are provided a "Nationally reconized" syllabus, your need to tweak it to your style and your students needs.
Many of my students will try to find the loop holes in a syllabus. Anything, to come back and say "you did not tell me about this" and now this or that is unfair that I be held responsible for the material. If I do not have everything absolutely spelled out, from homework assignments, grading scale, lectures, etc. they will find a way to get out of something. Sometimes the syllabus can become many pages long just trying to cover everything so that something does not come back to bite you later on!
Prior, during, and post each term, I review my syllabus to ensure that areas that may be unclear or need additional support information are added. It is also part of my development as an instructor.
Tammy,
I can't imagine working with a recycled syllabus. I think you would spend more time explaining why it isn't accurate than you would telling the students about the upcoming course activities. I use certain core things in my syllabus, such as safety issues, etc. from previous syllabi but the rest of it is targeted to that group of students. It is my way of customizing my instruction to them.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Ghazanfar,
Right you are. A well prepared syllabus gives a clear and concise picture of what is going to happen in the upcoming class sessions as well as the expectations, requirements and polices. This reduces student concerns since they are informed through the syllabus.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
One of the biggest frustrations I have encountered in my own educational endeavors is a "recycled" syllabus. Instructors should care enough about the students' time, effort and dedication to their education to prepare a current and accurate syllabus. It is the backbone to the course at hand.
well said! Students need and expect to be orientated to classroom expectations.
If you do not want to see your students fall short of what you expect, you need to give detailed instructions in a clear form. A best way to do that is to provide them with a comprehensive yet easy to read syllabus.
Mary,
Accountability is build into your approach and I like that. They receive the syllabus, review it and the supplemental materials you provide and then sign they have read and reviewed it. The quiz is the value added part of accountability.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I totally agree with your input on the college syllabus.I also add my own requirements to give the students a clearer picture of my expectations in class.I review the syllabus with the students and have them review it themselves then ask any questions they may have.After that I give them a short quiz on the syllabus before they sign the paper that they received the syllabus.
