This will prevent misunderstanding about examination, and grading procedures. I tell my students during review of the syllabus and I add the information also in the syllabus that students not present during midterm and final examination will be taking an exam that is 10% less in content that those who manage to be in the class on time.
Hi Jessica,
You are doing a great service to and for your students when you give them clear course expectations, requirements and polices. This helps to set their minds at ease and get them settled into the course. Also, as you say it shows them that they have an organized and dedicated instructor.
Gary
It is important so students realize what is expected of them in the course. It makes students feel comfortable in the course when they know what is going on and what is expected of them. Also, it helps set you up as a good instructor as you are well-organized and professional.
Certainly, comprehensive and clear description of the course requirements ensures that the students under what they are to learn, and guides the instructors in what he or she should teach. But I think that comprehensive and clear descriptions of the course requirements can also provide students with a clear sense of the value of their education, as well as the empower the instructor to really share the power of their course content. Comprehensive and clear descriptions help the instructor to shape the expectations of the students and provide a clear vision for the class.
It is important for several reasons: it gets the students excited when they clearly understand and have some "ideas" about the requirements - also - it puts the students at ease when they know what is expected of them - and it outlines the challenges they may face and brings to light the learning they will experience. I often ask them "is this clear as mud?" and they usually will respond with a question if they don't understand - I query the students regularly and often ask them to explain what they might do for a particular assignment - especially if I see some expressions of bewilderment - often if students who understand a requirement can verbalize it out loud to the class then the other students who may be confused have "another way of hearing" the description / requirements.
Yes, I agree. Students must understand what is expected of them for the duration of a course, so there is no miscommunication between instructor and students.
It is important for students to understand clearly what is going to be expected from them during the course.
So your students know what is expected of them.
No surprises--no mysteries I agree the more the student know about the course, the better all the way.
Hi Shirley,
Good points all but the one I really identified with was your last one. Documentation reduces questions and lets the students know exactly what is expected of them for the entire course. No surprises--no mysteries.
Gary
Giving a comprehensive and clear description of the course requirement contributes to the understanding of the course, the course specifications and performance needed, also supports easy and quick documentation of what is required to succeed.
I make my course syllabus as complete and clear as possible including all requirements for the class along with a rubric for each assignment and due dates for the assignments. The first day of class the students and I review the requirements in the syllabus. As the time approaches for an assignment to be due I ask for any questions the students may have regarding their progress towards completeing the assignment and again refer them to review the rubric.
The course syllabus is critical to positive student outcomes because it serves as a guide for all activities and student expectations and performances.
In Module 4, I especially like the section of mini-lectures of 10-15 minutes for instruction. I would like to try this in my class. Perhaps section the big lecture. I could indirectly look at my watch and maybe interject a short story, funny experience related to the course content, or ask for a comment. Just something to break the sequence of lecture giving which can become tiring for all at times.
It is important to do this so that students know exactly what is expected of them. It is also important because it allows the instructor to communicate important pieces of information to the student that are non-negotiable (like a policy on cheating) and areas that are more flexible (like how a student will be evaluated on a subject). Although evaluation is ultimately up to the professor, it is important for the student to feel like they know what to expect while being graded. If an instructor is too nebulous or too abstract, then it can lead to friction and even confrontation later between student and teacher over how assignments were graded.
Like anyone, students need to know what is expected of them—what they are working towards—the desired end and the means to achieve it. A course must be set with clear direction so students are not up a creek without a paddle. A class—any class—is “a voyage of conception,” to quote Keats—one which ends with something definite, as—in Keats’ beautiful metaphor—“the spider” who spins “his own airy Citadel.”
Dr. J. Greco
A clear and comprehensive course will spell out requirements for students. It is important for students to know what is expected of them, what they will learn, and how they will learn.
It is so vital for students to have these descriptions clear to increase student and instructor success.
To prepare them for information that they will be recieving in the class and focus them on course objectives.
Thanks for your comments, Lee. It's the same thing in the workplace, isn't it? Employees can get frustrated, and rightly so, when expectations as to their tasks and responsibilities, and how they will be evaluated and appraised, are not clearly communicated and documented. It's amazing how much our classrooms and labs can mirror the workplace, hopefully with positive examples.
Hi Lee,
Well said. As you know you can lose students very quickly if they start to talk among themselves about what the course expectations are. They need to have clear identified outcomes in front of them from the beginning of the course.
Gary
In my experience it is important to give a clear description of the course requirements because it gives the students a clear understanding of what is expected of them. It helps them to plan what they need to do, what the end results should be and to give them an idea of what is next.
