Syllabus Design
WHAT AND WHY
Consider how to draw students into not only your subject, the class, but the syllabus document itself. What is this course really about? Why is what they will learn important? Even for a course that is part of a well-defined major or minor program, we can’t always assume that students understand why a course is required. The opening section of a syllabus is one good place to start this conversation. How can you convey your enthusiasm for the course content and for student learning? Review the tone and energy of your syllabus. Consider the ratio of “students can do” to “students cannot do” statements. Are there choices that students can make about the types of assignments they complete? Choice and autonomy are highly motivating. How might you build in some flexibility to the nature or timing of projects?
The promising syllabus framework described by Ken Bain (the author of What the Best College Teachers Do) addresses(a) what students will learn (as opposed to what the instructor will teach), (b) how they will get there, and (c) shared expectations of what success looks like. To learn more, visit: https://clt.champlain.edu/knowledgebase/creating-an-engaging-syllabus-what-we-learn-from-ken-bain/
ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS OF A SYLLABUS
- Title, department, and number of the course
- Instructor information: name, office location, contact information, office hour
- Statement of course objectives
- Prerequisites to (if any) and requirements of the course
- Required texts and/or supplies
- An explanation of the policy relative to student absences
- The basis for grading
- Date and time of final examination
How accessible is your syllabus? eLearning and Emerging Technologies provides guidance on using features built in to Microsoft Word to create an accessible syllabus, one that is screen reader friendly and viewable by learners with low vision.
For guidance in writing student learning objectives: https://www.gvsu.edu/ftlc/student-learning-objectives-194.htm
For sample statements that can be added to a syllabus to direct students to campus resources and clarify policies: https://www.gvsu.edu/ftlc/syllabus-statement-examples-195.htm
RESOURCES
ONLINE & WEB-BASED RESOURCES
Constructing a Learner-Centered Syllabus: One Professor’s Journey Aaron Richmond., 2017
- Includes numerous examples and a self-assessment rubric – how learner-centered are your own syllabi?
Creating Accessible Course Content
Guidelines for Gender-Fair Language
- Your syllabus is a great place to model inclusivity. Language is a powerful tool - use it wisely in your written materials as well as in your dialogue with students.
Practical Pointers for a Culturally Responsive Classroom
The Promising Syllabus, Ken Bain
- A refreshing concept, Bain outlines and provides examples of syllabi designed with a positive, rather than a punitive framework
Sample Inclusive Syllabus Statement
Tempering the Syllabus: From Contract to Invitation, Map, and Guide
- A Scholarly Teacher blog post that addresses the purpose and tone of the syllabus.
BOOKS
The Graphic Syllabus and the Outcomes Map by Linda Nilson, 2007
The Course Syllabus: A Learner-Centered Approach by Judith Grunert, 1997
Blueprint for Learning: Constructing College Courses to Facilitate, Assess, and Document Learning by Laurie Richlin, 2006