what elements are part of a course syllabus

The construction of a well-defined syllabus makes the development and management of an online or on-campus course much easier. Both face-to-face and online syllabi should include instructor information, course description, course objectives (or course outcomes), course methodology, grading criteria, grade computation and course policies.

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What are the basic elements of a syllabus?

Components of a Course Syllabus 4 Safety & Emergency Preparedness • what to do in case of an earthquake • what to do in an emergency • evacuation procedures • lab safety precautions Disclaimer • syllabus/schedule subject to change Evaluation of the Course • student feedback strategies during the semester • end-of-course evaluation procedures

What is a course syllabus?

The Basic Elements of a Syllabus The first page should outline some basic information Course title and number, number of credits, course overview Any pre-requisites Day, time and place of the class meetings Procedure for announcing class cancellations (e.g. …

What are the components recommended for syllabi?

A space for the name and contact information for the course coordinator, if the syllabus is standard for several sections; A space for meeting days and times, and classroom location; Course number and title; Format of instruction (e.g., lecture, recitation, lab) and number of …

What do students think about the course being required?

Course description. Course expectations. Statement of fair warning regarding course content. 4. Course Format: Course delivery format. An in-person course welcome with health and safety information as needed. 5. Goals and Outcomes: Clearly outline what you want students to be able to demonstrate at the end of your course. 6. Required Text and Resources

What is a syllabus?

A syllabus accomplishes many things: informing students of your class-specific policies, explaining the standards on which you will grade, delineating the requirements of the course, listing the required readings and where to get them, and outlining the structure and schedule for the course. Syllabi can also help students navigate ...

What are some examples of syllabus?

Basic components of a syllabus: Provide contact information for instructor. List office hours (including virtual office hours, if appropriate) State the current academic term. Include the titles and authors of required textbooks, articles, websites, etc. List all assignments, quizzes, and exams. Include course schedule.

What should be included in a syllabi?

All syllabi should include the instructor’s name, e-mail address, phone number, and office hours. The relevance of other contact information depends on the type of class. For example, if you teach a face-to-face course, you should include your office location; if you teach an online course, you should tell students how they can reach you. ...

What is the grade computation section of the syllabus?

The grade computation section of the syllabus is the second section to which students give considerable attention. You should specify the value of each graded item in the course so that students know how to weight their focus in the class.

What is course description?

A course description is a brief summary statement or paragraph about the nature of a course. Well-written course descriptions use active voice, whole sentences, and direct statements. To ensure consistency across sections and instructors, all instructors should take course descriptions directly from their institution’s catalog.

What is a course objective?

Course Objectives (Course Outcomes) Course objectives, or outcomes, detail the specific goals of the course as they relate to student performance. Strong course objectives are specific, measurable, clear, and related. To be specific, objectives must identify the information students will learn in the class.

What are specific objectives?

To be specific, objectives must identify the information students will learn in the class. To be measurable, objectives must identify the performance that students must demonstrate for mastery. To be clear, objectives must articulate the sum of knowledge addressed in the course.

What is course methodology?

Course methodology refers to how the class approaches student learning. Many online courses feature a variety of learning methods, including readings, case studies, tests, quizzes, and discussions. Describing the course methodology gives students some expectation of the materials they will use to learn in the class.

Do standardized syllabi apply to online courses?

For example, attendance policies that discuss tardiness and use of cell phones do not apply to most online courses.

What is a course syllabus?

Course syllabus refers to a part of a professor’s pedagogy and passion for their discipline. It provides students with a comprehensive description of the course’s goals and objectives, assessment techniques and learning outcomes.

What is a syllabus in education?

A course syllabus is an academic document that communicates information about a specific course and explains the rules, responsibilities and expectations associated with it. A course syllabus may be set out by an exam board or prepared by the professor who supervises or controls course qualities. A course syllabus outlines connections between learning outcomes and content, as well as pedagogical practice to guide students in their learning.

Why is it important to have a syllabus?

It is important that a syllabus communicates all aspects of a course to students. Different institutions have differing standards and resources to aid in the syllabus development process.

Tips for Faculty about creating an effective syllabus that helps students to learn

The syllabus is a great place for faculty members to begin helping students appreciate the nature of a given course. As educators, we must not assume that our students explicitly understand why they are taking a given class, how it relates to the college curriculum, or what is meant by the requirements that we carefully outline in our syllabus.

Tips for Students about the importance of the syllabus in the learning process

A great discovery that I made early in college was that the course syllabus was like a roadmap with directions for succeeding in the class. Try to think of the syllabi as maps that give you directions to arrive at the end of the semester successfully. Here are a few tips to navigate your semester using the syllabus.