Successful Syllabi

View printable Successful Syllabi (PDF)

Introduction

Have you ever taken a moment to consider whether your course syllabus could be more than a semester-long contract between you and your students? A syllabus has the potential to be an invitation to a great months-long learning event and can hold a prominent role in student learning. While research on best practices regarding syllabi continues, it is clear that syllabi are an “exceptionally important teaching and learning tool” (Fornaciari & Lund Dean, 2013, 702). More recently, Lang (2016, 36) introduces the idea of the “retrieving syllabus” as a retrieval tool for key concepts and encourages that the syllabus is one way to encourage self-regulated learning. The different purposes and types of syllabi are identified by Ludy et al. (2016) with three types of syllabi identified as:

1. Traditional (key information only).
2. Contractual (includes detailed information about course content, policies and procedures).
3. Learning-centered which emphasizes student and instructor roles, and is similar to the promising syllabus (Bain, 2004).

The learning-centered syllabus is designed to convey excitement about course content and the student’s role in learning. Ludy et al (2016) further offer a new category of syllabus referred to as the engaging syllabus, based on their research on visual enhancements to the syllabus and the students’ initial perceptions and motivation for the course. Examples of visually creative syllabi may be found in Jones (2011). Course syllabi have great potential to set the tone for the course and to generate enthusiasm for course content (Weimer, 2011). As a closing thought, have you considered including your students’ input as co-creators of the syllabus, specifically in regard to learning objectives and outcomes beyond what may be agreed upon by your department or university? Merrill (2016) encourages the use of backward design in syllabus development while taking into consideration student input, and Fornaciari and Lund Dean (2016) make a compelling case and provide examples for developing a syllabus that builds a classroom culture of collaboration.

Implementation

1. Whether you are revisiting a current syllabus or creating a syllabus for a new course, consider:
   1. The tone of the syllabus.
   2. The language or discourse used.
   3. Evidence of your passion for the course content. 
   4. Inclusivity of all students.
       
2. In regard to tone:
   1. Is the tone inviting or full of directives?
   2. Is most of the content related to course or university policies and descriptive of what students should not do?
   3. Is there a place for your teaching philosophy and reason why this is your chosen field?
   4. Is there a statement encouraging students to utilize your designated office hours?
   5. Is it clear that you have provided resources and thoughtfully designed assessments to accommodate all students?
       
3. While creativity is desirable in designing your syllabus, it is important to consult your university faculty handbook and/or academic administrator to determine whether there is policy language that is required or recommended to be included in the course syllabus. Examples of this may be policies related to student accessibility, academic integrity, etc.
    
4. If creating a syllabus for a new course, consult colleagues as well. This may be especially helpful for faculty with lab and studio courses.
    
5. Revisit existing syllabi to ensure that your syllabi are inclusive. For example, ask a student who has indicated that English is a second language to read over and indicate what may be unclear. Be sure to stay updated on accessibility requirements at your university – both in class and online.
    
6. A helpful tool below is the Inclusion by Design: Survey Your Syllabus and Course Design. This survey guides you to evaluate your current syllabus by asking questions about specific elements of most syllabi.
7. A rubric was developed by Palmer, Bach, & Streifer (2014) to assess the degree to which a syllabus is learning-centered. This rubric focuses on four criteria:
   1. Learning goals and objectives
   2. Assessment activities
   3. Schedule
   4. Overall learning environment
      1. For the full rubric, please refer to the University of Virginia – Syllabus Rubric Guide.
8. Examples of syllabus templates and checklists:
   1. Syllabus design
   2. Course design and planning 
   3. Example of information to include (PDF)

Kent State University

• Per university faculty handbook, there is no template for course syllabi, however, faculty are encouraged to consult their academic unit administrator

https://www.kent.edu/facultyhandbook/syllabus

• Kent State University Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement for Syllabi endorsed by Faculty Senate, 2/14/2022

“Kent State University is committed to the creation and maintenance of equitable and inclusive learning spaces. This course is a learning environment where all will be treated with respect and dignity, and where all individuals will have an equitable opportunity to succeed. The diversity that each student brings to this course is viewed as a strength and a benefit. Dimensions of diversity and their intersections include but are not limited to: race, ethnicity, national origin, primary language, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, mental and physical abilities, socio-economic status, family/caregiver status, and veteran status.”

• Kent State Student Accessibility Services Statement

“Kent State University is committed to inclusive and accessible education experiences for all students. University Policy 3342-3-01.3 requires that students with disabilities be provided reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access to course content. Students with disabilities are encouraged to connect with Student Accessibility Services as early as possible to establish accommodations. If you anticipate or experience academic barriers based on a disability (including mental health, chronic medical conditions, or injuries), please let me know immediately.”

• Kent State Land Acknowledgement Statement endorsed by Faculty Senate, 10/10/2022

“We acknowledge that the lands of Kent State University were the previous homes of people who were removed from this area without their consent by the colonial practices of the United States government. Before removal, these groups created networks that extended from Wyoming to the Florida Coast and Appalachia and to the northern reaches of Lake Superior. These societies included people of the Shawnee, Seneca-Cayuga, Delaware, Wyandots, Ottawa and Miami. We honor their lives – both past and present – and strive to move beyond remembrance toward reflection and responsibility through honest accounts of the past and the development of cultural knowledge and community.”

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I encourage my students to read and use the syllabus at the beginning of the semester?

• Make the syllabus available before the first day and inform students they should come to the first class with questions about the syllabus or create an assignment where they post questions about the syllabus online during the first week of class.

What if I want to make a change to my syllabus after the course has started?

• You may wish to consider adding a statement about the possibility of unexpected events requiring potential changes to the syllabus and how you will quickly and effectively communicate those changes to students.

Other Resources

• Carnegie Mellon University  
• University of Virginia – Syllabus Rubric Guide 
• This is the rubric referenced above and in Palmer, M. S., Bach, D. J., & Streifer, A. C. (2014)
• Vanderbilt University 
• Stanford University
• Best Practices for Teaching Online: Creating an Online Syllabus (PDF)
• Online and hybrid course syllabus example (PDF) 
• Kent State University – please contact OCDE for a template syllabus for online courses.

References

Bain, K. (2004). What the Best College Teachers Do. Harvard Press.

Fornaciari, C.J. & Lund Dean, K. (2014). The 21st -Century syllabus: From pedagogy to andragogy. Journal of Management Education (38), 5, 701-723.

Jones, J. B. (2011, August 26). Creative approaches to the syllabus. Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved from http://chronicle.com/blogs/profhacker/creative-approaches-to-the-syllab…

Lang, J.M. (2016). Small teaching: Everyday lessons from the science of learning. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Ludy, Mary-Jon; Brackenbury, Tim; Folkins, John Wm; Peet, Susan H.; Langendorfer, Stephen J.; and Beining, Kari (2016) "Student Impressions of Syllabus Design: Engaging Versus Contractual Syllabus," International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, (10), 2, Article 6, 1-23. Available at: https://doi.org/10.20429/ijsotl.2016.100206

Merrill, M. (2016). Designing a syllabus using “backwards design”: Intercultural communication for International educators. Alatoo Academic Studies, 243-246.

Palmer, M. S., Bach, D. J., & Streifer, A. C. (2014). Measuring the promise: A learning-focused syllabus rubric. To improve the academy: A journal of educational development, 33 (1), 14-36.

Weimer, M. (2011). What does your syllabus say about you and your course? Faculty Focus. Madison, WI: Magna Publications, August 2011, 1-3. Weimer, M. (2013). Learner-centered teaching: Five key changes to practice (2nd ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Cite this resource: Lightner, J. (2017). Preparing to Teach - Successful Syllabi. Kent State University Center for Teaching and Learning. Retrieved [today's date] from (HYPERLINK).