Look forward Look backward Todays topic: Communicating The course Activity: Review your present Syllabus with a Checklist Activity: Checklist for final Teaching portfolio Activity: Plan for what needs To be done over The next three months Activity: With a partner, Brainstorm alternative Methods of communication

Re-Presenting Your Course Syllabus, Calendar, Text, Materials

Course Redesign Course redesign is the process of restructuring the way the content of a course is delivered. It generally involves the redesign of an entire course (rather than individual classes or sections) to achieve better learning outcomes.

5 Principles of Course Redesign Principle #1: Redesign the whole course. Principle #2: Encourage active learning. Principle #3: Provide students with individualized assistance. Principle #4: Build in ongoing assessment and prompt (automated) feedback. Principle #5: Ensure sufficient time on task and monitor student progress.

Essential Elements Goals, Objectives, Outcomes Activities Feedback Assessment Materials (Reading, Viewing, Interacting, Experimenting)

Communication with Students Verbal Syllabus Web site

Three strong beliefs associated with a course syllabus The syllabus is the key tangible evidence of planning from instructor to the world. The planning manifested through the syllabus can reduce, before a class even meets, about half the work for teaching a course. The syllabus serves as a communication device and contract to shift the responsibility for learning to the student. Performance Instruction: Planning, Delivering, Evaluating, by Daniel E. Vogler, 1991.

Purposes of the Syllabus Offer students a clear and concise statement of what your course is about; Tell them how you are going to teach the material to them and why; Provide all the logistical information they need to engage you and the course materials easily; Explain to them exactly what is required of them, when and why; Lay out for them the essential elements of the social contract that you and they are entering into.

Motivation: a warm tone and inclusive, accessible writing motivate students to engage with the course; positive presuppositions expressed about students facilitates in them a positive self-fulfilling prophecy. 3 Functions of Syllabi Slattery, J. M. and Carlson, J. F.(2005).Preparing an effective syllabus: current best practices. College Teaching, 53, pp

Structure: a clear map of topics and related assignments and due dates facilitates proper student planning. Writing a clear syllabus helps us, as faculty, grasp the plan and purpose of the course deeply. 3 Functions of Syllabi

Evidence: in case of disputes regarding the course, the syllabus is often used by administrators or mediators to resolve them; in tenure and promotion cycles, syllabi are important documents as evidence of currency, innovation and mastery of course material; students need well-designed syllabi to facilitate transfer of credits between departments or institutions. 3 Functions of Syllabi

How Blackboard Influences Communication

Essential Elements of a Syllabus Course Name Instructor Contact Information Class Meeting Days, Times, and Locations as appropriate Course Overview/Introduction Course Motivational statement Course Goals Student Performance Objectives Course alignment Content outline Course schedule

Essential Elements of a Syllabus Text(s) and Readings Student Performance Assessments Project/Papers/Products Tests/Examinations Basic Classroom Management Policies Attendance/Tardy Policy Late Submissions Other responsibilities (lab work, field work etc.) Grading "Academic dishonesty" statement

The syllabus as a legal document ministration/provost/cte/white papers/legally_sound.htm

Design issues Font White space Graphics

Samples of Syllabi from Carnegie Mellon ach/design/syllabus/samples- creative/index.html ach/design/syllabus/samples- creative/index.html