Writing the Syllabus

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Writing the Syllabus

• Teaching Skills 2006

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Purpose of Syllabus

• Communicates what the course is about
• Communicates what students need to know in the
  beginning of the course
• Communicates what students need to know in
  writing
• Syllabus is a contract that shifts responsibility
  for learning to student

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Course Information

• Course title
• Course number
• Prerequisites?
• Location of class
• Days and times
• Hours/lab/lecture/small group

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Instructor Information

• Name, title
• Office phone, office hours
• Contact information
• Other lecturers contact information
• Administrative support in department contact
  information
• Email addresses
• Emergency contact number

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Course Goals and Description

• Statements that describe overall scope of content
• Communicate course focus
• What it is and how it fits into the program
• How it is organized-lecture, lab, small groups,
  WebCT, case-based learning, independent study

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Objectives

• Insert at least five objectives
• State exactly what the learner will be able to do
  after the instruction
• State behavioral or performance objectives that
  are outcomes based and measurable
• Use verbs in Blooms Taxonomy handout

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Blooms Taxonomy of Objectives

• Knowledge define, list, repeat, name, recall,
  state
• Comprehension identify, explain, report, tell,
  translate, describe, discuss, express
• Application illustrate, demonstrate, use,
  interpret, practice, schedule
• Analysis appraise, contrast, debate,
  differentiate, examine, test, categorize,
  distinguish, calculate
• Synthesis arrange, collect, create, manage,
  organize, design, collect, prepare, plan
• Evaluation compare, measure, review, score,
  select, value, judge, assess, rate, revise

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Text and Learning Resources

• Reading lists-what is required and what is
  recommended
• Library or web based resources- be sure library
  knows what to have on-hand
• Materials and supplies - state costs

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Policies

• How will students be evaluated
• Grading Plan
• Attendance policies, lateness
• Remediation
• Exam reviews
• Exam challenges
• Rules of conduct in the classroom

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Other Items for Consideration

• Class schedule
• Course evaluations
• Listing of all course faculty with contact
  information
• Other resources

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Preparing Your Syllabus for WebCT

• Create your syllabus using MS Word
• Email your document to Donna Dobie, IST
• Donna will convert the Word document to PDF
  format and upload the syllabus to the appropriate
  WebCT course
• If you prefer to upload the syllabus yourself,
  you can do this as well. Donna will be happy to
  show you how.
• Please contact Donna Dobie via email
  dobiedo_at_umdnj.edu or phone [phone] for
  information about WebCT or to schedule training.