Conceiving A Course Syllabus

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Conceiving A Course Syllabus

• Mini-Seminar on Constructing Effective Syllabi
• November 8, 2003
• Kristie Pretti-Frontczak, Ph.D.
• Kent State University

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College Teaching Module Getting Started

• http//fp.dl.kent.edu/fcubed/modules/modules/getti
  ngstarted/index.html

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Module Big Ideas

• Planning and Using Course Syllabi
• Selecting and Sharing Course Policies
• Meeting Students for the First Time

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Syllabus Big Ideas

• Make sure a syllabus is developed
• Make syllabus comprehensive
• Make syllabus accessible and understandable
• Make procedures for handing difficult situations
  clear

Example
WebCT
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Student Assessment

• http//fp.dl.kent.edu/fcubed/modules/modules/getti
  ngstarted/assessment.html
• Critique a set of course syllabi from own
  discipline
• Large Class
• Seminar
• Online/hybrid
• Revise an existing syllabus based upon
  recommended practices

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Resources for Extending Knowledge

• Abele, L. (2001). Creating A Syllabus. Retrieved
  October 29, 2002, from Florida State University
  Faculty Handbook Web site http//online.fsu.edu/
  learningresources/ handbook/instructionatfsu/PDF-C
  hptr3.pdf
• Altman, H. B., Cashin, W. E. (n.d.). Writing a
  syllabus. Retrieved May 27, 2003 from Honolulu
  Community College Web site http//www.hcc.hawaii.
  edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/teachtip
  /writesyl.htm

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• Beaudry, M.L., Schaub, T.A. (1998). The
  learner-centered syllabus. Retrieved March 26,
  2003, from University of Massachusetts Lowell Web
  site http//www.uml.edu/centers/FTC/article.html
  (main site http//www.uml.edu/centers/FTC/lct.html
  )
• Kitchens, L. E. (n.d.). Writing a syllabus
  Electronic version. Excellence in Teaching
  Series,1. Retrieved from The Center for Teaching
  Excellence Web site http//www.cte.tcu.edu/
  excellence_in_teaching_series1.htm

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• Launching A Teaching System- A Higher Level
  Syllabus (1999). Teaching Tips In A Nutshell,
  7(1). Retrieved October 29, 2002, from the
  University of Colorado at Denver, Office of
  Teaching Effectiveness Faculty Development Web
  site http//thunder1.cudenver.edu/
  /OTE/nn/vol7/7_1.htm
• Quigley, D. (1994). The evolution of an online
  syllabus. Computers and Composition, 11, 165-172.

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• Ryan, M., Martens, G. (1989). Planning a
  college course A guidebook for the graduate
  teaching assistant. Ann Arbor, MI National
  Center to Improve Postsecondary Teaching and
  Learning.
• Syllabus Development (n.d.). Retrieved October
  18, 2002, from Houghton Mifflin College Web site
  http//college.hmco.com/instructors/ins_teachtech_
  foundations_module_ syllabusdev. html
• The Center for Teaching and Learning (2000).
  Syllabus Development Guide. Retrieved October 18,
  2002, from http//devel.ctl.unc.edu/syllabus_guide
  /overview.html