Does your Syllabus Make the Grade?
It's not too early to begin to develop the syllabus for your fall course. Use the following checklist to create a syllabus that your students will actually read and use:
- Provide contact information and office hours
- Present an overview of the course description, goals and objectives
- List required materials
- Describe the schedule, assignments, and assessments
- Clarify policies (including grading criteria) and expectations
Create a syllabus before the start of your course, and be sure to distribute it—perhaps by posting it on HuskyCT. But don’t stop there; continue to revise the syllabus, marking it up throughout the semester to improve it for the next time you teach the course.
Introduce the syllabus to your students on the first day of class. If necessary, show them how to read the syllabus; perhaps even conduct a group activity (e.g., a syllabus scavenger hunt) or quiz to ensure that students have read and understand all components of the syllabus.
Visit CETL’s webpage on Syllabus Design for sample syllabi and other syllabus-development details, or contact CETL to consult with a faculty development specialist.
For more information, contact: The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at CETL@uconn.edu