Title: Creating a Syllabus
Headings: Teaching & Learning
Teaching & Learning
Creating a Syllabus
Purposes and content of a syllabus
The syllabus as a contract
The syllabus as a permanent record
The syllabus as a learning tool
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Content: Creating a Syllabus
Teaching & Learning
Creating a Syllabus
The quality of the syllabus is a fairly reliable indicator of the quality of teaching and learning that will take place in a course (Woolcock, 2003). Therefore, it behooves instructors to make the effort to construct a high-quality syllabus. The results of that effort can benefit the instructor as well as his or her students. A syllabus lets students know what the course is about, why the course is taught, where it is going, and what will be required for them to be successful in the course (Altman & Cashin, 2003). By clearly communicating expectations, instructors can circumvent a whole host of student grievances and misunderstandings during the semester. It also shows students that you take teaching seriously (Davis, 1993). Finally, remember that your syllabus may be some students' first exposure to your course, and its contents may determine whether or not they take the course. The process of developing a syllabus can be a reflective exercise, leading the instructor to carefully consider his or her philosophy of teaching, why the course is important, how the course fits in the discipline, as well as what topics will be covered, when assignments will be due, and so on (Eberly, Newton, & Wiggins, 2001; Grunert, 1997). This can be an enlightening experience that results in an improved course.