Teaching Excellence 2: Syllabus Success
It’s all in the syllabus!
Have you ever found yourself staring at a blank document, daunted by the task of creating a syllabus? Fear not! A well-structured syllabus is more than just a course outline; it's a roadmap for both you and your students. Let’s explore why it’s essential and how to create one that excels.
A strong syllabus serves as the cornerstone of any successful course. It clarifies expectations, fosters student engagement, and streamlines the learning process. By providing a clear overview of course content, assignments, and assessment criteria, you empower students to take ownership of their learning journey. Moreover, a well-organized syllabus saves you time and effort by establishing clear guidelines and procedures right from the outset.
The Elements of a Syllabus
Before we go any further, it’s essential to discuss the components that make up a syllabus. In general, there are eight fundamental portions of a course syllabus, but do not be alarmed; they are relatively straightforward and easy to understand. Let’s take a look at the eight key elements and a brief description of each:
Course Description
Think of this as an “about me” for your course. There’s no need to overcomplicate it; just give a general idea of what your course is about. Don’t forget to consider what level your students are currently at and what levels you would like them to achieve.
Course Objectives
This is more specific than your Course Description. Here you can state specific goals that you will set for your students, such as "Design an email template to use for college admissions." Try not to use words such as “learn” and “understand”; instead, use active words such as “design,” “determine,” “apply,” “define,” etc.
Required Books and Materials
If you have a specific book for your students to use, or specific items such as notebooks, colored pens, or flashcards, list them here.
Course Content
Think of this as your course outline. How many weeks will your course be? How many classes will there be every week? Will there be homework assignments?
Course Requirements
Tell your students what they will need to achieve in order to pass your course. Will it be exam-based? Usage-based? What happens if they do not meet those requirements?
Evaluation and Grading
What scale will you use to grade exams and quizzes? How will you grade homework? If you will be conducting projects, speeches, or other methods of comprehension, how will you grade them?
Course Conduct
What do you expect from your students inside the classroom? This could be policies as simple as "no cellphones in class" or "raise your hand before answering a question." It’s important to let your students know what you require in order to maintain a healthy and effective classroom. Then apply these rules consistently.
Instructor Information
Consider offering office hours. Having dedicated time slots outside of class each week to address questions or concerns can greatly enhance your students' experience. There are many scenarios where students, parents, or sponsors may feel the need to contact you. Here you can provide your email address or phone number.
Crafting an effective syllabus involves more than simply listing the eight elements above. To enhance readability and comprehension, employ clear and concise language, while incorporating visual aids when appropriate. Consider using a syllabus template to streamline the process and ensure consistency. Most importantly, seek feedback from your students to continually refine your syllabus, ensuring it remains a valuable resource for their learning journey.
When Should You Create Your Syllabus?
In our previous blog post, we helped you understand the importance of an effective Needs Assessment and provided you with tips on how to build one. In an ideal world, the Needs Assessment takes place before you craft your syllabus. As mentioned, having a syllabus template is a great idea to always have a general outline for the structure of your course, but it’s essential to understand your students’ needs before you create a full and comprehensive syllabus. Understanding your students’ needs is crucial—what are their learning requirements? Maybe your students will need extensive help with speaking but are already fairly strong writers in English. This information is crucial to help you determine what materials to select, what methods of grading to use, what the nature of your assignments will be, as well as many other factors.
When Should You Create Your Second Syllabus?
That’s right, an effective and informed educator will often examine and refine their course syllabus during the time that their course is taking place. Obviously, this would not make much sense to do with only a few lessons left; however, after a handful of lessons or weeks, it is a step that can ensure both you and your students are able to maximize your time together. Always remain focused on the idea that the course is about maximizing your students' potential. Then, take the time to reevaluate what’s working and what isn’t. This is a complementary step with the second Needs Assessment that was mentioned in our previous blog post here.
Syllabus Template
In order to help you succeed, we have created and attached our own course syllabus template for you to download here. Feel free to use this template as an outline when you create your own syllabus to fit your students’ needs.
Syllabus Template - Word Document
Remember, a well-crafted syllabus is a powerful tool that sets the stage for a successful course. By investing time and effort into creating a clear, informative, and student-centered syllabus, you lay the foundation for a positive and productive learning experience.
Finally, and as always, we are here to help you be successful in your teaching career. If you have additional questions or concerns, we would love to hear from you and help you in any way we can. Our email is educateenglish.info@gmail.com.
Good luck, and we look forward to hearing from you soon!
