Syllabus and Scheduling
Andrea Meluch, Communication and Information
Indira Sultanic, Translation Studies
Preview
• Handout/Activity
• Getting Started
• Basic Components of the Syllabus
• Office Hours and University
Policies
• Course Description and Objectives
• Course Policies
• Assessment
• Scheduling
Getting Started
• Treat syllabus as a contract.
• Remember level of course.
• Know requirements course fulfills.
• Keep diversity and cultural
backgrounds in mind.
• Proofread before you present to class
(e.g., print, upload to BlackBoard,
email to students).
Basic Information
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Course name
Course ID number
Course registration number (CRN)
Class days, time, and room number
Your name and email address
Office location and phone number
Office hours
Office Hours
• Required for all courses:
–Ask your department about
number of required hours, as it
may vary.
• Allow students to schedule
appointments with you outside of the
allotted hours.
• Inform students ahead of time if
office hours change for the semester
or on an individual basis.
University Policies and
Requirements
• Student Accessibility Services (SAS)
Policy
• Academic Honesty (Cheating and
Plagiarism)
• For all additional policies please visit
the University Policy Register.
Important Dates
•Last day to add:
– September 6, 2015
•Last day to drop before “W” is assigned:
– September 13, 2015
•Last day to drop:
– November 8, 2015
• Final exam schedule
–Varies by campus
Course Description
• Description of the course
– Catch students’ interest
– Explain why it is important
– Opportunity to personalize
Course Objectives
• What do you want students to get out
of the class?
–Be specific and focused on the
course.
–Objective, measurable, and
attainable.
–What students should learn.
Course Objectives
• Clear objectives help to better
design course materials and
assessments
•“Reverse” or “backwards” design
– Objectives for end of course
– Themes and concepts to cover
– Textbook/reading materials
– Assessment tools
Course Objectives
• List 3-5 objectives
• Use action verbs
• Example Types
– Knowledge attainment
– Skill development
– Ability to carry out a task
– Understanding and/or application of
key concepts
– Answer major questions in the field
Department Supplied
Syllabi
• Some courses (especially those
taught by first-time Teaching
Assistants) will have a common
syllabus.
• If your department is supplying your
syllabus be sure to ask questions to
understand the policies (e.g., course
objectives, attendance) before the
start of term.
• Add your unique course information
to your syllabus.
Policies, Assessment, &
Scheduling
Course Policies
• Important tips for traditional and online
courses:
–Be detailed
–Have clear expectations
–State what’s tolerable and what is
not
–Follow through
–Be consistent with your rules
Course Policies
• Attendance, tardiness
– Excused vs. unexcused absences
– How will you take attendance?
– Do you record tardiness?
• Grading policy
– Late work, make-up assignments,
extra credit, participation points,
rewrites
• Technology
– Laptops, tablets, mobile phones
• Classroom etiquette
– Behavior, disruptions, eating,
drinking
Course Policies
• E-mail Policy & Etiquette
• Clear subject line
• Professional greeting and
signature
• Timeframe within which you will
reply e.g. 24 hours M-F
• Limited access on the Weekend
• Mark urgent e-mails as such
Assessment Tools
• Clearly state what assessments you
will use and what % will be on
Blackboard
– Exams
– Quizzes
– Labs
– Homework
– Research Papers
– Oral Presentations
– Participation
– Attendance
Assessment Tools
• Include grading scale in Syllabus
• Use the Grade Center on Blackboard
or an Excel spreadsheet to record
assignment grades
• Record and display grade
– Points
– Percentage
– Weighted vs. non-weighted totals
Scheduling
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Create a timeline for the semester
Weekly timeline
Daily breakdown by topic
In-class vs. homework
assignements
• Exam and assignment due dates
Scheduling
• Check your own schedule first!
– Your deadlines
– Comps, thesis, dissertation
deadlines
– Work schedule
Scheduling
• Plan due dates for assignments &
exams
– Consider grading time
– Reasonably space items out
– Avoid religious holidays, if possible
– Make due dates STAND OUT
• Match reading assignments with
lectures
Scheduling
• Build in flexibility!
– “Subject to change” disclaimer
– Plan extra material
– Promise to announce changes
early
– Avoid changing due
dates/exams
Complex Conversations - Disability
http://www.kent.edu/graduatestudies/gso-conversations
Questions?
Andrea Meluch
ameluch1@kent.edu
Indira Sultanic
isultani@kent.edu