University of South Carolina
Preparing for the Course
Jamil A. Khan, Ph.D., P.E.
Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering
Preparing for the Course
University of South Carolina
You
may stop me at any time
and ask questions.
How do you think you can
prepare for a course?

Stay one day ahead of the students?
What
questions would you like
answered?
Preparing for a Class

Find-out about the course
University of South Carolina

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
Find out about the Students (their motivation and background)

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
Read the catalog description of the class
Has anyone else in the department taught the class
Talk to them and find-out the topics covered by them
Who are taking the class
Is it a required class for them
What are their academic back-ground?
Choose a Text Book!!!

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Reference Materials ( Put some on reserve in the library)
Lab-manual
Preparing for Class

How much time do I spend preparing for the class?

University of South Carolina

Should I make class notes and teach from the class
notes?


Yes and No
I do an excellent job of teaching, and receive
excellent student evaluations. I maintain open door
policy, I am available to students almost always. Am
I doing all my duties very successfully?


Time management
The above may provide a false sense of security but the
answer is No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So, does that mean I should not care about
teaching?

Again the answer is no!!!
Preparing a Syllabus
University of South Carolina
 How
to prepare a syllabus
 Elements to be included in the syllabus
 Developing a class schedule
 Example of a class-syllabus
Syllabus
University of South Carolina
 Syllabus
is a written expectation for the course
 The class-syllabus is your first communication with
your students
 Should be carefully planned and prepared
 A carefully prepared detailed syllabus may prevent
potential conflict during the semester
 Consider all logistics that may impact the course
 Laboratory
(availability)
 Oral presentation (Room and audio-visual equipment
reservation)
 Holidays
 Class
policies should be explicit
 Absences
 In
rare cases a disgruntled student may take legal recourse
Contents of the Syllabus
 Class
information
title
 Meeting time
University of South Carolina
 Class
 Objectives
of the class
 Contact Information
 Phone,
e-mail, office location, office hour
 List
of required text/texts and optional reference
materials
 Grading Policy
 I like to include what I expect in homework solutions
 Paper,
graph-paper, lab-report etc. (why? As long as the
student has correct answers why care?)
Contents of the Syllabus (contd.)


Schedule of Quizzes, exams, presentations
Should include how grades will be determined

University of South Carolina
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Announce General grading policies
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Homework
Quizzes
Final Exam
Projects
Term papers
Lab reports
Missing exams
Late HW submissions
Policies on Classroom conduct and attendance
STATEMENT REGARDING ACADEMIC RESPONSIBILITY AND
INTEGRITY (Carolina Community Student Handbook)

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Rule of academic responsibility: STAR 6.25 (excerpt)
“It is the responsibility of every student at the University of South Carolina
Columbia to adhere steadfastly to truthfulness and to avoid dishonesty,
fraud, or deceit of any type in connection with any academic program. Any
student who violates this rule shall be subject to discipline.”
Academic Integrity
University of South Carolina
 “I
understand that it is the responsibility of every
member of the Carolina Community to uphold and
maintain the academic standards and integrity of the
University of South Carolina. Any member of
University community, who has reasonable grounds
to believe that an infraction of the Code of Student
Academic Responsibility has occurred, has an
obligation to report the alleged violation
I certify that I have neither given nor received
unauthorized aid on this examination”
Grades and Syllabus
University of South Carolina
 Choose
contents that will achieve core class
objectives
 Make schedule flexible
 Student suggestion for certain topics
Syllabus Format
University of South Carolina
 Many
types of Format
 Show
the example
 Consider
Posting your syllabus on the Web
 Blackboard
Office hours
University of South Carolina
 Is
it good to have open door policy?
First Day of Class
University of South Carolina
 Proper
attire
 Introduce yourself
 Ask the students to introduce themselves
 Be positive and upbeat
 Go over the syllabus
 Get
student input
 Discuss
your class expectations
 Academic
 Conduct
 Discuss
and Courtesy
potential deviation from the syllabus
 Start on the subject matter and I assign homework!!
Getting Started (contd.)
University of South Carolina
 Learning
 Takes
names
time, but it is worth the effort
 Showing
respect to the students
 Respect
can be shown by action
Getting Started (contd.)
(first day)
University of South Carolina
 Establish
yourself as the moderator/leader of the
class (on the first day? Yes!!). ( I mean be in-charge,
be confident, at the same time do not come across
as being arrogant and haughty)
 How
do you do this?
 Make
the students feel they belong in the class, and
that they are a part of the class. For that matter the
most important part of the class.
 How
do you do this?