Writing the Syllabus
Teaching Skills 2006
Purpose of Syllabus
• Communicates what the course is about
• Communicates what students need to know
in the beginning of the course
• Communicates what students need to know
in writing
• Syllabus is a contract that shifts
responsibility for learning to student
Course Information
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Course title
Course number
Prerequisites?
Location of class
Days and times
Hours/lab/lecture/small group
Instructor Information
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Name, title
Office phone, office hours
Contact information
Other lecturers’ contact information
Administrative support in department
contact information
• Email addresses
• Emergency contact number
Course Goals and
Description
• Statements that describe overall scope of
content
• Communicate course focus
• What it is and how it fits into the program
• How it is organized-lecture, lab, small
groups, WebCT, case-based learning,
independent study
Objectives
• Insert at least five objectives
• State exactly what the learner will be able
to do after the instruction
• State behavioral or performance
objectives that are outcomes based and
measurable
• Use verbs in Bloom’s Taxonomy handout
Bloom’s Taxonomy of Objectives
• Knowledge: define, list, repeat, name, recall, state
• Comprehension: identify, explain, report, tell, translate,
describe, discuss, express
• Application: illustrate, demonstrate, use, interpret,
practice, schedule
• Analysis: appraise, contrast, debate, differentiate,
examine, test, categorize, distinguish, calculate
• Synthesis: arrange, collect, create, manage, organize,
design, collect, prepare, plan
• Evaluation: compare, measure, review, score, select, value,
judge, assess, rate, revise
Text and Learning
Resources
• Reading lists-what is required and
what is recommended
• Library or web based resources- be
sure library knows what to have onhand
• Materials and supplies - state costs
Policies
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How will students be evaluated
Grading Plan
Attendance policies, lateness
Remediation
Exam reviews
Exam challenges
Rules of conduct in the classroom
Other Items for
Consideration
• Class schedule
• Course evaluations
• Listing of all course faculty with
contact information
• Other resources
Preparing Your Syllabus for
WebCT
• Create your syllabus using MS Word
• Email your document to Donna Dobie, IST
• Donna will convert the Word document to PDF
format and upload the syllabus to the appropriate
WebCT course
• If you prefer to upload the syllabus yourself, you
can do this as well. Donna will be happy to show
you how.
• Please contact Donna Dobie via email
dobiedo@umdnj.edu or phone 856-566-7022 for
information about WebCT or to schedule training.