Constructing a Syllabus

Crafting a Syllabus

CETLOE recommends that your syllabus use learner-centered language. This approach shifts the language used from the instructor’s point of view to the student’s perspective.

A learner-centered course syllabus focuses on the needs of the students and their learning process. Instructors specifically include information that will facilitate the academic success of students. Generally, a learner-centered syllabus establishes a contact and connection between students and instructors.

A learner-centered syllabus:

  • Sets the tone for the course
  • Is written in positive language
  • Describes your beliefs about learning, teaching and assessment
  • Sets up the structure of the course
  • Links to handouts or detailed assignment descriptions
  • Defines student responsibilities for success
  • Helps students determine their readiness for the course
  • States how the course fits into the curriculum and overall program
  • Describes available learning resources
  • Communicates technology requirements for the course
  • Contains difficult-to-obtain reading materials
  • Describes effective student study habits
  • Includes materials that support learning outside the classroom
  • Serves as a learning contract

Additional information on creating a learner-centered syllabus.

Modality Specifics

The modality in which instruction is delivered may necessitate modality-specific language on the syllabus.

Face-to-Face
If your course is face-to-face consider adding information about:
Technology in the Classroom

Communicate your technology policies for what students may or may not use during class. If your in-class activities rely on students having access to phones, tablets, or laptops communicated that clearly.

If iCollege or other technologies are used, be sure to include Technical Requirements

Online
If your course is online consider adding information about:

Synchronous Meeting Information

Let students know if there are required or optional synchronous meetings.

Technical Requirements

Provide students with information and access to technology requirement information.

Sample language:
This class uses iCollege for communication, content sharing, activities, and tests. Make sure you have the technology capable of working with iCollege: Review Recommended Technology
If you need assistance with iCollege you may contact the GSU Helpdesk:

For assistance outside of the GSU Helpdesk hours of operation, contact D2L Help Center.

Getting Help

Provide students with specific details on how to get help with technical issues especially when they are impacting their ability to complete a course requirement or meet a deadline.

Sample language:
If you experience a technology issue that prevents you from completing a course activity or test, do not delay, immediately take action by:

  1. Notifying the instructor of the problem via email as soon as possible.
  2. Contacting the GSU Helpdesk or D2L Help Center and submit a ticket detailing the problem. Be prepared to describe what happened and the technology you are using.

For workshops or tutorials on using iCollege or other technologies, checkout:

Netiquette

Netiquette covers both common courtesy online and communication expectations. A netiquette policy sets the tone for course communications between instructors and students as well as between students.
Sample netiquette guidelines can be found online.

Communication Expectations

Set realistic expectations for how frequently you will check your mail and discussion boards. Let students know up front how quickly you will respond. Set expectations in terms of days (business days) and make sure to address availability after normal business hours, weekends, and holidays.

Tips for Staying Connected

Give students tips for staying connected to their course even when they are not logged in. Suggest that students consider setting up text notifications or enabling mail forwarding.

Make students aware of the Pulse App.  The Pulse App is a time management and engagement app that can be used by students to receive push notifications on their mobile device (Android and iOS ) regarding due date, announcements, and grades. The Pulse app can also show students upcoming due dates and events across multiple courses while also allowing them to add their own events (study sessions, work schedule, etc) to help manage time.  To help students take advantage of the Pulse App be sure to: share the instructions for downloading and using Pulse, use announcements to communicate important information, enable due dates on quizzes, assignments, and discussions, use the grade book to release grades, and the calendar to post events.

Learn more about Pulse for students…

Participation Expectations

When detailing your attendance policy for an online course you may wish to frame this in terms of participation or “access” expectations. Give students an idea of how often they should access your course. Remind students that the course isn’t just about submitting assignments and test by due dates—it’s about being actively engaged.

Sample language:
Students who are successful in this online class login to iCollege daily. They respond to discussion questions early in the week and check for new responses throughout the week. Successful students start assessments and assignments well ahead of the due date to allow time for questions and to seek help.

Roll Verification

Simply logging into an online class does not count as attendance in an online class for roll verification purposes. Instructors must include an academic activity that can be used to determine attendance. Roll verification language should be included along with your attendance policy.

Sample language:
In order to be counted as having attended class during the roll verification period, you must complete this activity.
CETLOE recommends that you try to link specifically to the activity in your syllabus.

When using iCollege we recommend that the syllabus be available as a deconstructed and printable syllabus. The Mastering Online Teaching: Fundamentals of Online Course Design and Delivery workshop discusses the deconstructed and printable syllabus in more detail.

Blended
If your course is blended consider adding information about:

Meeting Information

Specifics related to online and on-campus meetings and participation. Students should be able to easily determine what days and times they should be on-campus, what activities will take place on-campus, and what will happen online.

Technical Requirements

Provide students with information and access to technology requirement information.

Sample language:
This class uses iCollege for communication, content sharing, activities, and tests. Make sure you have the technology capable of working with iCollege: Review Recommended Technology
If you need assistance with iCollege you may contact the GSU Helpdesk:

For assistance outside of the GSU Helpdesk hours of operation, contact D2L Help Center.

Getting Help

Provide students with specific details on how to get help with technical issues especially when they are impacting their ability to complete a course requirement or meet a deadline.

Sample language:
If you experience a technology issue that prevents you from completing a course activity or test, do not delay, immediately take action by:

  1. Notifying the instructor of the problem via email as soon as possible.
  2. Contacting the GSU Helpdesk or D2L Help Center and submit a ticket detailing the problem. Be prepared to describe what happened and the technology you are using.

For workshops or tutorials on using iCollege or other technologies, checkout:

Netiquette

Netiquette covers both common courtesy online and communication expectations. A netiquette policy sets the tone for course communications between instructors and students as well as between students.
Sample netiquette guidelines can be found online.

Communication Expectations

Set realistic expectations for how frequently you will check your mail and discussion boards. Let students know up front how quickly you will respond. Set expectations in terms of days (business days) and make sure to address availability after normal business hours, weekends, and holidays.

Tips for Staying Connected

Give students tips for staying connected to their course even when they are not logged in. Suggest that students consider setting up text notifications or enabling mail forwarding.

Make students aware of the Pulse App.  The Pulse App is a time management and engagement app that can be used by students to receive push notifications on their mobile device (Android and iOS ) regarding due date, announcements, and grades. The Pulse app can also show students upcoming due dates and events across multiple courses while also allowing them to add their own events (study sessions, work schedule, etc) to help manage time.  To help students take advantage of the Pulse App be sure to: share the instructions for downloading and using Pulse, use announcements to communicate important information, enable due dates on quizzes, assignments, and discussions, use the grade book to release grades, and the calendar to post events.

Learn more about Pulse for students…

Participation Expectations

When detailing your attendance policy for an online course you may wish to frame this in terms of participation or “access” expectations. Give students an idea of how often they should access your course. Remind students that the course isn’t just about submitting assignments and test by due dates—it’s about being actively engaged.

Sample language:
Students who are successful in this online class login to iCollege daily. They respond to discussion questions early in the week and check for new responses throughout the week. Successful students start assessments and assignments well ahead of the due date to allow time for questions and to seek help.

Roll Verification

Simply logging into an online class does not count as attendance in an online class for roll verification purposes. Instructors must include an academic activity that can be used to determine attendance. Roll verification language should be included along with your attendance policy.

Sample language:
In order to be counted as having attended class during the roll verification period, you must complete this activity.
CETLOE recommends that you try to link specifically to the activity in your syllabus.

When using iCollege we recommend that the syllabus be available as a deconstructed and printable syllabus. The Mastering Online Teaching: Fundamentals of Online Course Design and Delivery workshop discusses the deconstructed and printable syllabus in more detail.