Are you ready for Fall semester? A new school year brings students back to campus and the chance to review and refresh our courses. Consider taking this opportunity to refresh your course syllabus.
Tone
Take a moment to read over the first paragraph of your syllabus. What is the tone? Does it sound like you are encouraging your students and looking forward to the course? According to Zakrajsek and Nilson (2023), “studies show that students prefer a learning-focused syllabus that states strong student learning outcomes and [has] a positive, motivating-tone over a traditional content- and policy-focused syllabus (p. 66). There is no need to reduce course rigor to create a warmer or more positive syllabus. Instead, focus on introducing course requirements using positive and supportive language.
The President and Fellows of Harvard College (2023) share several suggestions for creating a syllabus with a positive tone. These include:
- Using friendly language
- Providing a rationale for assignments
- Sharing a little bit about who you are
- Showing your enthusiasm
- Expressing compassion
For more information about each of these, take a look at the full article Syllabus Language Sets the Tone for Your Course.
What to Include
There are a variety of opinions about what to include in a syllabus and how long it should be. However, Michigan Tech’s Senate Policy 312.1 provides a list of content required in MTU course syllabi. This list includes:
- Instructor information
- Course information
- Grading information
- A schedule of course assignments
- References to three university policies
- Academic integrity
- Disability
- Equal opportunity
- Course policies
To help you create a syllabus that includes this required content, the Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning provides a syllabus template that you can use as a starting point for your own syllabus.
Taking time now to review and revise your syllabus can help you set your students up for success by effectively providing them with important information and motivating them to actively engage in your course.
Resources
For additional information about what to include in a syllabus and how to do so, consider reviewing:
- Kevin Gannon’s advice guide on How to Create a Syllabus
- Maryellen Weimer’s collection of A Potpourri of Syllabus Ideas (Courtesy of Our Readers)
If you have questions about creating or refreshing your syllabus, contact a member of the Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning team at 487-3000 or ctl@mtu.edu.
References
Michigan Tech University Senate Policy 312.1 (2015). https://www.mtu.edu/senate/policies-procedures/list-policies/312.1/
The President and Fellows of Harvard College. (2023). Syllabus language sets the tone for your course. Retrieved from https://teachingandlearning.knowledgeowl.com/docs/syllabus-language-sets-the-tone-for-your-course
Zakrajsek, T. D. & Nilson, L. B. (2023). Teaching at its best: A research-based resource for college instructors (5th ed.). Jossey-Bass.