Syllabus Work Week: January 2023
Would you like to engage in an iterative syllabus revision process aimed at effectively communicating learner-centered, inclusive course design and pedagogy? Join consultants from UCATT (formerly OIA) and the Office of General Education for one or both webinars with lots of Q&A time. Instructors involved in the GE Refresh are encouraged to participate.
Wednesday, Jan 4: Foundations for a Learning-Focused Syllabus
This webinar will address the foundational content, structure, and language of a syllabus. Our focus will be on a coherent plan and articulation of what learning is planned for the course, the logical representation of the learning journey, and strategies for approaching policies.
Friday, Jan 6: Composing a Student-Friendly Syllabus
This webinar will address the communication strategies. This will include a discussion of clarity in learning and engagement design, messages and tone that support a learning relationship between student and instructor, and considerations regarding equity and user friendliness.
Both webinars take place from 10:00-11:00am (Arizona Time) on Zoom
Includes: 1) 30-40 min presentation 2) 20-30 min Q&A and/or worktime
Register Here
Wednesday (1/4): Foundations for a Learning-Focused Syllabus
- Session Recording
- Slides:
Friday (1/6): Composing a Student-Friendly Syllabus
- Session Recording (coming soon)
- Slides:
- Handout:Document
Monday (8/8): Communicating Logic and Alignment
Tuesday (8/9): Composing with the Learner in mind
Wednesday (8/10): Increasing Equity and Transparency
Thursday (8/11): Making Policies Meaningful for Students
- Session Recording
- Slides: Making Policies Meaningful for Students
- Handout: Policy Examples
Friday (8/12): Guided Peer Review Session
- Slides: Guided Peer Review Session
Resources from our Community During SWW 2022:
- Padlet: Nuggets from our Community!
- Interactive presentation software - Mentimeter
- Education Templates & Examples | Miro
- Google Jamboard: Collaborative Digital Whiteboard | Google Workspace for Education - Google for Education
- Education | MURAL
Workshop Resources
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Wire, S. (2022, August 14). College students more engaged with teachers who have a “friendlier” syllabus. Study Finds. https://studyfinds.org/college-students-professors-engagement-syllabus/
- Richmond, A. S. (2016). Constructing a Learner-Centered Syllabus: One Professor's Journey. IDEA Paper# 60. IDEA Center, Inc.
- Bart, M. (2015). A learner-centered syllabus helps set the tone for learning. Faculty Focus, Higher Ed Teaching Strategies from Magna Publications.
- Fink, L. (2013). Creating Significant Learning Experiences : An Integrated Approach to Designing College Courses. (2nd ed.).
- Richmond, A. S., Slattery, J. M., Mitchell, N., Morgan, R. K., & Becknell, J. (2016). Can a learner-centered syllabus change students’ perceptions of student–professor rapport and master teacher behaviors?. Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Psychology, 2(3), 159.
- How to Build a Learner-Centered Syllabus. (n.d.). Retrieved July 29, 2022, from https://www.mheducation.com/highered/ideas/homepage/how-to-build-a-learner-centered-syllabus
- Palmer, M., Bach, D., & Streifer, A. (2014). Measuring the Promise: A Learning‐Focused Syllabus Rubric. To Improve the Academy, 33(1), 14-36.
- Bart, M. (2015, July 29). A Learner-Centered Syllabus Helps Set the Tone for Learning. Faculty Focus | Higher Ed Teaching & Learning. https://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/effective-classroom-management/a-learner-centered-syllabus-helps-set-the-tone-for-learning/
- Cullen, R., & Harris, M. (2009). Assessing learner-centredness through course syllabi. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, 34(1), 115-125.
- Palmer, M.S., Wheeler, L. B., & Aneece, I. (2016). Does the document matter? The evolving role of syllabi in higher education. Change: The Magazine of Higher Learning, 48, 36-47.
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Rebranding Office Hours Infographic (Credit: Office of Instruction and Assessment, Lisa Elfring)
- Syllabus Policies | Academic Affairs (arizona.edu)
- Test if Any Site is Blocked in China and Learn How to Access it (comparitech.com)
- Picture Roster Tool | Office of Instruction & Assessment (arizona.edu)
General Education Intentional Syllabus Template (Draft) and Companion Documents:
Resources for Syllabus Development and Composition:
- Brantmeier, E., Broscheid, A., & Moore, C.S. (n.d.). Inclusion by Design: Survey Your Syllabus and Course Design. Yale, Poorvy Center for Teaching and Learning. PDF. Web.
- Case, K. (2021). Syllabus Challenge: Infusing Inclusive Practices. Web.
- Gannon, K. (2021). How to Create A Syllabus: Advice Guide. The Chronicle of Higher Education. Web.
- Nilson, L. (2016). The Complete Syllabus. Teaching at its best: A research-based resource for college instructors, Fourth edition. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 96-107.
- Palmer, M. S., Bach, D. J., & Streifer, A. C. (2014). Measuring the promise: A learning‐focused syllabus rubric. To improve the academy: A journal of educational development, 33 (1), 14-36. https://doi.org/10.1002/tia2.20004. - Direct access to the syllabus rubric guide and scoring sheet: https://cte.virginia.edu/resources/syllabus-rubric
- Syllabus Review Guide for Equity-Minded Practice. (2017). Center for Urban Education. University of Southern California. – Available for free at https://cue-equitytools.usc.edu/
- Syllabus Policies | Academic Affairs (arizona.edu)
- UDL Syllabus. (2021). UDL on Campus: Universal Design for Learning in Higher Education. Web.