James M. Lang at the Chronicle of Higher Education today discusses how to have a "promising syllabus." Essentially this means letting your students know the objectives of the course (what skills and knowledge they will acquire), how they will learn these (applications and activities), and how you, and they, can judge their progress towards these objectives. Michael Spiegler uses a conversational approach in his syllabi to engage his students.
Remember, your syllabus is your chance to make a good first impression. Put some of your personality into it and make your students excited to be taking your class.
James Lang's use of promise as an underlying element in his syllabus builds on one of the five forces of classroom branding; invitation. Human relationships tend to grow from either explicit or implicit promises that invite others to experience the value one offers.
In writing a syllabus I would ask "what promises am I offering to the students who will experience my instruction?"
Posted by: Michael Wagner | August 28, 2006 at 09:54 PM