The Syllabus Aesthetic
Now that we've covered how to enhance the content of your syllabus, let's move on to ways that you can update its appearance. When one thinks of a syllabus, typically a vertically-organized Word document comes to mind. However, more and more instructors are opting to present the required information contained in a syllabus in a way that will facilitate enthusiam for the course. A visually interesting syllabus helps your course to stand out in the sea of traditional syllabi that your students receive during the first week of the semester.
Take a look at the before and after versions of this US History syllabus to see how the same material can be presented in a fresh, new way.
There are varying levels as to how creative you can get with syllabus design - it all depends on choosing a medium and style that you are comfortable working with (Microsoft Word or Publisher, Photoshop, Newsletter Design programs, etc.). Do a quick web search to explore platforms and find one that fits with what you want to do.
Remember: visually redesigning your syllabus is not something that is required of you. These are merely suggestions that you can take advantage of if you choose to do so. Be sure to check with your department before altering the design of your syllabus.
One thing to keep in mind when updating your syllabus in this manner is moderation; the goal is for it to be "attractive without being distracting (Slattery and Carlson, 2005)."
The next page will provide some examples of different visual approaches that can be adopted.
