Remember the results from the syllabus survey that you saw at the beginning of the lesson? (Click here to view again)
Now that we know what students value in a syllabus, how can we use that information to our advantage?
As the intended audience of the syllabus is the students, emphasizing what they focus on the most in the document will contribute to making the syllabus a usable resource. Once their attention is caught by those critical components, students are more likely to absorb the rest of the information and refer back to the syllabus throughout the course.
The following chart lists the top five syllabus components that students find important and strategies for highlighting them.
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Component |
Strategy |
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Dates for exams/assignments |
Students identified this as the most important aspect of a syllabus. Be clear about when each exam or assessment will take place and the due dates for assignments and projects. You may want to bold or highlight this information in your course calendar. If there are any changes to these dates, let students know ASAP.
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Instructor's email address |
Be sure to include your TCC email address in the section on instructor contact information (ideally found at the top of the first page). You should also indicate how quickly students should expect a response via email.
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Explanation of how the course grade is computed (weightings of exams, papers, etc.) |
Clearly outline the factors that will contribute to the final grade, how much each factor will weigh into the grade, and your method for grade calculation. This information should be made easy to find in the syllabus so that students can reference it after each assignment or exam is completed.
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Grading scale |
Knowing what amount of points qualifies for each letter grade is important to students. This information will help them plan out their studying and may even help them decide if they want to stay in the course at the beginning of the semester. Make sure that the grading scale is presented clearly and simply, perhaps putting it in a table or box.
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Instructor's office hours |
Again, students want to know how and when they can reach you. Including your office hours is required in your syllabus, but you can stress this component by clearly stating where your office is located and letting students know if you are also available to meet by appointment.
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