Published
2017-11-15
Section
Presentation
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Copyright (c) 0 CC BY NC
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Connecting with Your Students through Your Syllabus
Ilene Dawn Alexander
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Mary Jetter
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Abstract
Syllabi are often viewed simply as a contract between the instructor and students. As such, syllabi can be uninviting and unhelpful for learning. It’s not surprising that students do not read the syllabus, nor that instructors mention it in passing. Drawing on research and experience, we know that a learning syllabus can foster deeper course understanding and student engagement in online and f2f learning spaces. In this session, participants will consider the learning syllabus as a means for engaging with students and for helping instructors connect with learners and learning. The presenters draw on the “SUCCESS” model (Heath and Heath, 2006), on inclusion strategies, and learning syllabus research to propose syllabus development aiming to foster engagement and learning. The presenters will share templates and resources to consult in revising your syllabus.
Author Biography
Ilene Dawn Alexander, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Ilene Alexander & Mary Jetter are Education Program Specialists at UMN's Center for Educational Innovation. Ilene teaches in the Preparing Future Faculty program, and offers an open boundary participatory seminar on Inclusive Intercultural Learning & Teaching. Mary teaches in the International TA program and consults with faculty on a variety of topics, including online learning.
