GUIDELINES FOR COURSE SYLLABUS DESIGNBEST PRACTICES AND INTERNATIONAL TRENDS

KOMAR UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY(KUST)

OFFICE OF QUALITY ASSURANCE AND ACCREDITATION (OQAA)

Welcome

Workshop main topics

• What is a course syllabus?• Purpose of course syllabus• Schools of syllabus• General framework to syllabus design• What you need before course syllabus design• The common components of a syllabus• Self-assessment and syllabus checklist

What is a course syllabus?• The syllabus as learning contract…1. Between you and the students2. Between you and Department/College/University

• The syllabus as planning tool1. For you..2. For the students3. For the Department/College/University

• The syllabus as learning tool1. For the students2. For the learning program3. For the accreditation process

Purpose of course syllabus• Motivation aspects:1. More friendly 2. More attractive3. Introduce the overall work during the semester

• Structuring the course load:1. What 2. When3. Where

• Evidence and proof of assessment:1. For the students2. For the faculty 3. For the benefit of program assessment.

Schools of syllabus

A) Lancaster School

B) London School

C) Toronto School

• Choose between 5-10 top accredited universities in the field 1

• Check: textbook, chapters, assessment package, grading system, outcomes, prerequisite……etc.

2• Design your own syllabus respecting the

international standards 3

4

General framework to syllabus design

• Discuss your syllabus with: Colleagues, QA, students in order to get (+) feedback

Ask your self 11 questions:1. What do you know about your students? What things would you like to

know? 2. What goals do you have for your course? What do you want your students to

learn? 3. At what levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy do you want your students to perform?4. What is the best textbook for the course?5. What specific topics should be covered? In what order? Select the readings

to accompany/augment each topic.6. Given course constraints, what are the best activities for the students to learn

the material? 7. What assignments will you use to evaluate the success of your students in

meeting your course goals? 8. What criteria will you use to determine the amount of success a student has

achieved during the course? 9. What grading system will work best? 10. What are the special policies for the course? 11. What behaviors do you expect of your students while they are in class and

what behaviors can your students expect of you?

The common components of a syllabus

Faculty Information

• Biography• Contact information

Office numberPhoneEmail

• Online office hours (moodle, blackboard…etc)

General Description of Course

• Welcome to students• Broad course goals• Relationship of course to overall curriculum• Synopsis of content• Prerequisites

Course Objectives

• Learner-centered• Measurable• Clear and concise• Complete• Specific• Competency based

Course Schedule

• Content release and deadlines• Readings and web resources• Due dates

Individual and group assignmentsAssessments – quizzes, exams

• Calendar information

Instructional Strategies

• Content delivery – reading assignments• Discussion forums• Individual and group activities• Written assignments • Student reflections • Self-assessment• Quizzes

Required Texts and Resources

• Primary textbook • Other course materials

– Optional texts and reading materials– Web resources– Library resources

• Laboratory materials• Hardware and software requirements

Assessment Procedures & Criteria

• Participation standards – quality and quantity of discussion postings

• Individual and group activities• Quizzes and exams• Extra credit criteria

Relevant Institutional Policies

• Academic integrity• Students with disabilities• Course and instructor evaluation• Link to student handbook

Syllabus Guidelines

• University of Maryland http://www.faculty.umd.edu/teach/syllabus.htm

• Expanded Departmental Guidelines http://www.bsos.umd.edu/advising/faculty_handbook/fh_syllabus.ht

m

• Professor Butterworth http://www.bsos.umd.edu/gvpt/butterworth/Index.htm

Examples of Syllabi

• University of Pittsburgh http://www.pitt.edu/~ciddeweb/FACULTY-DEVELOPMENT/fds/SYLLABUS.HTML

• Boise State Universityhttp://oit.boisestate.edu/fp/syllabus.htm

• Dallas County Community Collegehttp://dallastelecollege.dcccd.edu

Summary

• Define your challenges– Academic as well as personal

• Set realistic expectation– Mastery is not achieved overnight

• Keep your eye on the learning outcomes – Mentorship programs

OPEN DISSCUSSION