Syllabus Assistant

Research suggests that when teachers construct learner-centered syllabi, students:

• Are empowered and behave better in class (DiClementi & Handelsman, 2005)
• Perceive the teacher as possessing more exemplary teaching characteristics (e.g., approachability, flexibility)
• Build greater rapport with an instructor
• Remember more details from a learner-centered syllabus (Richmond et al., 2014; Saville et al., 2010).

 Syllabi differ greatly, according to course design and subject matter expectations. A syllabus checklist can provide a holistic student-centric view of your syllabus. When possible, special expectations for such matters as required style guides for written work should be noted in the syllabus or in other print or electronic course materials made available to the student.