Syllabus



Description: The syllabus is considered the contract between the instructor and the student. It is the instructional unit in the Virtual Classroom. Our job was to construct a syllabus for our online course. My course is on spreadsheet and graphics using Excel 2007 software. There are many components that need to be included in the syllabus. The syllabus is a clear step by step list of activities so that the student can easily follow along with the instruction. The goal of this syllabus is that the student can track and clearly know what the requirement is to meet the standard of the course. The use of check lists and the weekly plans allows for easy monitoring of the self-paced instruction. The time lines and goals should answer the student’s questions and provide the students a way to assess their performance. The syllabus also provides the student with directions to access the multi-media forms of instruction. Process: The process for the syllabus was all encompassing. I started with the syllabus that I use for this class but teach it in a non-virtual classroom. That syllabus did not include all that is necessary for an online course so it was necessary to scout out the additional information needed. We were given an example to follow. It is important to begin the syllabus with the instructor information as this is the first place the student goes to find that information. For the online course, it is important to include the web address to access BlackBoard ™. There are three sets of standards that need to be included and they are the State Standards, the Technology Standards, and 21st Century Skills. Along with a brief summary I made a table for key terms as well as another table that included goals, textbook pages, weekly checklist and due dates. The syllabus included the three units (weeks) of study in the table but parts of the syllabus include the full semester information. Reflection: For me, this was a very reflective project. I teach how to use a software program. I have always thought of it as simple, hands on do this and do that activity. I don’t think that anymore. They don’t have standards for that in the Delaware Department of Education but what they do have and have given me is a better understanding of what I am teaching my students. Along with the software program, I am teaching them about math, business, entrepreneurship, and technology. The hardest part of this was finding the standards. I think this is the area I need more work in because it will help me make my units of study more encompassing. I went from a two page syllabus to eight. I have never included the learning components with such depth as I did this one. I think the non-virtual syllabus should be more like the virtual classroom syllabus. References: Davis, B. G. (2002, April 11). //Creating a Syllabus//. Retrieved February 10 2010, 2010, from Tools for Teaching: http://teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/syllabus.html // Framework for 21st Century Learning //. (2004). Retrieved February 24, 2010, from 21st Century Skills: http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/ Williamson, D. S. (n.d.). //EDT 6020//. Retrieved January 18, 2010, from Wilmington University Blackboard: [] Williamson, S. D., & Roe, L. (n.d.). //EDT 6020//. Retrieved February 10, 2010, from Wilmington University BlackBoard: []