Designing A Motivational Syllabus: Communicating Learning Outcomes, Expectations & Support Resources

Description  Challenge - Designing a motivational syllabus The primary problem is that the syllabus is viewed as a contractual document rather than as a motivational, educational tool that maps out a learning path for student success. Key Takeaway Participants will be able to describe how the syllabus can be used as a motivational tool and will walk away with easy to implement, practical ideas about how to design a motivational syllabus.  Participants will also be able to discuss how course design can be communicated via the syllabus, providing a learning path for student engagement and achievement. Overview The syllabus is an important document, yet there is very little evidence-based guidance on how to design a syllabus that will set the stage for student motivation and achievement. This webinar is focused on using research-based strategies to enhance syllabi. In addition to being used to set clear expectations about the course requirements and student behaviors, the syllabus can also be used to motivate and support students.Faculty can use the syllabus to get students excited and passionate about courses, and this will likely have positive effects on retention and student success. Unfortunately, the syllabus at many institutions has turned into a document that has a focus on rules and regulations instead of being centered on learning. This session will remind participants of the many purposes of a syllabus and empower them to make positive, research-based changes to their current syllabi. Participants will walk away with several practical strategies they can use to enhance their syllabi. Some changes will literally only take minutes to implement.During this webinar, we will explore how to clearly communicate the learning outcomes and purpose of the course, set expectations and share policies in a way that motivates, and share how students will be supported. In addition, we will also talk about the tone, visual layout and length of the syllabus. Objectives Discover how the syllabus can be used as a motivational tool Summarize the research on the syllabus Identify strategies that can be used to design a motivational syllabus Who Should Attend Administration Faculty Online Learning Student Services/Affairs Teaching and Learning Center Directors Instructional Designers Any educator interested in learning more about how the syllabus can be used as a motivational tool