eSchool News

AUGUST 29, 2024

Additionally, these digital tools need to support the means of expression through written assignments, presentations, or discussions to make the learning environment as engaging as possible.

Learning 306

Learning Syllabus Universal Design Quizzes 306

Faculty Focus

MAY 29, 2025

Syllabus Inclusions Syllabus inclusionspromise and provide proper guidance throughout the semester with individual teams outside of class. Once decided, be sure to update your syllabus with the revised details of whats expected, how to do it, and what graded parts will be needed.

Student Engagement 81

Student Engagement Syllabus Learning Students 81

Catlin Tucker

AUGUST 17, 2022

Instead of handing students a syllabus with a set of class rules, engage your students in the process of co-constructing classroom agreements about behaviors. Facilitate a discussion among the groups about the potential benefits and consequences of each response. So, how do we help students make responsible decisions?

Learning 370

Learning Syllabus Evaluation Discussions 370

eSchool News

OCTOBER 7, 2015

Whether it’s multiple times a week or every day, using communication tools such as discussion boards or announcements will help keep students from feeling isolated. Discussion boards encourage critical and creative thinking and supports students in their own reflections and inquiries.

Education 279

Education Syllabus Instructors Feedback 279

Edsurge

JANUARY 9, 2019

Rethink Discussion Boards We need to rethink discussion boards if they are ever going to be worthwhile. Students tell me that when they encounter a discussion board, they expect to see a long discussion prompt from the instructor with some questions they are supposed to answer in 300 to 400 words.

Instructors 165

Instructors Syllabus Peer Review Students 165

Edsurge

FEBRUARY 19, 2019

For the techy wonks, there are discussions on blockchain and interoperability. This session, moderated by EdSurge’s senior editor Jeff Young, will take the form of a series of lightning talks by Jill Buban (Unizen), Martin Kurzweil (Ithaka S+R) and Robert Ubell (New York University), followed by a panel discussion with the speakers.

Syllabus 115

Syllabus Science Learning Styles Testing 115

Faculty Focus

AUGUST 22, 2024

The kinds of confusions and challenges that we discuss over coffee with colleagues at conferences, that we laugh about in the taxi ride back to the hotel after that keynote that wasn’t particularly interesting. But we have a legal obligation to cover the syllabus. I am happy to discuss in more detail—email me!—but

Syllabus 111

Syllabus Discussions Beliefs Questions 111

Faculty Focus

NOVEMBER 19, 2023

Successful syllabus While there are mandatory components of a standard syllabus, I also add welcoming elements. I always begin my syllabus with an inclusive and inspirational quote. As a little incentive, I offer an extra point on their first quiz for sending the email and many students choose to reply.

Syllabus 122

Syllabus Lecturing Instructors Feedback 122

Faculty Focus

AUGUST 22, 2024

The kinds of confusions and challenges that we discuss over coffee with colleagues at conferences, that we laugh about in the taxi ride back to the hotel after that keynote that wasn’t particularly interesting. But we have a legal obligation to cover the syllabus. I am happy to discuss in more detail—email me!—but

Syllabus 105

Syllabus Discussions Beliefs Questions 105

Ask a Tech Teacher

JUNE 27, 2024

When my friend, Emma, was preparing for finals, she used Trello to organize her study schedule, Quizlet for flashcards, and weekly Google Meet sessions with classmates to discuss tough topics, transforming her test stress into an effective study routine. Why so many digital crutches? Because studying for exams can feel overwhelming.

Exams 158

Exams Study Syllabus Essay 158

Edsurge

OCTOBER 3, 2016

What good is a blended and personalized classroom if students cannot openly discuss issues of equity? We need solutions that empower students to bring their culture, race, and socioeconomic status to classroom projects and discussions. Christopher Emdin’s book, “ For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood.

Culture 167

Culture Education Syllabus Attention 167

Faculty Focus

MARCH 14, 2023

The following includes a few strategies and examples to ensure clarity: A clear, inclusive syllabus with a course calendar of class activities, routines, materials, links to rubrics, etc. Designing an inclusive syllabus. Almog, 2019; Triandafilide, 2020). link] (retrieved January 2, 2023). CEI (2022). link] (retrieved January 2, 2023).

Syllabus 131

Syllabus Exams Instructors Assignments 131

Faculty Focus

NOVEMBER 19, 2023

Successful syllabus While there are mandatory components of a standard syllabus, I also add welcoming elements. I always begin my syllabus with an inclusive and inspirational quote. As a little incentive, I offer an extra point on their first quiz for sending the email and many students choose to reply.

Syllabus 111

Syllabus Lecturing Instructors Feedback 111

Edsurge

NOVEMBER 15, 2021

Advisors can help students establish healthy work habits by sending helpful advice for meeting deadlines before classes begin such as: Plan ahead: Get a “lay of the land” of the course by reading the syllabus. They can check announcements during work breaks or read discussion posts while waiting for a flight at the airport.

Online Learning 178

Online Learning Instructors Coaching Syllabus 178

Edsurge

OCTOBER 27, 2020

My syllabus had a no-technology policy and it wasn’t perfect, but it helped. We watched together and discussed together and sat in silence together. Later in my career, as I moved districts and technology became more accessible, I had to contend with the sly texting in their laps, though they’d pretend to be on task.

Teachers 211

Teachers Syllabus Schools Students 211

Faculty Focus

MAY 13, 2025

The instructor typically arrives, distributes a syllabus outlining course policies and expectations, explains assignments and grading criteria, and may include a brief activity or icebreaker. It reframes the syllabus not as a fixed legal document, but as a living agreement shaped by both instructor expertise and student input.

Syllabus 105

Syllabus Instructors Learning Confidentiality 105

Faculty Focus

MARCH 12, 2023

The first day or week of the semester is often referred to as what students call “syllabus week,” because professors typically spend the first day of class reviewing the syllabus—interject a big yawn here. At this point, I still have not reviewed the syllabus with them and instead begin a community building activity.

Student Engagement 116

Student Engagement Activities Syllabus Instructors 116

Faculty Focus

JANUARY 21, 2025

Collaborative syllabus design: During the first class, engage students in setting community and classroom norms and goals. A co-created syllabus session fosters accountability and trust, as students feel ownership of the course structure (Cook-Sather et al., 2014; Agarwal, 2019).

Plagiarism 122

Plagiarism Syllabus Ethics Feedback 122

Edsurge

NOVEMBER 22, 2017

She also lets them decide if they want to reflect in a discussion forum with their classmates, or personally send her their reflections. “I In the end she builds the final syllabus based on their suggestions. For example, she lets students pick if they want to do text-based reflections, or video or audio-based reflections.

Culture 147

Culture Teaching Syllabus English 147

Faculty Focus

OCTOBER 13, 2024

Instead of thinking about the LMS as simply a repository for course essentials (syllabus, contact information, etc.), Ensure content in the LMS course matches syllabus content and information (it’s ok to have information in both the syllabus and the LMS). Ensure the course navigation menu is clear, hiding any unused items.

Syllabus 122

Syllabus Instructors Assignments Faculty Development 122

Faculty Focus

JANUARY 24, 2023

Language for the disability statement in their syllabus. Introductions and low-stake interactions in the syllabus, in your communications, and in class can reduce intimidation and help students get ready to learn. Effect of syllabus tone: Students’ perceptions ofinstructor & course. How do they feel in your class?

Teaching 122

Teaching Syllabus Instructors Disabilities 122

Edsurge

APRIL 30, 2020

On the latest installment of our monthly online discussion forum, EdSurge Live , we explored accessibility in this unusual era of emergency remote teaching. Start with your syllabus, make your syllabus accessible and then do one document per week. Del Tufo: I feel your pain so much.

Accessibility 218

Accessibility Disabilities Universal Design Syllabus 218

Faculty Focus

MAY 13, 2025

The instructor typically arrives, distributes a syllabus outlining course policies and expectations, explains assignments and grading criteria, and may include a brief activity or icebreaker. It reframes the syllabus not as a fixed legal document, but as a living agreement shaped by both instructor expertise and student input.

Syllabus 98

Syllabus Instructors Learning Confidentiality 98

Edsurge

MAY 26, 2019

It’s a 6-lesson course that gathers coworkers to discuss trending educational topics and philosophies, and our colleagues have found that it has been helpful in helping them succeed in their roles. Engage Edtech Employees in Extended Learning We call the program Freshman Seminar.

Syllabus 153

Syllabus Education Failure Knowledge 153

Edsurge

JUNE 6, 2024

Try pausing your lecture and start having debates with your students — get into small group discussions,” he says. Encourage students to do annotations — to read with pen or pencil or highlighter. That’s going to be a real time saver for faculty,” he predicts.

Lecturing 215

Lecturing Education Assignments Syllabus 215

Faculty Focus

AUGUST 20, 2024

We may not have a storefront window to attract attention, but we do have something that students see before the start of the semester that can grab their attention, set the tone, and get them excited about entering the class…your syllabus! Exhibit 2: Thompson’s Barbie themed class syllabus (Spring 2024). Let Them Play!

Syllabus 111

Syllabus Attention Assignments Activities 111

Faculty Focus

AUGUST 20, 2024

We may not have a storefront window to attract attention, but we do have something that students see before the start of the semester that can grab their attention, set the tone, and get them excited about entering the class…your syllabus! Exhibit 2: Thompson’s Barbie themed class syllabus (Spring 2024). Let Them Play!

Syllabus 111

Syllabus Attention Assignments Activities 111

Edsurge

MARCH 7, 2024

The bots will reportedly be equipped with voice recognition and speech capabilities that will allow them to participate in class discussions with actual students and ask questions of professors. The concept is: What if a syllabus was something that students could ask questions of rather than a static document? “If

Intelligence 211

Intelligence Syllabus Feedback Assignments 211

Faculty Focus

FEBRUARY 9, 2023

In fact, the long-term impact of discussing academics with the instructor was greater than that of participating in study groups and clubs (Schudde, 2019). You could include personal information and/or a photo, in addition to the course syllabus and other course-related information.

Instructors 122

Instructors Syllabus Attention Teaching Assistants 122

Faculty Focus

MAY 15, 2025

A reworded syllabus, an anonymous feedback survey, or a mid-semester check-in can shift a students entire trajectory. Each chapter is co-authored with students who lived the realities we discuss. These findings dont argue against academic rigor. Rather, they ask us to pair rigor with relevance and compassion.

Disabilities 54

Disabilities Course Design Lecturing Students 54

Faculty Focus

JANUARY 21, 2024

Five strategies to foster sense of belonging Be caring and authentic: Syllabus policies and language, as well as introductory comments on the first day of class, set the tone for an entire term. For example, before an exam, I discuss how and why I would prepare differently for a multiple-choice versus an essay exam.

Syllabus 132

Syllabus Exams Students Motivation 132

Faculty Focus

OCTOBER 29, 2023

Be open to a discussion of the course you teach or plan to teach. Include in the conversation a copy of a draft syllabus, required assignments, and any concerns you have about academic integrity. This could be quite a revealing discussion.

Syllabus 98

Syllabus Instructors Learning Assignments 98

Faculty Focus

JANUARY 18, 2024

I was handed a syllabus, a classroom, and students, and left to figure out the rest on my own. In preparing that first course, I focused on what I thought were the essentials of teaching: finalizing the syllabus, picking the readings, and writing the assignments.

Teaching 119

Teaching Syllabus Feedback Instructors 119

Faculty Focus

MARCH 12, 2023

The first day or week of the semester is often referred to as what students call “syllabus week,” because professors typically spend the first day of class reviewing the syllabus—interject a big yawn here. At this point, I still have not reviewed the syllabus with them and instead begin a community building activity.

Student Engagement 98

Student Engagement Activities Syllabus Instructors 98

Edsurge

NOVEMBER 23, 2022

But this year, with the arrival of the World Cup, I came prepared, and my students knew it when they saw our sports journalism unit built into the syllabus on the first day. With other current events, I’m quick to brush up on the latest news, curating articles for my students to discuss in class. they exclaimed. En classe?!”

English 194

English Culture Syllabus Writing 194

Faculty Focus

OCTOBER 13, 2024

Instead of thinking about the LMS as simply a repository for course essentials (syllabus, contact information, etc.), Ensure content in the LMS course matches syllabus content and information (it’s ok to have information in both the syllabus and the LMS). Ensure the course navigation menu is clear, hiding any unused items.

Syllabus 105

Syllabus Instructors Assignments Faculty Development 105

Edsurge

OCTOBER 16, 2017

This includes the provision of electronic access to the course syllabus, reading and viewing materials, assessments, the course calendar, grades, course evaluations, discussion boards, and other important course materials. Course management technology organizes and presents course structure and materials on an electronic platform.

Technology 154

Technology Education Syllabus Counselling 154