The Interactive Syllabus What, Why, How? Dr. Tamara Powell Kennesaw State University College of Humanities and Social Sciences
What? A syllabus that is “learner-manipulated” Provides the course information in different formats for “multiple and adaptive interpretations” (Richards, “The Interactive Syllabus: A Resource-based, Constructivist Approach to Learning”) Maybe more appropriately called the “engaging syllabus”
COM 226: Strategic Communication Theory and Research
COM 335: Images of Gender in the Media
COM 313: Media Law and Ethics http://jalobaidi.populr.me/media-law-and-ethics
GWST 4000/AADS 2260: Research Methods in Interdisciplinary Studies http://tpowel25.populr.me/gwst4000
Special Effect: Teasers!
Why? Entice students to spend more time looking at the syllabus Entice students to become more engaged in the upcoming course content Foster student interest, preparedness, and success Encourage students to communicate with the instructor
How Create the traditional syllabus, which you will want to continue to deploy in your courses (the interactive syllabus is an addition to, not a replacement for) Use Publisher or InDesign to arrange a copy of the syllabus information. Add color and pictures. Save as pdf (hyperlinks not advised). Upload to D2L. Use the template on populr.me or smore.com. Populate it with content (can include hyperlinks and videos) and put the link in D2L
Works Cited "Interactive Syllabus Improves Course Accessibility." Online Classroom (2005): 4- 8. Academic Search Complete. Web. 10 Jan. 2016. Richards, Sylvie L. F. , “The Interactive Syllabus: A Resource-based, Constructivist Approach to Learning.” The Technology Source Archives at the University of North Carolina. July/August (2003). http://technologysource.org/article/interactive_syl labus/ Windham, Scott, “The Interactive Syllabus: Modifications and New Insights.” Innovate: Journal of Online Education. 4.6 (2008).