Creating a Syllabus Graduate Student Teaching Seminar

The Syllabus Helps set the tone for the semester Serves as a contract between student and instructor And should be treated as such – a warning to both student and instructor Helps the student know what to do Helps the instructor plan the semester

The Syllabus Most of you will have course coordinators that will provide you with a template for a syllabus

Syllabus feedback To get feedback on your syllabus, have a friend look at it (doesn’t need to be a math person) Have another TA for that class look at it Have your course coordinator look at it Each semester you will get feedback from you class directly or indirectly and can modify it from there

Components of the syllabus Basic course and instructor info Goals for student learning Course graded components Course calendar Course policies Expectations Accommodations How to succeed/helpful resources

Basic course and instructor info Your Name Course, Section, Time, Days, Place Your contact info – Office Location, address Office hours – Time, Day, Place Website or Blackboard information Text and other materials needed – Software, Calculator Course Description, Goals for Student Learning

Goals for student learning Provides a motivation for the class – why they should be interested Why you are giving the assignments that you give Why you are giving the tests that you give Why you require from them the level that you do (And helps you as well plan activities for the semester)

Goals for student learning Look at course coordinators syllabus for ideas or talk to your course coordinator about the department goals See if there are any classes that your class is a prerequisite for Look at course description in undergraduate catalog Look at the quantitative reasoning description in the undergraduate catalog

Course graded components Percentage or Points breakdown Tests Homework Group Work Participation Presentations or Projects Quizzes Exam Final

Course graded components How you going to structure each of those components How you are going to grade each of those components You may need to hand out a separate sheet that goes into more detail than the syllabus

Course calendar Even a rough course calendar is better than none at all Can add the famous adage – *I reserve the right to modify this syllabus during the semester as needed to adjust the course to suit the needs of the students* Calendar may include Sections covered Key dates Problems assigned/suggested

Course policies Late homework Make-up exams Attendance (if not already included in discussion of participation credit) Academic Dishonesty Look to coordinator syllabus References to Hilltopics May also include repercussions for violations of this policy Student behavior

Expectations Student Behavior – cell phones, talking in class, rustling of bags before class is really over If you respect me, then I will respect you *You as the instructor should take this advice to heart, and thing about respecting your students* Student participation in class activities, attendance (if not already discussed above)

Accommodations All instructors are encouraged to include in their syllabus, a statement inviting students with disabilities to meet with them in a confidential environment to discuss making arrangements for accommodations. Statement both normalizes the accommodation process, creates a positive and welcoming environment for students with disabilities. Statement creates a collaborative vehicle for making legally mandated accommodations. Serves as a reminder to students who need the accommodations that these arrangements need to be made. Example: Any student who feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact me privately to discuss your specific needs. Please contact the Office of Disability Services at in Hoskins Library to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities.

How to succeed/helpful resources You may want to outline a week’s preparation for class and remind them that you should be spending up to 9 hours outside of the classroom on the class Can include some resources for when they get stuck Math Tutorial Center Links and/or hours Black Cultural Center Tutoring Private Fee Tutoring