BEST PRACTICES IN
SYLLABUS CONSTRUCTION
A PRESENTATION FOR THE TEACHING AND LEARNING CENTER
LAUREN PRESSLEY, INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN LIBRARIAN
JANUARY 29, 2009

The more precisely you describe what
you expect your students to do, the
more clearly they will understand
your expectations.
With a clearer understanding, they
will be more likely to succeed.

AGENDA
INTRODUCTIONS
CONTENT &
SCHEDULING
CLASS SESSIONS
LECTURES
ASSIGNMENTS
PRESENTATION HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/
84988327@N00/194493130

INTRODUCTIONS

CONTENT & SCHEDULING

HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/53611153@N00/322424756
LESS (MATERIAL) EQUALS MORE (LEARNING). -PAUL RAMSDEN

GETTING THE CONTENT

HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/44124348109@N01/2542450115
INDUCTIVE

HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/78011127@N00/3102623100
DEDUCTIVE

NARROWING DOWN
THE CONTENT

HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/24463988@N00/228989707
CONTINUITY AND COHERENCE

CLASS SESSIONS

HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/55198538@N00/2824361555
A NEED FOR VARIATION

COGNITIVE SEQUENCING

HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/21278447@N00/403723335
NEW KNOWLEDGE IS BUILT ON OLDER KNOWLEDGE

HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/19614198@N00/2601760230
COGNITIVE SKILLS

BLOOM’S LADDER
OF COGNITIVE SKILLS

HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/86874036@N00/252270279
RECALL

HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/71235231@N00/51032897
UNDERSTAND

HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/17425845@N00/208883275
APPLY

HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/93587218@N00/298832201
ANALYZE

HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/63969483@N00/1429860676
SYNTHESIZE

HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/28473961@N02/2842830409
EVALUATE

LECTURES

HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/65557284@N00/75375930
ATTENTION SPANS

HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/13204988@N00/141960189
LEARNING PREFERENCES

HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/29151883@N00/473603391
REFLECTION

ASSIGNMENTS

HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/88723106@N00/51024419
SHORTER, MORE OFTEN

HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/11526659@N00/411960476
GRADING

PRESENTATION

HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/8261588@N04/2303858967
TRADITIONAL

HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/35034347758@N01/152461243
GRAPHIC SYLLABUS

WEB-BASED

AGENDA
INTRODUCTIONS
CONTENT &
SCHEDULING
CLASS SESSIONS
LECTURES
ASSIGNMENTS
PRESENTATION HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/
84988327@N00/194493130

QUESTIONS? COMMENTS?