The Interactive Syllabus: Modifications and New Insights
Windham discusses what he believes to be crucial to not only online courses but all courses – an interactive syllabus. An interactive syllabus is “designed to enhance one specific area of the syllabus” (Windham, 2008). He even suggests that we change the name of it from a syllabus to a guide because what we are doing is guiding our students through the course not telling them specifics on what to do and not to do.
There are three key features to the assignment guide that Windham is proposing. One if the combination of well-structured and ill-structured techniques (Windham, 2008). He feels that by taking parts of well-structured course that is orderly and easy to understand and combine it with one that is ill-structured and less linear and organized, it will help them to adapt to more complex situations. Teasers are also a key feature. He suggests that they will help students start thinking about the new topic. The final feature is a separation of the assignment from its resources. Windham suggests organizing the information so that it is organized by meeting information not by topic. By doing this, the students will be able to see what is coming up the next time you meet and not have to be guessing what the next topic is going to be.
He suggests that you focus on skills and concepts and not on just required reading and research. The readings should be suggestions which will cause higher-order thinking and result in more meaningful thinking and work during class.
Windham, S (2008). The interactive syllabus: Modifications and new insights. Retrieved September 24, 2008, from Innovate Web site: http://www.innovateonline.info/index.php?view=article&id=515