4.0 Syllabus

Each course syllabus should reflect a humanized, equitable, student-centered approach to teaching:

Humanizing leverages learning science and culturally responsive teaching to create an inclusive, equitable online class climate for today's diverse students. When you teach online, it is easy to relate to your students simply as names on a screen. But your students are much more than that. They are capable, resilient humans who bring an array of perspectives and knowledge to your class. They also bring life experiences shaped by racism, poverty, and social marginalization. In humanized online courses, positive instructor-student relationships are prioritized and serve "as the connective tissue between students, engagement, and rigor" (Pacansky-Brock et al., 2020, p. 2). In any learning modality, human connection is the antidote for the emotional disruption that prevents many students from performing to their full potential and in online courses, creating that connection is even more important (Jaggars & Xu, 2016).

Pacansky-Brock, M. (2020). How and Why to Humanize Your Online Class. Brocansky.com. Links to an external site.

One of many ways to begin implementing a humanized pedagogy is to start with a liquid syllabus in your course and curriculum.  A liquid syllabus is a web based, pre-semester syllabus, emailed to your students a week before instruction begins.  It is delivered via a modern, mobile first website and contains the following:

• A brief, imperfect welcome video.
• A learning pact detailing what your students can expect from you and what you'll expect of them.
• A teaching philosophy that conveys diversity as a value.
• Tips for success.
• Week one due dates and required materials.
• A link to log into your course.

• Video Length
• 2 Minutes

Pacansky-Brock, M. (2020). How and Why to Humanize Your Online Class. Brocansky.com. Links to an external site.

The sample course syllabus contains unique items for online learning, including Assessment Methods, AI, Netiquette Guidelines, Camera Guidelines, Grading, Course Policies, Accessibility of Course Material, Technical Requirements, and Canvas Orientation Material.

Inclusion of these items may help to alleviate student frustration and confusion when taking their online courses.

The sample syllabus included in this handbook provides examples of what an attendance policy should entail.

Preview Canvas Sample Syllabus.

Download this Canvas Sample Syllabus into your course and adapt!

This video guide will showcase how to use Canvas Commons to import our Sample Syllabus into your course shells.

• Video Length
• 6 Minutes

Select Commons in the gray menu to the left.

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SDCCD Sample Syllabus