The Learner–Centered Course

Curriculum and Syllabus

Prof. Md. Golam Samdani Fakir, PhD, SFHEA

What is Course Curriculum?
What is Course Curriculum?
 A curriculum is a collection of lessons,
assessments, and other academic content
that’s taught in an academic institute, program,
or class by a teacher.
 What is Course Curriculum?
 Course curriculum refers to the curriculum for a specific
course or a programs.
 It is a blueprint of all teaching, learning and assessment
(TLA)-activities. How is teaching designed?
 How is learning supposed to take place? How is the
outcomes of teaching and learning assessed?
 TLA-activities requires TLA-materials such as textbooks,
exercises, tests, and exams.
 The course curriculum describes both TLA-activities and
TLA-materials as it focuses on the micro-cosmos of the
course.
What are included in a standard
curriculum?
 A Standard Curriculum Typically
Consists:
1. Purpose Statement: What will this curriculum achieve?
2. Outcome Statement: What will students be able to do with
this information?
3. Essential Resources: What will you use to teach your class
and what will students use to learn?
4. Strategy Framework: What teaching approach will you use?
A Standard Curriculum Typically
Consists:
5. Verification Method: How will you know that you’re
effectively teaching?
6. Standards Alignment: How well do you adhere to
federal, state, and school standards for your course?
7. Course Syllabus: What will you teach and when?
8. Capstone Project: What final accomplishment will
your students use to prove what they’ve learned in your
class?
What is an Academic Curriculum?
Academic Curriculum
 The academic curriculum holds a description of the future
profession of the student and the knowledge and skills which
are needed to master that profession.
 From a macro point of view, the academic curriculum
describes the entire offering within the academic program.
 All TLA-activities which occur within the different courses
and course clustering are woven together in one single
academic curriculum for the academic program.
What is a Course Outline or
Course Syllabus?
What is Course Outline or
Course Syllabus?
 A syllabus is your guide to a course and what will be
expected of you in the course.
 Generally it will include course policies, rules and
regulations, required texts, and a schedule of assignments.
 A syllabus can tell you nearly everything you need to
know about how a course will be run and what will be
expected of you.
A syllabus is regularly described as
a…

• Contract
• Permanent record
• Roadmap
• Communication device
• Learning aid
What is Course Outline or Course
Syllabus?
 A syllabus is a planning tool.
 Writing it guides the instructor’s development of
the course.
 Through the development of a syllabus,
instructors can set course goals, develop
student learning objectives, create and align
assessment plans, as well as establish a
schedule for the course.
What is Course Outline or
Course Syllabus?
 A course outline or syllabus also works as a
guide for students.
 By setting course goals and student learning
outcomes, you are informing students about
the materials they will engage.
 The schedule also tells students what
expectations are had of them and provides a
timeline of these expectations.
What is Course Outline or Course
Syllabus?
 A course outline also works as a reference for
colleagues, administrators, and accreditation
agencies.
 It allows others to see what you are doing in your
course, and what is expected of your students.
 In some cases, others may refer to your course
outline to determine what skills students should
have after completing your course.
 Related courses that utilize your course as a
prerequisite or co-requisite will likely build on the
outcomes mapped out in your current course
outline.
What is Learner Centered
Syllabus(LCS)?
The learner-centered
syllabus (LCS)
 The learner-centered syllabus (LCS) serves
as the “handshake” in the introduction between
you and your students.
 Like a traditional syllabus, the LCS's primary
purpose is to act as a document that
communicates course information, policies, and
requirements to learners.
The learner-centered
syllabus (LCS)
  The learner-centered syllabus provides the necessary
components of the course through the context of
student success using a warm, welcoming tone.
 Ask yourself: if you were enrolled in your course,
what would you want to know about the class and the
instructor?
 The LCS is a prime opportunity to bridge gaps for
students who may not otherwise understand the
nuances of navigating the terrain of your course.
The learner-centered
syllabus (LCS)
 Essential characteristics of a learner-centered
syllabus come with a specific description of
yourself as the instructor, the course through a
learner-centered lens, student and instructor
expectations, and course goals.
 Other important aspects of the LCS include
a comprehensive calendar of course activities and
assignments, class themes, and helpful tips. 
What are the frequently asked
questions about the syllabus?
FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS
What constitutes a good syllabus?

What are the basic elements of a syllabus?

What criteria can we use to evaluate the quality of

syllabi?
Two Fundamental Criteria

1. It should include all the information that

students need to have at the beginning of the
course.

2. It should include all the information that

students need to have in writing.
What are the functions of syllabus?
Functions of Course Syllabus

1. Establishes an early point of contact and connection

between student and instructor.

2. Helps set the tone for your course.

3. Describes your beliefs about educational purposes

Functions of Course Syllabus
4. Describes active learning

5. Helps students to assess their readiness for your

course.

6. Sets the course in a broader context for learning.

Functions of Course Syllabus

7. Provides a conceptual framework

8. Describes available learning resources

9. Communicates the role of technology in the

course
Functions of Course Syllabus
10. Provides a conceptual framework

11. Describes available learning resources

12. Communicates the role of technology in

the course
Functions of Course Syllabus
13. Can expand to provide difficult-to-obtain reading
materials

14. Can improve the effectiveness of student note-

taking

15.Acquaints students with the logistics of the

course.
Functions of Course Syllabus

16. Contains collected handouts.

17. Defines student responsibilities for

successful course work.
Functions of Course Syllabus
18. Can include material that supports learning
outside the classroom

19. Can serve as a learning contract

HOW DO I BEGIN?


Before you begin writing your syllabus:

PLAN!

PLAN!

PLAN!

PLAN!

PLAN!
PLANNING YOUR SYLLABUS

1. Develop a well-grounded rationale for your course

2. Define and delimit course content

3. Decide on desired learning outcomes and assessment

measures

4. Structure your students’ active involvement in learning

5. Identify and assemble resources required for active learning.

PLANNING YOUR SYLLABUS
Questions to ask before setting course
goals:
 Where does your course lead intellectually and
practically?
 What should students know by the end of the course?
 How will students be expected to demonstrate what they
have learned?
References
 https://www.aeseducation.com/blog/what-is-a-curricul
um
 https://lihe.info/what-is-curriculum/
 https://www.uleth.ca/teachingcentre/constructing-
course-outline-or-syllabus
 https://www.cmich.edu/office_provost/CIS/Pages/Expl
ore%20Teaching%20and%20Learning/Designing%20an%20
Effective%20Course/Additional-Components-of-a-Learne
r-Centered-Syllabus.aspx
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCVsW5HxZ3c
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWl9fIHeKbg
 https://youtu.be/pWl9fIHeKbg
Reference


Cited in Kurfiss, J. G. (1988) Critical
thinking: Theory, research, practice and
possibilities. ASHE-ERIC Higher Education
Report No. 2. Washington, DC: Association
for the Study of Higher Education.
 Eberly, Newton, Wiggins, “The Syllabus as
a tool for Student-Centered Learning”
 McKeachie, “Teaching Tips: Strategies,
research, and theory for college and
university teachers”
Working with an Organization Samdani Fakir 02/23/20 37
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