In this video series, you will find insights on how to use an inclusive design perspective when creating a syllabus. Grounded in a review of relevant literature, the series follow six intersecting principles that serve as a scaffolding framework for the (re)design of course syllabi.
What if we used our syllabi to...
…begin establishing high-quality relationships with our students?
…communicate our commitment to inclusive and equitable teaching and learning?
Beyond laying out the content and structure of a course, a well-designed inclusive syllabus offers a pathway of learning through your course, providing signposts for students about what they will learn and do and what they need to know to succeed in the course.
A Syllabus that Opens Doors
The six principles of an inclusive syllabus offer a scaffolding framework for the (re)design of syllabi grounded in a review and synthesis of relevant literature (Helmer, in press). Each of the videos in this series is focused on one these six principles.
Six Principles of Inclusive Syllabus
The six intersecting principles serve as a scaffolding framework for the (re)design of course syllabi through the lens of inclusiveness.
- Learning-focused
- Essential Questions
- UDL Connections
- Inclusive Language
- Supportive Course Policies
- Accessible Design
Pathway of Learning
You can turn your syllabus into an educational tool or a “vehicle for learning” by shifting from a focus on content to a focus on student learning.
Questions and Big Themes
By using questions, you frame your syllabus as containing a “promise” through language that invites students to enter the course with a sense of curiosity and high expectations about how the course will be meaningful for them.
Applying Universal Design for Learning
When using a UDL framework for your course and syllabus design, “accommodation is the norm, not the special case”
Build Bridges with Warm Language
The language we choose and the way we frame course content, student engagement and our course policies communicate explicitly and implicitly our values, expectations, and how we view our students as learners.
Course Policies that Support Success
How you can write your course policies that help students understand the rationale behind expectations and values? Use these statements to provide information about resources that will help them be successful learners.
Designing an Accessible Syllabus
Basic steps that you can take to design your syllabus in ways that makes it visually interesting, accessible, and easy to navigate.
An Inclusive Syllabus Roadmap
Review your roadmap to create an inclusive syllabus that communicates your values and is inviting.
Tools
The resources in this section will help you as you (re)design your syllabi.
Explore
Take a deeper dive to expand your knowledge and skills about syllabus design.