Develop a Course Syllabus
You will develop a syllabus for an 8-week undergraduate nursing course in your area of interest that conveys the essential components of that course to the learner. Schools commonly establish guidelines and formats for information to be included in all syllabi developed for nursing courses. To deter misunderstandings, many institutions require all syllabi to include specific statements about institutional, departmental, and course policies on academic integrity, students with disabilities, and diversity.
For the purpose of this assignment, required information to be included in your course syllabus is minimal. However, syllabi do not have to be simple, typed documents. You may choose to incorporate additional information (graphics, photos, comics, or designs) and other creative elements. However, be sure your syllabus includes at least the required information listed under the assignment guidelines section below in order to be considered for full credit.
Please note: You may not copy a syllabus to turn in. Make this syllabus your own ideal of teaching your chosen course. Have fun and be creative with this assignment. You will be utilizing your developed syllabus in weeks 6 and 7 to develop a teaching plan and mini-presentation,
Assignment Guidelines
When preparing your syllabus, pay attention to the organization and layout to ensure it is easy to read. Your syllabus should set the tone for your course and convey enthusiasm for the course topic; show how your course fits into a broader picture; communicate what, when, and how students will learn; clarify what students need to do to be successful; and communicate your expectations of student performance to satisfactorily complete your 8-week course.
Your course syllabus should include:
1. General information about the course: The instructor’s name (you), course title, course number, course credit hours, class days and time period (start and end times), class location (room number), and any prerequisites. You may also wish to include your office hours and contact information.
2. A course description: A description of the course and how students will benefit; this is similar to a catalog description of a course.
3. Course outcome objectives expected: A list of outcome statements describing the knowledge and skills that you expect students to have learned after completing your 8-week course. Your objectives should be:
o Appropriate to course and educational level
o Realistic and clear
o Stated in measurable terms
4. Required materials and learning resources: Textbook(s), supplies, and anything you may require students to bring to class each day
5. Instructional methods and activities: List the teaching strategies and approaches you plan to use for students to achieve the learning objectives (e.g., lecture, games, inquiry, discussions). If appropriate, you may want to include any special events or activities (e.g., field trips, experiments, guest speakers, projects). Note: This section is a list of your instructional methods and activities and not an explanation or description of how they will be implemented.
6. Classroom policies or rules: This section should include any policies or rules that are specific to your course (e.g., classroom behavior, absenteeism, tardiness, late assignments, makeup work, and tests).
7. Assessment methods: This section should include all graded course requirements with the percent value (of the total course grade) for each requirement. This is where you list each of the course requirements or means of evaluating student learning (e.g., tests, quizzes, assignments, presentations, group work).
o You do not need to provide a rubric for grading each of the course requirements, guidelines, and grading criteria.
o You do need to provide the total percent value or the grade weight of each requirement.
o If using tests or quizzes, state the number of tests or quizzes and the grade weight for each.
o Note: As part of your teaching plan and presentation during weeks 6 and 7, you will provide guidelines and grading criteria (a rubric) for one of your required assignments.
8. An outline and general time line of the course content: This section should be a table or flowchart depicting a schedule of the content to be covered over the 8-week period. In addition to the content, your table or flowchart should include:
o Estimated dates for when you plan to cover the content. Specific dates are not necessary, but some time line estimate should be provided (e.g., week 1 or class 1)
o Any activities, assignments, and tests, etc., with corresponding due dates
o Required readings for each date and any supplemental or suggested readings you may want to list
Points 200
Rubric
NURS_535_DE – NURS535 Course Syllabus
NURS_535_DE – NURS535 Course Syllabus
Criteria Ratings Pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeGeneral Information about Course 10 to >7.9 pts
Accomplished
Name, course title, course number, credit hours, days, time, location, and prerequisite are included in the course syllabus. 7.9 to >5.9 pts
Emerging
1–2 of the following are missing: name, course title, course number, credit hours, days, time, location, or prerequisites. 5.9 to >0 pts
Unsatisfactory
3+ of the following are missing: name, course title, course number, credit hours, days, time, location, or prerequisites.
10 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeCourse Description 10 to >7.9 pts
Accomplished
A clear course description that also explains how students will benefit is included. 7.9 to >5.9 pts
Emerging
A course description that also explains how students will benefit is included but may be inadequate. 5.9 to >0 pts
Unsatisfactory
A course description that also explains how students will benefit is absent or severely lacking.
10 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeCourse Outcome Objectives 40 to >31.6 pts
Accomplished
A list of outcome statements is included and is mostly appropriate, realistic, and measurable. 31.6 to >23.6 pts
Emerging
A list of outcome statements is included, but some are inappropriate, not fully realistic, or not completely measurable. 23.6 to >0 pts
Unsatisfactory
A list of outcome statements is included, but most are inappropriate, not fully realistic, or not measurable.
40 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeRequired Materials and Activities 10 to >7.9 pts
Accomplished
A list of required materials including textbooks, supplies, and other requirements are included and appropriate for the course. 7.9 to >5.9 pts
Emerging
A list of required materials including textbooks, supplies, and other requirements are partially included and/or may be inappropriate for the course. 5.9 to >0 pts
Unsatisfactory
A list of required materials including textbooks, supplies, and other requirements is absent or grossly inappropriate for the course.
10 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeClassroom Policies or Rules 30 to >23.7 pts
Accomplished
Classroom policies are listed, are mostly appropriate, and include information regarding behavior, absences, tardiness, late work, and makeup work. 23.7 to >17.7 pts
Emerging
Classroom policies are listed, are somewhat appropriate, and include information regarding behavior, absences, tardiness, late work, and makeup work, although 1–2 of these items may be missing. 17.7 to >0 pts
Unsatisfactory
Classroom policies are absent, are grossly inappropriate, or 3+ of the following are missing: behavior, absences, tardiness, late work, and makeup work
30 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeAssessment Methods 70 to >55.3 pts
Accomplished
A list of assignments is included for the course. Also included is a breakdown of the percent values/grades for each assignment. The point values are appropriate and the assignment list is clear. 55.3 to >41.3 pts
Emerging
A list of assignments is included for the course. Also included is a breakdown of the percent values/grades for each assignment. The point values are somewhat inappropriate and/or the assignment list is somewhat unclear. 41.3 to >0 pts
Unsatisfactory
A list of assignments for the course and the breakdown of the percent values/grades for each assignment are absent or grossly inappropriate. The point values and/or assignment list is absent or severely lacking.
70 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeOutline and General Timeline of Course Content 30 to >23.7 pts
Accomplished
A table or flowchart of the content being over the 8-week class is included and appropriate. Readings and due dates for assignments are included in the table or flowchart. 23.7 to >17.7 pts
Emerging
A table or flowchart of the content covered over the 8-week class is included but is somewhat inappropriate. Readings and due dates for assignments are included in the table or flowchart but may be confusing or somewhat inappropriate for the 8-week course. 17.7 to >0 pts
Unsatisfactory
A table or flowchart of the content covered over the 8-week class is absent or grossly inappropriate. Readings and due dates for assignments in a table or flowchart is absent or inappropriate for the 8-week course.
30 pts
Total Points: 200
Weekly Announcement
Avoiding Common “Pitfalls” with Developing your Course Syllabus
In reviewing some of the course syllabi that were submitted, I’m seeing some common mistakes so will provide more tips for you that meet criteria. This is a larger, more time-consuming assignment (but then again it is worth 200 points so larger loss of points when portions are incomplete or the criteria was not followed)
1. The directions clearly state the syllabus is for an 8-week course. Do NOT submit a 9-, 10-, 12- or 16-weeks course, not what is expected.
2. The Assessment section is what and how you will evaluate learning. So, need to use a table/grid and list the assessment activities (i.e., exams, quiz, discussion boards, presentations, debates, written papers, etc.), then the number of them, then the point value, then the percentage of each for the final grade at 100%. THEN, need a measurement scale so a grading scale with A-F and your passing grade for the course
3. Need an 8-week schedule for your course. SO, list the week with the dates, the textbook readings, the assessment activities and what is due for each week. This is what students will use as to what is expected, due, when exams are, etc. for each of those 8 weeks.
4. This is a templated document so NO written paper explaining “I will do this; I will do that” but you are actually creating the document. Remember that you are working on parts of curriculum development components as formative assessment for you . . . so you are in the educator role, not student, so you create it. Use some color, a graphic, a school logo, change in font size with each header. No long-drawn-out sentences, make it easy to read and follow for the student. No rationale, just your statements. SEE examples I posted in the discussion forum if you need one.
5. Need rules and classroom expectations with plagiarism, cheating, bullying, tardiness, late work, make up assignments, etc. Then what are the consequences for violations? Will they be supported by the Dean of Nursing?
6. Be sure to read BOTH the directions and criteria in the rubric. Missing a segment of what is required results in large point deductions for this assignment. You are the creator, developer and owner of the syllabus. This MUST be a nursing course (such as Pharmacology, Mental Health, Women’s Health OB, Pediatrics, Medical- Surgical, Fundamentals, etc) so don’t submit a syllabus for a history, accounting or art course, won’t be accepted for grading. If questions, please ask. Video is brief at 1:41″, (same as posted in the #5 weekly announcement
Reminder
Reminder: The course syllabus you develop MUST be for a nursing course so NO non-nursing courses. Select a course you would really like to teach as the next 3 assignments will be focused on that SAME course 🙂 a few examples; however, any nursing course can be used. PICK something you like as we will be using that course for weeks 5, 6 and 7. Professor Jeanne
1. Nursing Fundamentals
2. Pharmacology
3. Nursing Mental Health
4. Child & Maternal Health
5. Pathophysiology I or II
6. Medical-Surgical I or II
7. Community Public Health Nursing
8. Nursing Professional Management
9. Health Alterations
10. Health Promotions
11. Ethics in Healthcare
