Syllabus Recommendations

As we are fully aware, the hybrid class model may be completely new to our students. If we want to avoid confusion and problems in the long term, we should include as much information as possible to assist our students on the front end, in our syllabi, regarding our expectations of their work.

I recommend that our syllabi for this fall contain the following elements:

• The Hybrid/Blended Course Model: A "hybrid" or a "blended" course is slightly different than the traditional courses offered at CU. In a hybrid course, in addition to face-to-face class time, a portion of our contact hours per week will now be conducted online using Desire2Learn and the other online elements that I have designed. The two principle advantages of this model are that we can dedicate more of our time in the classroom to practicing content and that you can learn new material at your own pace from home. I have done my best to set clear due dates for the activities that I intend to be completed online. Please adhere closely to these deadlines to stay on track!
• Netiquette: Keep in mind that operating online requires us to communicate with each other through written text. Therefore, the online environment is missing many of the nuances that we can provide in face-to-face communication (tone of voice, facial expressions, etc). Thus, online, be sure to pay close attention to: tone of voice (is your language possibly strong or offensive?); clearness of communication (did you clearly explain your thoughts?; do excessive typos confuse your message?).

The University of Wisconsin Colleges Online provides a short but comprehensive set of recommendations  for online etiquette based on the books Netiquette, by Virginia Shea and Arlene H. Rinaldi's The Net: User Guidelines and Netiquette. 

• The D2L Discussion Board: I also recommend that those of you using discussion boards include a section on your expectations for student posting and commenting as well. This information will depend on the teacher and the course requirements. 

*** I will be out of the country in July, but am happy to troubleshoot via email! *** 

Courtney.Fell [at] colorado.edu