What is an interactive syllabus and why should I care?
An interactive syllabus serves as an easy way for learners to locate content when they need it while providing an engaging experience upon first exposure, ensuring that information is more likely to be retained and understood the first time.
At the most basic level, an interactive syllabus serves to hold attention and engage learners with the valuable information that is presented prior to the start of a class or on the first day. Instead of presenting learners with a long document, which may or may not be read, an interactive syllabus helps to guide them through the different sections while introducing interactions that can range from checks for understanding to feedback for the instructor.
On a more complex level, an interactive syllabus can serve as an ever-present guide for different sections of a class, utilizing a playlist step-by-step format, ensuring that learners only progress when they are ready and content is released in easily digestible chunks.
Option 1: Instructor walks learners through expectations for a personalized introduction
An interactive syllabus serves as an easy way for learners to locate content when they need it while providing an engaging experience upon first exposure, ensuring that information is more likely to be retained and understood the first time.
At the most basic level, an interactive syllabus serves to hold attention and engage learners with the valuable information that is presented prior to the start of a class or on the first day. Instead of presenting learners with a long document, which may or may not be read, an interactive syllabus helps to guide them through the different sections while introducing interactions that can range from checks for understanding to feedback for the instructor.
On a more complex level, an interactive syllabus can serve as an ever-present guide for different sections of a class, utilizing a playlist step-by-step format, ensuring that learners only progress when they are ready and content is released in easily digestible chunks.
Option 1: Instructor walks learners through expectations for a personalized introduction
- Instructor records self
In this format, the instructor will record themselves talking through the expectations of the course in a conversational format. This helps to build a personalized rapport with learners and they are given the opportunity to experience a “face-to-face” interaction with their new instructor.
*Use Zoom, or any other recording tool of preference. - Interactions as sections of the syllabus
As the instructor reaches sections such as due dates, grading formats, etc., it would be an opportune time to embed interactions. The interactions can serve multiple purposes such as checking for understanding or surveys to gauge the extent to which a learner’s expectations of a class are being met. - Table of contents
Introducing a table of contents that links to all of the sections of the syllabus is an effective way to set expectations and provide learners with the “big picture” before they are introduced to the details. - Assign to learners
The instructor is able to assign the interactive syllabus just like any other bulb (PlayPosit’s word for interactive video).\ - The learner experience
Upon accessing the interactive syllabus, the interactions would pop up for the learner, providing them with the written text of what the instructor has just covered. - The learner experience after completion
Instructors can allow learners to access the bulb and its content at any point after completion. Learners can use the previously mentioned table of contents to jump to specific content or, if allowed by the instructor, they may have access to an interactive “attempt” of the syllabus. - Monitoring the interactive syllabus
Instructors benefit from the full spectrum of data and analytics when monitoring engagement and completion of the interactive syllabus bulb, including surveys and other feedback.
NOTE: This information was taken from The Playposit blog