A syllabus is a summary of course information, assignments, and assessments. As with a legend on a map, the syllabus allows you to find components easily and decide where you need to go. It provides students with an outline and a summary of course topics. It typically contains specific information about the instructor, textbooks, student expectations, assignments, assessment, grading policy, and due dates – in essence, a complete overview of the course.
A syllabus is a key component of any course, but it is even more essential for an online course. The syllabus for an online course should not simply be a flat online syllabus, a digital version of the traditional syllabus used in an in-person course. The flat online syllabus lacks certain details and the interactivity needed for an online course. When a flat online syllabus is used, students typically need to download the document and print it out.
