ED101: syllabus
The syllabus is a tool in which can help set the tone. Many students do not use the syllabus, for some reason or the other. All of the course directives, objectives, due dates and policies are in the syllabus, but for some reason students fail to turn assignment on time. Most of the time they claim that they did not know, when there is a schedule within the syllabus. Beyond reviewing the syllabus, I actually incorporate question from the syllabus to encourage the students review the syllabus and not just place it in there folders. I find many of my students being more organized and aware of requirements as time passes by.
I like to give a small quiz on the contents of the syllabus. When you do that you can tell who read it and who didn't. I also found that when you tell them they are going to be quizzed on it, most have the tendience to read it.
