by Kelly Beischel PhD, RN, CNE

Last week we discussed the importance of laying out the course ground rules in our syllabus.

The delivery of the syllabus is crucial. Just as umpires stand on home plate and give the ground rules before the game begins – it’s key that you do the same with your syllabus. It starts the course off in the right direction.

So how can you most effectively deliver the content of the syllabus and elicit their buy in?

Ask your students to read the syllabus before coming to class.

Then discuss with them any thorny points on the first day of class. The room will be pretty quiet, betcha. Most students won’t read it.

Use up the whole first class period explaining the syllabus.

(Not the best use of time, right?)

Create an audio recording that explains the syllabus.

Doing this frees up class time. Require students to listen to the recording prior to the 1st class. You can tell them that a quiz will follow. They’ll do it.

Give a syllabus quiz in class.

It can be individual or in small groups. It’s fun to use the quiz as a game. You can distribute prizes for the most thorough answers or for the group finished first.

I’ve also asked that they write out 2 reflective questions about the course or syllabus and we discuss the questions as a class.

Write in your syllabus that you don’t answer emails with questions about information clearly outlined in the syllabus.

Say this on day one, write in the syllabus and refer back to it. I tell my students if I don’t answer your email within 48 hours consult your syllabus; the answer is there. And the key to making this work? Stick to it.

Don’t answer those emails where the student asks, “Do you drop the lowest quiz grade?” When you have clearly written in the evaluation criteria: “The lowest quiz grade is dropped.”

They’ll get the picture.

Most Importantly….How to get buy in from your students??

Think about this. What’s your posture when delivering the content of the syllabus on the first day of class ? (Spines aside.) Are you rigid? Do you tell them the rules of engagement or are they given the opportunity to co-create the classroom learning environment, to determine acceptable professional learning behaviors?

Giving students the opportunity to co-create the learning environment facilitates buy in. I love those win-wins. Don’t you?

How do you deliver the content of your syllabus?

How do you get buy in from your students?

Reply below. Tell us about how you deliver your syllabus content and get their buy in.