Section 2

Why Do Syllabi Matter?

Leveraging syllabi to support racial equity

overview

This section makes the case that syllabi matter and that the process of reflecting on taken-for-granted syllabi content—and then changing that content as needed to better align with equity-minded syllabi practices— can support the goal of racial/ethnic equity.

learning outcome

Practitioners will be further prepared to examine their syllabi—and the beliefs, values, and world views that informed their syllabi—from an equity-minded lens.

Section 2: Why Do Syllabi Matter?

Why Syllabi Matter?

We'll break this question into four parts that will allow us to delve in.

- Part I: Focus
  
  Why focus on syllabi?
- Part II: Inquiry
  
  Why inquire into syllabi?
- Part III: Racial Equity
  
  What do syllabi have to do with racial equity?
- Part IV: Equity-mindedness
  
  Tools for equity-minded practice.

Section 2: Why Do Syllabi Matter?

Part I: Focus

Why focus on syllabi?

- The syllabus is a key feature of every academic course. It serves multiple purposes.

Section 2: Why Do Syllabi Matter?

Part I: Focus

Why focus on syllabi?

- The syllabus is a key feature of every academic course. It serves multiple purposes.
- Often, syllabi are seen as contracts between students and the instructor and as a record of what courses cover and how student outcomes and performance are evaluated for accountability purposes (Parkes & Harris, 2002).

Section 2: Why Do Syllabi Matter?

Part I: Focus

Why focus on syllabi?

- The syllabus is a key feature of every academic course. It serves multiple purposes.
- Often, syllabi are seen as contracts between students and the instructor and as a record of what courses cover and how student outcomes and performance are evaluated for accountability purposes (Parkes & Harris, 2002).
- However, syllabi are also learning tools that can help students develop effective learning practices and strategies, as well as communication devices that share how teaching will be approached (Grunnert, 1997; Parkes & Harris, 2002).

Section 2: Why Do Syllabi Matter?

Part I: Focus

Why focus on syllabi?

- The syllabus is a key feature of every academic course. It serves multiple purposes.
- Often, syllabi are seen as contracts between students and the instructor and as a record of what courses cover and how student outcomes and performance are evaluated for accountability purposes (Parkes & Harris, 2002).
- However, syllabi are also learning tools that can help students develop effective learning practices and strategies, as well as communication devices that share how teaching will be approached (Grunnert, 1997; Parkes & Harris, 2002).
- While syllabi do not document what actually happens in the classroom, they serve varied purposes, making them rich sources of information about teaching as a practice.

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FAQs and User Guidance

Section 2

Why Do Syllabi Matter?

Leveraging syllabi to support racial equity

overview

This section makes the case that syllabi matter and that the process of reflecting on taken-for-granted syllabi content—and then changing that content as needed to better align with equity-minded syllabi practices— can support the goal of racial/ethnic equity.

learning outcome

Practitioners will be further prepared to examine their syllabi—and the beliefs, values, and world views that informed their syllabi—from an equity-minded lens.

Section 2: Why Do Syllabi Matter?

Why Syllabi Matter?

Part I: Focus

Why focus on syllabi?

Part II: Inquiry

Why inquire into syllabi?

Part III: Racial Equity

What do syllabi have to do with racial equity?

Part IV: Equity-mindedness

Tools for equity-minded practice.

Section 2: Why Do Syllabi Matter?

Part I: Focus

Why focus on syllabi?

The syllabus is a key feature of every academic course. It serves multiple purposes.

Section 2: Why Do Syllabi Matter?

Part I: Focus

Why focus on syllabi?

The syllabus is a key feature of every academic course. It serves multiple purposes.

Often, syllabi are seen as contracts between students and the instructor and as a record of what courses cover and how student outcomes and performance are evaluated for accountability purposes (Parkes & Harris, 2002).

Section 2: Why Do Syllabi Matter?

Part I: Focus

Why focus on syllabi?

The syllabus is a key feature of every academic course. It serves multiple purposes.

Often, syllabi are seen as contracts between students and the instructor and as a record of what courses cover and how student outcomes and performance are evaluated for accountability purposes (Parkes & Harris, 2002).

However, syllabi are also learning tools that can help students develop effective learning practices and strategies, as well as communication devices that share how teaching will be approached (Grunnert, 1997; Parkes & Harris, 2002).

Section 2: Why Do Syllabi Matter?

Part I: Focus

Why focus on syllabi?

The syllabus is a key feature of every academic course. It serves multiple purposes.

Often, syllabi are seen as contracts between students and the instructor and as a record of what courses cover and how student outcomes and performance are evaluated for accountability purposes (Parkes & Harris, 2002).

However, syllabi are also learning tools that can help students develop effective learning practices and strategies, as well as communication devices that share how teaching will be approached (Grunnert, 1997; Parkes & Harris, 2002).

While syllabi do not document what actually happens in the classroom, they serve varied purposes, making them rich sources of information about teaching as a practice.