Course Materials—Syllabus and Textbooks

Course materials such as the syllabus and textbook set the tone for a course. Therefore, careful planning must go into developing a syllabus and choosing a textbook. An effective syllabus can increase the number of successful students and decrease the number of problems that arise throughout a course by communicating the instructor's expectations for students in the course. A syllabus usually includes standard information like the logistics of when, where, and who; a well-written syllabus also answers questions like what and why. Student learning correlates more with the textbook than the instructor; consequently, choosing a textbook is an important aspect of teaching a course. The most critical component to consider is whether or not the textbook supports the course objectives. This paper covers these aspects, as well as provides guidelines to assist in developing a syllabus and choosing a textbook.