Inclusive Course Design
22 Syllabus Format and Layout
Use syllabus format and layout to help guide learners.
In addition to content and tone, layout and format are also important in a learner-centered syllabus.
The syllabus often sets the tone for the course. Make sure the syllabus is readable, uncluttered, and accessible.
You may choose to provide the syllabus in a Google Doc, PDF, Word document, and/or using the Canvas Syllabus tool. In each case, it’s possible to improve readability and encourage students to actually read the entire document.
Instructional Strategies & Best Practices
Incorporate Visual Design Principles
Online learners can benefit from visual design principles used in web-based communications. Participants in Motameni, Rice, and LaRosa’s (2015) study indicated that “the more visually separated and accentuated a syllabus is the more students see it as most usable. They want a syllabus that is more visual than textual and more structured with separations than with block text: (p. 83).
Since you are not printing and stapling these syllabi or working with a limited printing allotment there is no longer a reason to use a small font, reduced line spacing, small margins, and no white space. For example, the following image shows the difference in readability between the top text and the bottom.
See How Five Web Design Principles Boost Student Learning in an Online Course to learn more about the the following techniques.
- Design for the user
- Consistency
- White space
- Simplicity
Select a Syllabus Format
Traditional Format
Following are a few sample syllabi used in hybrid/online courses.
Note both of these Sample Syllabi are also listed in the UMN Guidelines for Online Teaching and Design
Graphic Format
In her book, The Graphic Syllabus and the Outcomes Map, Linda Nilson recommends supplementing a text-based syllabus with graphics showing the structure and organization of the course and its learning outcomes.
Providing a graphic organizer is also recommended as a good practice in Universal Design for Learning as a method for visualizing the connections between the outcomes and the course content, activities, and assessments. Clearly aligning outcomes with assessments, activities, and content are critical standards in Quality Matters and it is easy to show that alignment through a diagram, infographic, or flowchart. Keep in mind that images should not replace listing the outcomes and modules in text – they provide an alternative way of seeing the structure of the course.
Below is a organizational graphic that could be shared with students. These are easy to make in Google Slides or other graphics programs such as Canva or LucidChart,
Infographic Format
If you are thinking about creating an infographic-style syllabus, it is a good idea to keep a plain, non-graphical version that contains any boilerplate/policy language required in your syllabus which you would want to omit from an infographic and also for accessibility purposes. If you are required to use a standardized syllabus consider using a graphical version as a “course overview” document instead of an actual syllabus. If you are considering using additional graphics in formatting to gain attention and promote motivation you’ll also want to make sure that your syllabus is accessible.
If you would like to create an infographic style syllabus, try tools such as: Canva, Google Slides or a Canvas Page.
Choose and Use a Template
You may have a college or department syllabus template for you to use, or you may want to choose one based on your instructional needs.
NOTE: For this program, we are using a standard template: Accessible Online Course Syllabus. This format will provide some consistency in the Build Your Course Activities and help facilitate efficient feedback to you on your work. You will be able to re-format the syllabus as needed in your actual online course.
Consider Using the Canvas Syllabus Tool
The Syllabus tool in Canvas can make it easy to communicate to your students exactly what will be required of them throughout the course in chronological order. You can also set the syllabus as your course home page. It is possible to create your own syllabus in any format and then link it into the Canvas Syllabus page.
Up next?
Did you see any strategies that may be useful to you as you create or revise your own online course syllabus?