Ten tips for developing a more inviting syllabus.

Area of Science:

• Higher Education Pedagogy
• Educational Psychology

Background:

• Syllabi traditionally function as contracts in higher education, outlining course information and expectations.
• Student interpretation of syllabus tone can influence their perception of the instructor and the learning environment.
• Syllabus language can convey implicit messages about equity and inclusion, impacting student engagement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide empirically derived recommendations for enhancing syllabus tone.
• To promote the use of inviting language and stylistic features that foster student-instructor relationships.
• To guide educators in creating more inclusive and relationship-oriented course documents.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of syllabus language and tone.
• Empirical research on student perceptions of instructor communication.
• Development of evidence-based recommendations for syllabus design.

Main Results:

• Specific language and stylistic choices significantly impact student perceptions of instructors.
• Inviting and inclusive syllabus tones are associated with more positive student-instructor relationship initiation.
• Contradictory messages between stated values and syllabus tone can negatively affect student impressions.

Conclusions:

• Educators can intentionally craft syllabi to build rapport and promote inclusivity.
• Revising syllabus tone is a practical strategy to enhance the student learning experience.
• Effective syllabus communication is crucial for establishing positive academic relationships from the outset.