An Introduction to the Graphic Syllabus Katherine M. Sauer Metropolitan State College of Denver...
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Transcript of An Introduction to the Graphic Syllabus Katherine M. Sauer Metropolitan State College of Denver...
An Introduction to the
Graphic Syllabus
Katherine M. SauerMetropolitan State College of Denver
Economics Teaching Conference October 27th – 28th 2011 New Orleans, LA
How I became interested …
personal frustration
constant emails asking questions for which the answers are clearly stated in the syllabus
push for assessment
link course objectives to learning activities to assessment
critical examination of my syllabi
An Analysis of My Syllabus
basic course and instructor information
official course description (jargon)Introduction to the principles of economics, with an emphasis on individual economic units. Topics include …
course objectives (jargon)demonstrate graphically the production possibility frontier, market equilibrium dynamics, …
list of course prerequisites and expected skills…how to do algebraic calculations, understand graphs, and communicate clearly both verbally and in written form
(what if they don’t have these skills?)
required course materials This course utilizes an online product called Aplia. Through Aplia, you will receive an electronic copy of the text book and you will complete your homework assignments online. Instructions for purchasing and accessing Aplia can be found on the last page of the syllabus.
(no mention of actual text or author)
components of course gradeIn class assignments will vary in nature. They will be worked on in groups during class time and will not be announced in advance. If you are not prepared for class or are not contributing to your group, you will be asked to work alone. No make ups are given. You are allowed to drop two in class assignment grades.
- “procedural” descriptions - imperative language
course and institutional policies(this section gets longer every year …)
course schedule- chapter titles, by week
I wouldn’t want to take my own class
!!
Is my syllabus the reason that my students don’t refer to my syllabus?
My thoughts on my syllabus:
- long- boring- authoritative - not very “me”- not reflective of my actual class
Singham, Mano (2007) Death to the Syllabus! Liberal Education. 93(4): 52-56
“[Syllabi] list the assigned readings but not reasons
why the subject is worth studying
or important or interesting
or deep,
or the learning strategies that will be used in the course.”
“What such syllabi often omit is any mention of learning.”
My Original Principles of Microeconomics Syllabus
(where is the learning?)http://www.wordle.net/
Learning Objectives for Today’s Presentation on the Graphic Syllabus
define the term “graphic syllabus”
transform existing
syllabi into graphic syllabi
identify examples of graphic syllabi
explain rationale for using graphic syllabi
apply graphic techniques to text
What is a Graphic Syllabus?
A graphic syllabus is…
… a flowchart or diagram that displays the sequencing and organization of major course topics through the semester.
Much like a concept map or mind map, it uses spatial arrangement … to show the logical, temporal progression of the course …
In addition, it may – but need not – use icons, pictures, and visual metaphors to convey the meaning of words, concepts, and relationships.
The Graphic Syllabus and the Outcomes Map: Communicating Your Course by Linda Nilson (Jossey-Bass, 2007) page 26
Fundamental Economic Principles
Markets
How Markets Workweeks 2 - 4
-why we use markets (ch 3)-supply and Demand (ch 4 &5)-measuring economic well-being (ch 7)
Government Intervention in Marketsweeks 5 - 6
-price controls (ch 6)-taxes on goods and services (ch 8)-international restrictions (ch9)
Advanced Applicationsweeks 13 - 14
-labor market (ch 18)-consumer choice theory (ch 21 )
When Markets Failweek 7
-externalities (ch 10)-public Goods (ch 11)
Markets & Competitionweeks 9 - 12
-production, costs and profits (ch 13)-competitive markets (ch 14)-monopoly markets (ch 15)-other types of competition (ch 16,- 17)(my micro course)
http://www.cmu.edu/teaching/designteach/design/syllabus/samples-creative/ BayesianMethodsSyllabus.pdf
The Graphic Syllabus and the Outcomes Map: Communicating Your Course by Linda Nilson (Jossey-Bass, 2007) page 46
http://www46.homepage.villanova.edu/john.immerwahr/TP101/Prep/Graphic_ syls.pdf
Why should I consider using a graphic syllabus
in my course?
Syllabi serve several important purposes, the most basic of which is to communicate the instructor’s course design to students.
- goals- organization- policies- expectations- requirements
Carnegie Mellon University website (accessed 10/15/2011)http://www.cmu.edu/teaching/designteach/design/syllabus/index.html
- To convey our enthusiasm for the topicOther functions served by a syllabus include:
Carnegie Mellon University website (accessed 10/15/2011)http://www.cmu.edu/teaching/designteach/design/syllabus/index.html
- To show how this course fits into the big picture
- To set the tone for the course- To help students assess their readiness for the course by identifying prerequisite areas of knowledge- To help students manage their learning by identifying outside resources and/or providing advice
Learner-Centered Syllabus
- focus on the learning process
The Course Syllabus: A Learning-Centered Approach by Judeth Grunert O’Brein, Barbara Millis, and Margaret Cohen (Jossey-Bass, 2008, 2nd edition)
Learner-Centered Teaching: Five Key Changes to Practice by Maryellen Weimer (Jossey-Bass, 2002)
Developing Learner-Centered Teaching: A Practical Guide for Faculty by Phyllis Blumberg (Jossey-Bass, 2008)
How can I best communicate my course to my learners?
Who are my learners? - discipline novices - millennial generation
How to reach discipline novices? - reduce jargon - give them a really good map
How to reach millennials? - net generation (visual) graphic
syllabus
Side Note: An Annotated Syllabus helps track your thinking about course design and teaching.
Why are your policies the way that they are? Why are you asking what you are asking? Why did you structure the course in the way you did? How did a learning activity go?
Metro State’s Center for Faculty Development:http://metrofacultydevelopment.pbworks.com/w/page/33934299/Home%20Page%20for%20Annotated%20Syllabi
Text vs Visual Information
This: There are several learning objectives for today’s presentation on the Graphic Syllabus. At the end of the session, the successful participant will be able to transform an existing syllabus into a graphic syllabus. To this end, the presentation will include the definition of the term “graphic syllabus”, several examples of graphic syllabi, rationale for using a graphic syllabus, and an overview of techniques for turning a text syllabus into a graphic syllabus.
or this:
dual-coding material into memoryThe mind has two memories:
semantic = verbal episodic = visual-spatial
Graphics allow concepts to be stored in both memories.
graphics convey information more efficiently than textindividual elements relationship between elements
More Reasons
Nilson’s The Graphic Syllabus pages 19-20
use as a reference throughout the course- I use it to remind students where we’ve been, where we are, and where we are going
helped me link my topics to learning objectives … ultimately to assessment
the content is now “front and center” in my syllabus- before it was hidden in jargon-y descriptions anda linear course topic list
More Reasons
How do I create my own graphic syllabus?
Look at your course topics …
How the Topics Look in My MindHow the Topics Looked on My SyllabusIntro to economics / modelsSpecialization and tradeSupply and demandElasticityEfficiency of marketsPrice ControlsTaxesTariffsExternalitiesPublic Goods ProductionPerfect CompetitionMonopolyMonopolistic CompetitionOligopolyFactor MarketsConsumer Choice
Ways to Organize Information
A government may intervene in the economy in a variety of ways: price mechanisms, regulation, financing the provision of goods or services, or directly producing goods or services.
government intervention
price mechanisms
regulation
finance provision of
goods
direct provision of
goods
government intervention
regulations
direct provision of goods
price mechanisms
finance provision of goods
price mechanisms regulations
direct provision of
goods
finance provision of
goods
government intervention
government intervention
price regulations finance directmechanisms provision provision
government intervention
price mechanisms
regulations
finance provision of good
direct provision of good
Fundamental Economic Principles
Markets
How Markets Workweeks 2 - 4
-why we use markets (ch 3)-supply and Demand (ch 4 &5)-measuring economic well-being (ch 7)
Government Intervention in Marketsweeks 5 - 6
-price controls (ch 6)-taxes on goods and services (ch 8)-international restrictions (ch9)
Advanced Applicationsweeks 13 - 14
-labor market (ch 18)-consumer choice theory (ch 21 )
When Markets Failweek 7
-externalities (ch 10)-public Goods (ch 11)
Markets & Competitionweeks 9 - 12
-production, costs and profits (ch 13)-competitive markets (ch 14)-monopoly markets (ch 15)-other types of competition (ch 16,- 17)(my micro course)
Types of Structures
competition and complementarity- economic schools of thought- different theories for same concept
parallelism- theory & empirical results- concept & underlying mathematics
process- about a process- teach how to do a process
Nilson’s The Graphic Syllabus chapter 3
sequence / chronology- based on logic- based on time
categorical hierarchy
Nilson’s The Graphic Syllabus chapter 3
Accessing graphic features in Microsoft Word
Consider adding visual interest to other parts of your syllabus.
Consider adding learning objectives to your graphic syllabus.
How Markets Workweeks 2 - 4
-why we use markets (ch 3)-supply and Demand (ch 4 &5)-measuring economic well-being (ch 7)
Learning Objective: Apply microeconomic analysis to evaluate economic events and/or problems.
From my intro course:
PublicFinance
Let’s try it!Keep in mind:
There is not one “right way” to do this.- different types of road maps: scenic route, fastest route, specific sites, …
You already have a framework in your head for how the concepts fit together.
- might identify “tacked on” subjects
Play around with variations.- iterative process- perfect is the enemy of the good
Ten Principles of Economics Thinking Like an EconomistInterdependence and the Gains from Trade Market Forces of Supply and DemandMeasuring a Nation's Income Measuring the Cost of LivingProduction and Growth Saving, Investment, Financial SystemThe Basic Tools of Finance Unemployment and Its Natural RateThe Monetary System Money Growth and InflationOpen-Economy Macroeconomics Theory of the Open EconomyAggregate Demand and Aggregate Supply Monetary and Fiscal PolicyTradeoff between Inflation and Debates over Macroeconomic Unemployment Policy
Topic List for Principles of Macroeconomics
Mankiw’s Brief Principles of Macroeconomics
The Macroeconomic Building Blocks
GDP inflation unemployment
Long Run Economic Growth - productivity - market for funds
The Monetary System - money and banking - the Federal Reserve - the money market
The Open Economy - international trade - market for foreign exchange
How
mar
ket
s w
ork
A Model of the Economy as a Whole- GDP, inflation, and unemployment- government policy
Questions? Comments?
How to reach me:
@yogiconomist
Katie (Sauer) Hart
303-556-3037