Angelo State University uses a syllabus management tool called Concourse to help you work efficiently and to create a consistent experience for our students. Use the resources below to help you get the most out of your syllabus.
Concourse Instructional Videos
Navigating Concourse
This 7-minute video goes over how to access Concourse, how to add content, Concourse iconography, and how to reorder items.
Formatting Content in Concourse
This 11-minute video discusses the importance of adding content without formatting, following appropriate heading structure, and creating accessible hyperlinks.
Creating Tables in Concourse
This 7-minute video shows you how to bypass the pre-built tables in Concourse and create your own.
Copying Concourse Syllabus Content From a Previous Semester
This 6-minute video shows you how to copy Concourse syllabus content from a previous semester into a syllabus for an upcoming semester.
Syllabus Best Practices
Concourse is a great tool to guide you through the required elements of a syllabus, but it’s only a tool. Your syllabus creates the framework for how you plan to structure your course and the classroom management strategies you plan to use. As you put together your syllabus, here are a few things to consider.
The tone you take in your syllabus sets the stage for the entire semester. Consider these two approaches.
“Absolutely NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED.”
Versus:
“Homework is expected to be submitted by the posted due dates. If you anticipate a problem meeting a deadline, please contact me in advance to discuss options.”
As a general rule, avoid writing anything in all-caps because it’s never perceived as friendly or approachable.
State up front the technology that students will be required to use during the semester. For instance, Respondus Monitor requires a web cam. Students need to be informed in the syllabus so they can be prepared for the first exam.
Let students know when and how frequently they can expect to hear from you, as well as your preferred mode of communication. You can also give them guidelines about how to communicate with you and what information to include in the subject line or email text. And don’t forget to set expectations about the timeframe in which they can expect a response.
In the grading portion of the syllabus, include descriptions of each type of assessment you will use throughout the semester. This helps students understand what is expected of them.
If you will or will not accept late work, state that in the syllabus. If you will accept late work, give the timeframe of lateness.
You can also outline for students what type of feedback they can expect to receive from you and what actions you want them to take with that feedback. If you plan to allow students to correct their work and resubmit, list the timeframe for resubmitting as well as the amount of points that can be earned through resubmission.
Inform students if attendance is required. If it is required, you need some type of assessment to track attendance. If you are awarding class participation points, be up front about what is expected for students to earn those points.
