Graphic syllabi

Mauri Collins posted some information from John Walber at Learning Times on a podcast about graphic syllabi.

Robin Smith interviewed by Jonathan Finkelstein on graphic syllabi
http://www.onlineteachingandlearning.com/podcast-smith/


Smith's book: Conquering the Content: A Step-by-Step Guide to Online Course Design"(Jossey-Bass) Chapter 1 "Design with Learning in Mind" is available as a PDF at http://www.josseybass.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0787994421.html


More on graphic syllabi:

Linda Nilson The Graphic Syllabus and the Outcomes Map: Communicating Your Course
Jossey-Bass 2007. Information about the content at http://www.ntlf.com/html/lib/graphicsyllabus.pdf

Nilson. Power Point on graphic syllabi

Smith points out that sometimes course material is organized by tools: Here are the lecture notes; here are the Power Points; here are the class readings; here are the discussions. She suggests that this doesn't help students grasp an overview of the concepts addressed in the course. A graphic syllabus can help students visualize the relationship between the concepts. However... I'm thinking about David Allen's GTD ideas where organizing your work by tools allows you to decide what you can tackle for "next actions". What "next actions" can you take to help you complete your projects when you are in your office? What "next actions" can you take if you find yourself with time to make phone calls? What "next actions" can you take if you have time to sit and read? I wouldn't want to give up organizing by tools. I would think that one of the best things we can do with our syllabi is help students organize the work for the course. Maybe I'm resisting the graphic syllabus idea. I just don't think "concept map" as well as some people.

In wandering around I found TeachPhilosophy101 (TΦ101) - an intro to teaching for philosophy faculty and grad students that addresses traditional face-to-face courses. This site seems to have social media, etc. relegated to a "non-traditional materials" tab
http://www.teachphilosophy101.org/Default.aspx?tabid=150 - but blogs ,clickers, websites, podcasts more than one place on the site.