Science Teaching Series

Internet Resources

I. Developing Scientific Literacy

II. Developing Scientific Reasoning

III. Developing Scientific Understanding

IV. Developing Scientific Problem Solving

V. Developing Scientific Research Skills

VI. Resources for Teaching Science

COURSE SYLLABUS - SAMPLE FORMAT

COURSE TITLE

Teacher -
Email -
Class website -

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Paragraph description of the course (from the latest approved curriculum action)

B. METHOD OF INSTRUCTION
Paragraph description indicating lecture, lecture/lab, group discussion, or other primary form of instruction; frequency or number of interim exams/quizzes; reading requirements; hands-on activities; field trips -- roughly how the course described in "A" will be presented.

C. COURSE OBJECTIVES (five or six objectives; general but comprehensive)
  1. Objective 1 (statement)
  2. Objective 2 (statement)
  3. Objective 3 (statement)
  4. Objective 4 (statement)
  5. Objective 5 (statement)
  6. Objective 6 (statement)

D. COURSE TOPICS/UNITS AND DATES

E. TEXTBOOK(S) AND REQUIRED TOOLS OR SUPPLIES
  1. Textbook (required): TITLE and author
  2. Textbook (recommended): TITLE and author
  3. Supplies and/or tools:

F. GRADING PLAN
  1. Clarify whether you will use a letter grade system or a point system. If you will use a point system, explain final point and letter grade equivalents.
  2. Either, explain the weighting of course components:
    1. Component 1 (e.g., exercises), weight (% or points)
    2. Component 2 (e.g., quizzes), weight
    3. Component 3 (e.g., interim exams), weight
    4. Component 4 (e.g., participation), weight
    5. Component 5 (e.g., attendance), weight
    6. Component 6 (e.g., final exam), weight
    Or, in competency-based courses, explain the level at which each compretency must be mastered in order to complete the course.
  3. Explain how difficult-to-quantify things such as effort, improvement, and participation will be graded, if graded.

G. COURSE COMPONENT SPECIFICS
Explain any policies or procedures pertaining to homework, expected participation, research form or guidelines, homework/exam make-ups, plagiarism, etc. Give dates and deadlines of assignments and dates of tests. A list may be appropriate. State that "information will be provided later" (or similar wording) where explanations of policies or procedures will be postponed until more appropriate times.

H. LAB SAFETY

If coursework is inherently dangerous, safety instructions and tests are required before any equipment may be used. Safety rules should be listed in the syllabus or in an attachment to it. Safety rules must also be posted, and safety tests taken by students must be kept until the students have completed or otherwise left the program.

I. EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
  1. Evacuation procedures:
  2. Location of first aid kit:
  3. Emergency ambulance:
  4. School nurse: location, phone, hours

M. VALIDATION AND REFERENCE (OPTIONAL)
Show the following statement in small type at the end of the syllabus:
This syllabus conforms to the Honolulu Community College syllabus guideline adopted July 26, 1999.
http://www.honolulu.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/teachtip/syllab-1.htm