Syllabus Introduced
Save time during your first class for learning by walking your students through your course syllabus in a video which can be viewed before the first day of class.
Going through the syllabus is a necessary task at the beginning of every new semester,
but often this takes up a good portion of the first class—valuable time that could
be spent learning. Instead of using valuable learning time during your first class
period of the semester, create a video that explains your syllabus. Extra perks: Your
students can watch it as many times as they need to. You can be certain that everyone
hears the same message, even those who add the class later. You can begin with your
academic specialty.
Why would I want to do this?
Students need to know and hear you set the tone for the learning journey ahead; to
know where to find resources; to know how you will be evaluating them; and to know
just what to expect from your course.
How do I get started?
Steps for making your video:
1. Identify a quiet space with minimal background noise for the recording session.
2. Open up your course syllabus.
3. Use the crosshairs in either Panopto or Camtasia to select the top portion of your syllabus. Don’t worry, you’ll be able to scroll down to the rest of the syllabus when you need to.
4. Click on the blue camcorder icon or the red Record button and then talk through your syllabus, as if your students are in the room in front of you.
5. When you’re finished, press the square Stop button, and then save your video.
6. Trim out anything that you don’t want, then share your video by uploading it to eClass.
TIP #1: You can add your webcam, so students can see your face as you walk them through the syllabus.
TIP #2: You can emphasize syllabus areas by using your cursor to point to exact parts
as you go through the syllabus.
Want to know if your students watched your walk through?
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Create and place quiz questions throughout the video.
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Repeat these questions and assign as your first (eClass) online quiz.