It is very common at many of the community colleges where I have taught as
well as at 4 year schools to have common course outlines (general
objectives and learning outcomes) for lower level courses. In some cases
it has been specified that a writing or computerassignment (of some sort -
up to the faculty to design) must be included. I've even had this at a
fairly selective 4 year liberal arts college. Faculty can add as many
other objectives as they want.
Diane Finley
On Fri, 15 Sep 2000, Michael Ofsowitz wrote:
> Do any of you folks have to teach using syllabi, reading materials,
> assignments, or other course-related materials that were designed by
> other teachers (or say, a departmental committee)?
>
> I've been told that course standardization - meaning standardized
> syllabi, assignments, reading materials, etc. - is pretty common in
> schools these days. Is it? (It's a point of contention between some
> faculty at my school and some administrators.)
>
> I'd be grateful for any feedback (send it to me and I'll eventually
> compile it for the list).
>
> Do you write your own syllabus? Do you teach any courses where it's
> written for you by someone else?
>
> Do you select your own reading materials? Do you teach courses where
> they are preselected?
>
> Do you devise your own assignments? Do you teach courses where you
> are required to give pre-designed assignments?
>
> Any other data that might help me on this (e.g., course level,
> enrollments, type of college, impressions of what's the norm) is also
> appreciated - like I said, it's just for an internal argument, so
> I'll keep this pretty informal. (If any of you know about a study
> done on this sort of thing, please pass along the reference.)
>
> Thanks.
>
>
> --> Mike O.
> --
> _______________________________________________
>
> Michael S. Ofsowitz
> University of Maryland - European Division
> http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~mofsowit
> _______________________________________________
>
