CIVIC LEARNING COURSE SYLLABUS

Preparing a Civic Learning/Mentoring Course Syllabus

The civic learning/mentoring experience is not intended to dominate the development of any course syllabus but should be clearly reflected in it. The syllabus for a course that includes the civic learning/mentoring initiative should have the initiative addressed specifically in three separate parts of the syllabus. These are: 1) in one more course objectives, 2) the section of the syllabus that describes the learning activities of the course, i.e., the teaching strategies and activities that the teacher will use in teaching the course, and 3) in the part of the syllabus that describes how students will be evaluated reflecting how the mentoring experience is evaluated and is a part of the overall course evaluation.. The following questions may guide your syllabus preparation:

1. Course objective(s) related to mentoring (Include one or more of the following types of objectives.)
   1. Knowledge Objectives – What is the subject matter content of the course that students will master through the mentoring experience?
   2. Skills Objectives – What skills will student be expected to develop as a result of the mentoring experience? Writing? Problem Solving? Critical Thinking? Graphing? Etc.
   3. Attitudes/Values Objectives – What attitudes/values as related to the course will students be expected to develop as a result of the mentoring experience?
2. Learning Activities – What reflection, learning activities and assignments will be required for credit to be given?  e.g., Journal? Research project? How will this information be integrated into the more traditional aspects of the course and course expectations?  e.g., Class presentations? (Students should receive credit for learning; not just for hours contributed).
3. Evaluation – How will the mentoring component of the course be evaluated? What evidence and criteria will be used for awarding credit?

Syllabus Examples and Other Resources (web links)