The syllabus is a required document for all courses to provide students with course information, policies, and assignment deadlines. The goals of this study were to investigate students' perception of the role of the syllabus, preferred location of assignment deadlines, and preferred style of receiving deadline notifications. Faculty (n = 14) and…

In the pursuit of fostering vibrant and inclusive learning environments, this article explores how the practice of community-building can be a contemplative practice. Drawing upon personal experiences and pedagogical insights, Muir navigates the rewards of cultivating authentic connections among students while dismantling hierarchies within the…

The outcomes of students who completed a ChE graduate bridging course sequence were compared against a group of students with ad hoc preparation. Bridging course students were found to have a modestly higher rate of graduate degree conferral and slightly lower graduate GPAs (though the GPA effect size was found to be small to medium) compared to…

Skull anatomy is a difficult region for anatomy students to learn and understand but is necessary for a variety of health professional students. To improve learning, a 3D-printed human skull was developed, produced, and distributed to a course of 83 dental students for use as a take-home study tool over the 10-week anatomy course. The 70% scale…

Learner-centered and inclusive and equitable teaching practices aim to promote better learning outcomes for all students. Course syllabi can provide a window into these practices. We adapted an existing rubric to measure inclusiveness and equity-mindedness of syllabi and used an established rubric to assess their learner-centeredness. We then…

I discuss White American students' experiences of reading racism-themed young adult literature (YAL), addressing the issue of police brutality, and using the concept of intersectionality to promote social justice awareness. Based on analysis of their written reflections and classroom discussions, I argue reading racism-themed YAL with an…

Many instructors use a syllabus quiz to ensure that students learn and understand the content of the syllabus. In this project, I move beyond this exercise's primary function and examine students' syllabus quiz scores to see if they can predict how well students perform in the course overall. Using data from 495 students enrolled in 18 sections of…

Purpose: This study aims to explore interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary interactions around sustainability, focusing on the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs). By using the city as an informal learning space, it presents a case study to raise SDG awareness, promote interdisciplinarity, foster critical thinking and empower…

This interpretive case study is a reflection on the introduction of a mindfulness intervention to facilitate education for sustainable development in an accounting programme. We adopt contemplative pedagogy, mindfulness, and education for sustainable development in our theoretical framework with the aim of fostering mindset transformation. The…

Quantum mechanics is an integral course for physics students. An understanding of quantum concepts is imperative for enrollment in physics graduate programs, participating in research within physics fields, and employment with companies developing quantum technologies. This study analyzes 188 U.S. research-intensive institutions' course catalogs…

I created the 15-item Learner-Centered Syllabus Scale (LCSS) based on the work of Cullen and Harris. The purpose of this study was to assess the factor structure, reliability, and validity of the LCSS. Four blind coders assessed 175 syllabi using the LCSS with 92% inter-rater agreement. To establish concurrent validity, each blind coder rated the…

Research exploring a student's "path to purchase" when considering course selection has revealed a number of influential factors including course content, reputation, and professor style. To date, little is known about the direct (or indirect) influence that course titles and course descriptions have on student interest and enrollment in…

A course syllabus can affect students' perceptions of the motivational climate within a course. Yet, few researchers have conducted experimental studies of students' perceptions of syllabi in courses in which they were currently enrolled. The purpose of the present studies was to assess the extent to which syllabi language and organization…

The rising cost of higher education has led parents, employers, and politicians to question the need for a college degree. Skills Infusion is a professional development program in which faculty review a course they teach to identify the career readiness competencies defined by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). The NACE…

Instructors at postsecondary institutions have designed a myriad of data science classes to keep up with the rise of big data. Businesses and companies have become increasingly interested in hiring people with strong data acquisition, management, and communication skills. Since data science as a field of study is relatively new, though it has deep…