Teaching.IU

Context

I want students to succeed in my course, and the course syllabus includes information to support students doing well. So, the need for an activity like a syllabus quiz comes from that intention: helping students succeed through being informed about syllabus details that directly affect their performance. 

Step-by-Step Implementation

1. Create a new quiz in your Canvas course.  

2. Write quiz directions. I recommend transparent, detailed, student friendly instructions such as the ones below, which you are welcome to use/modify.  

Welcome to your first course quiz! This quiz will ideally help you get used to how quizzing works, including the kind of instructions you can expect to see for all of the course’s quizzes.  

This quiz covers important information about the course that is in the syllabus. You will do well on the quiz by reviewing the syllabus carefully before hand. Also note that you are welcome to use your syllabus and notes about the syllabus. You should already be familiar with the material in the syllabus because you will only have 10 minutes to complete this quiz as well as the other course quizzes.  

The questions will be in a variety of formats: True/False, multiple choice, fill in the blank, etc. Be prepared to switch gears between question types.  

You will be given three attempts to complete this quiz; the highest score will be kept. The questions may be different each time you take the quiz, but the quiz will cover material related to this module's learning objectives and materials.  

The lowest quiz score of the semester will be dropped.  

Good luck!  

As always, if you have questions about this or anything else in the course, contact me at cjocoap@iu.edu  

3. Write quiz questions. Think about what you want students to remember from the syllabus.  I have included questions that I typically use. Feel free to borrow and modify to fit your course.  

1. According to the syllabus, I will not participate in most of your course discussions.   

a. True  

b. False  

2. Discussion forums have two due dates. One due date is for the initial post. The second due date is for two responses to classmates.   

a. True  

b. False  

3. Your final grade for this course must be at least a C to earn credit.  

 a. True  

b. False  

4. If you submit a _______ & ______, your final essay draft will earn the right to be revised for up to as many points as are possible to earn.  

a. Proposal; outline  

b. Outline; full rough draft  

c. Full rough draft; peer review form for a classmate  

d. Peer review for a classmate; proposal  

5. You can expect me to respond to discussion posts within 48 hours of on time submission, Monday through Thursday 9am-5pm. Essay assignments will be graded within one working week of submission.   

a. True  

b. False  

6. The two best browsers to use with Canvas are:  

a. Explorer and Firefox  

b. Firefox and Chrome  

c. Chrome and Explorer  

7. The best way to contact me is:  

a. Email  

b. Cell phone  

c. Virtual conference  

8. For this fully online course, you can submit assignments by either email or Canvas.   

a. True  

b. False  

9. Our virtual meeting space is called:  

a. Zoom  

b. Bridge  

c. Drum  

d. Grab  

Effectiveness

Students appreciate several aspects of this quiz. First, they like the opportunity to earn an “easy” quiz grade. Even if students don’t do well on their first attempt at the syllabus quiz, they are allowed three attempts with the highest score being the one that counts. In fact, it might be helpful to offer students the opportunity to take the quiz as many times as they like until they earn a perfect score. They also appreciate being encouraged to use notes and the syllabus itself when taking the syllabus quiz. This sets students up for later in the course when they need to rely on notes and resources to successfully complete authentic assessments. Finally, I consistently hear from students that they appreciate the clarity of the instructions that are provided in my courses. This quiz is designed to build confidence while students learn the course “ropes,” as well as highlight key course information that is intended to help students do well. 

Inclusivity

The syllabus and quiz together can emphasize your commitment to accesibility and inclusivity.