November 2024 - The "Feel-Good Edition"
We get it. This time of year is exhausting. You’re carrying the weight of finishing the term up for your students, preparing for upcoming holidays, and wearing lots of hats at once (we know how higher education can be). And we don’t want to add to your plate, so our goal with this Syllabus Sentinel is to offer a distraction and “feel-good” atmosphere. We’ve pulled together articles that will bring a smile to your face and put a little extra joy in your heart as you navigate this busy time.
In this edition:
- From Custodian to Dean of Lone Star College
- A (Graphic) Novel Approach to Syllabi?
- Thank an Instructor!
- Some COMICal Courses
We get it. This time of year is exhausting. You’re carrying the weight of finishing the term up for your students, preparing for upcoming holidays, and wearing lots of hats at once (we know how higher education can be). And we don’t want to add to your plate, so our goal with this Syllabus Sentinel is to offer a distraction and “feel-good” atmosphere. We’ve pulled together articles that will bring a smile to your face and put a little extra joy in your heart as you navigate this busy time.
In this edition:
From Custodian to Dean of Lone Star College
A (Graphic) Novel Approach to Syllabi?
Thank an Instructor!
Some COMICal Courses
From Custodian to Dean of Lone Star College
Although published in August of this year, this article still deserves celebration. Reyna Gómez Tippetts began her career as a custodian at Lone Star College twenty-five years ago as an immigrant from Mexico who spoke very little English. Today, she’s earned three degrees and now holds the position of Dean, overseeing one of the community college’s five satellite centers. Read her inspirational story below.
A (Graphic) Novel Approach to Syllabi?
A (Graphic) Novel Approach to Syllabi?
We’ve seen some out-there syllabi, but this might be the most interesting we’ve seen. Bud Talbot, a science education professor, decided to make his syllabus for his Inquiry Science Pedagogy and Practice course more engaging by turning it into a graphic novel! You can see the creation process and final product below.
Thank an Instructor!
Last year, the University of Michigan’s Center for Teaching and Learning released a program they call, “Thank an Instructor.” This program gives access to a form with which students can easily send a memo of gratitude to instructors who have had a positive impact on them. And since “thank you” is a phrase that everyone can always stand to hear more (especially in education), every “thanks” holds so much value to those who receive it. Say “thank you” to someone today!
Some COMICal Courses
Who doesn’t love the funny pages? We discovered a compilation of syllabi with contributions from instructors all over the country. These syllabi all focus on one major theme: cartoons. These courses include comic studies, writing comic strips, and more. We hope these courses (and their syllabi) will bring a smile on your face like it did ours.
