The Future of Teaching: It's Not What's On the Syllabus

The world is evolving every day, and our role as educators is to prepare students for a world that we know will not exist in the way it does today.

Hey Fam,

Thanks for stopping by. When I first started teaching, I fell for the common belief that the goal was to get through my entire syllabus.

I felt that if I got through all the lectures, assignments, and group projects, the students would learn something. I found out very quickly that this was the wrong approach, and I was actually doing my students a disservice by focusing on getting through every lesson plan.

Let me explain.

Many new educators believe that finishing the entire syllabus means they've succeeded in their role. Unfortunately, this approach can lead to shallow learning, less student involvement, and lost chances for a deeper understanding of the material.

Because the syllabus is viewed as a promise of what will be taught, educators often feel obligated to cover everything on it.

Here are some reasons why:

• Tradition: Old-school models focus on the "indoctrination" approach, where the educator is the primary source of knowledge.

• One Size Fits All: Schools often want teachers to follow a set curriculum so that every student learns the same basic things.

• Student Evaluations: Teachers often stick closely to the syllabus because they worry that skipping topics could lead to bad student reviews, which can affect their careers.

Students Want to Learn, Not Check Off a List

Students come to your classroom to truly learn and understand, not just to check off a list of topics.

I remember a moment early in my teaching career when this realization hit me. I was teaching a course on Digital Storytelling, and we were moving quickly storytelling principles to stay on track with the syllabus. One student, visibly frustrated, asked, "Why are we moving so fast? I want to understand why these principles matter, not just that they exist. That question was a wake-up call.

I found out that rushing to finish the syllabus was keeping my students from really understanding the important ideas I was teaching, and when I started focusing more on what they actually needed to learn, everything improved.

Here is how you do it:

Build A Fluid Course Framework

Begin by reframing your syllabus to build a "fluid course framework."

Look over your syllabus to find spots where you can add more chances for students to explore their interests. This change will let you tailor your teaching to what your students really need. By focusing more on the students and less on just finishing the syllabus, both you and your students will get more out of the class.

Specifically, you can expect:

1. More students will get involved: Your classroom will turn into an exciting place where students want to join in, ask questions, and talk about their ideas.
2. Deeper understanding: Instead of just remembering facts, students will really get what the lessons are about, making their learning more meaningful and lasting.
3. Better grades: When students are more involved and understand the material, you'll probably see higher scores on homework, projects, and tests.
4. Skills for life: Your students will learn more than just the course material. They'll also get better at thinking critically and solving problems, which will help them in everything they do.

By making this shift, you're not just changing a teaching strategy; you're transforming the educational experience for your students, setting them up for success both in the classroom and beyond.

Information Is A Commodity

In today's world, where everyone can look up anything online, it's clear that just giving out facts isn't enough.

Gone are the days when getting through the course material was enough. The world is evolving every day, and our role as educators is to prepare students for a world that we know will not exist in the way it does today. So, our goal should not be to just get through the material and tell them what to think or how to think.

It must be to inspire our students... to think.

Thanks for your time today.

Much Love,

Dr. Jae

?? P.s. - If you're looking for actionable strategies to create a more inclusive and engaging classroom, subscribe to Educator Unplugged or get in touch at [email protected] .