Universities need to design liquid syllabuses

By Rushan Ziatdinov

A traditional syllabus serves as a learner's guide to a course and outlines the expectations for each participant. Typically, it comprises topics covered, a schedule for submitting assignments, a list of the required textbooks and other instructional materials, course policies, rules, and regulations.

Many professors use personal websites to host syllabi in the form of an HTML webpage that can contain hyperlinks and other necessary elements. HTML pages are easy to design, and there are several free online WYSIWYG editors such as https://www.htmeditor.com/, https://html-online.com/editor/, https://onlinehtmleditor.dev/, https://www.cssportal.com/html-online-editor/, that can be helpful to create a single page syllabus. A syllabus can be freely hosted on github.io or Google Sites. Also, there is a populr.me website that offers a robust ad-free account for educators.

Pacansky-Brock (2020) claims that a syllabus is a lengthy list of things students should not do that is written in a deficit-based language and hidden from the public inside a learning management system (LMS). The article adds that a syllabus can act as a microaggression, aggravating anxiety and marginalizing particular students instead of openly supporting learners. An LMS can be a barrier for outside learners interested in knowing more about courses.

How can a traditional, but sometimes dull, syllabus be enhanced? How can it be enriched technically and improved from a humanistic point of view? The latter is especially important since learners may have anxiety or even suffer from a post-pandemic stress disorder and need support from instructors in reducing their worries. Additionally, courses hide many uncertainties for learners, increasing their anxiety levels. Here, the idea of a liquid syllabus comes to mind.

According to Pacansky-Brock, a liquid syllabus is a public, mobile-friendly webpage with a warm welcome by an instructor. It is a new rising approach in the field of education (especially online education), and its main features are anti-racist and humanizing components that ensure learners begin a course feeling supported by their instructor.

Paciulli et al. (2021) state that "A liquid syllabus is a living document that can be shared with students before the start of a course in order to let students know that you are their course instructor and that you will support them." A website, blog article, video, or even a set of PowerPoint, Sozi, or Prezi slides that may be shared with learners before the start of class can serve as a liquid syllabus. A liquid syllabus should ideally be mobile-friendly and available to the largest number of course participants. It is better to have quick access without downloading or installing an app.

A brief, informal greeting video from the instructor might be included in a liquid syllabus along with other information. This is the first opportunity for students to get to know an instructor and feel at ease as the instructor brings a face and personality to the course. A liquid syllabus also clearly outlines what is expected of students, but instructors can avoid using robotic, cold, or perfunctory language and use gentler, kinder, and welcoming language instead.

One of Pacansky-Brock's liquid syllabi includes a warm welcome in the form of a video, basic info on how a course works, a QR code for easy access, commitment to students that includes advice from past students, a teaching philosophy, a pact (what instructor expects from students and what students expect from an instructor), equity statement, tips for success and suggested success plan, detailed information on how to get students' questions answered.

Additionally, a liquid syllabus can incorporate modern technologies such as free images from Unsplash or Pixabay (a picture is worth a thousand words), animation, graphical abstract, course logo or emblem, voice messages, automated translation to different languages, the possibility of using larger fonts for people with poor eyesight, and other accessible design elements.

A liquid syllabus is designed to welcome students, position an instructor as a learning partner, and illuminate a route to success for all students. This way, it acts as a kindness cue for social inclusion (Estrada et al., 2018). Additionally, it would be fantastic if students could express their views about the content and topics suggested for study in advance. In this scenario, the instructor would have the chance to enhance the curriculum and make it more people-centered. I envisage that courses with student-chosen topics will emerge in the future.

South Korean universities need positive changes to humanize, inspire and enlighten society to better foster outstanding achievements. A liquid syllabus is a small step for an instructor to transform a traditional syllabus into an act of trust that will lead to positive relationships between learners and instructors. If widely adopted, it can be a considerable step to promote courses offered by educational organizations.

Rushan Ziatdinov (www.ziatdinov-lab.com) is a professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering at Keimyung University, Daegu.