The Liquid Syllabus as a tool for getting started with humanizing online learning

A Liquid Syllabus is one way to bring humanized instruction into your online courses.

Empathy: see things through your students' eyes without judgement
Awareness: learn about who your students are and how you can support them
Presence: intentional efforts to construct your authentic self; ensure your students know you are in this journey with them

A syllabus is a basic component of a college course. It is often assumed to be neutral, but it is not. The language, structure, visual design, and file format articulate cues that resonate differently with different people.

The ultimate goal of a Liquid Syllabus is to send the cue, "I will be a partner in your learning."

About Today

In this hands-on session you will learn the essentials of creating a mobile-friendly, accessible website that provides your students a warm welcome package to motivate a successful start to the semester. We’ll explore a variety of examples for inspiration and then dive into the details of creating a simple yet humanizing page with text, images, and video.

Identify features of a Liquid Syllabus that may be best suited for you and your students.
Develop a Google Site with some content to gain familiarity with the tools of building out a Liquid Syllabus website.
Plan for a humanizing video in your Liquid Syllabus or Canvas course.

Padlet Board with Faculty Examples of Liquid Syllabi