Sample Syllabus Quiz Questions

Sample Syllabus Quiz Questions

A syllabus quiz acts as a contract to verify the understanding of essential elements of the syllabus. The purpose of a syllabus quiz is to familiarize students with the syllabus content. This also gives students a chance to reflect on questions asked by students from previous terms. This step helps the instructor avoid answering the same questions repeatedly. Further, a syllabus quiz can ensure that students are responsible for their learning.

A syllabus quiz helps to clarify any misconceptions about course content or policies, such as late work. Students can review the necessary procedures and check technical issues. They can also review the course structure, locate due dates, and the instructor’s preferred communication method. Providing immediate feedback after completing the syllabus quiz will minimize confusion.

It’s an excellent way to see who’s engaging with the course right away and who might need extra encouragement. It’s also an easy way for students to be successful on their first assignment. This may lessen their anxiety over grades (particularly true in subjects that are anxiety-producing or viewed as intimidatingly tricky). 

Example questions

The syllabus quiz is unique to each instructor’s preferences and course, but here are some popular questions that may help get you started:

  1. What are the preferred methods of communicating with the instructor?
  2. Why is logging in regularly and reading announcements helpful to succeeding online?
  3. Where are the assignment due dates located?
  4. Is late work accepted?
  5. What is the policy for making up an exam, quiz, or project?
  6. Where is technical support information found?
  7. What does substantive mean in regards to discussion posts?
  8. How are the learning materials, such as readings, videos, and lectures, helpful?
  9. What happens if a student plagiarizes material?
  10. Are there extra credit opportunities?
  11. Why is the Online Learner Support page useful to me?
  12. What student resources exist to help me be successful in life and at Iowa State University?

Instructional tools to use

Identify gaps in comprehension and retention

Assess how well students are achieving course objectives

What helpful syllabus quiz questions do you recommend?

Email them to celt@iastate.edu, and we will add them to this list.

References

Lang, J.M. (2015, March 3). The 3 essential functions of your syllabus, part 2: So students “never read the syllabus”? Here are ways to ensure they do. The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved from https://www.chronicle.com/article/the-3-essential-functions-of-your-syllabus-part-2

Sample syllabus quiz questions​, by the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) at Iowa State University is licensed under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0. This work, Sample syllabus quiz questions​, is a derivative of Sample Syllabus Quiz Questions developed by Tracy Smith, Teach Online, Arizona State University (retrieved on January 13, 2021) from https://teachonline.asu.edu/2013/12/sample-syllabus-quiz-questions/.
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