The Pandemic Syllabus

Denver Law Review Forum Vol. 98 2020

16 Pages Posted: 1 Nov 2020 Last revised: 2 Dec 2020

Date Written: October 27, 2020

Abstract

A syllabus is a contract, an introduction, a statement of values, a todo list, a plan. It is often the point of first contact between professor and student, or between student and an area of law. Beyond the technological challenges, for many professors Fall 2020 was also the first-time coming up with a camera policy or amending attendance expectations to consider a pandemic. For some, this is also the first time explicitly engaging in antiracist pedagogy in the classroom or considering practices like trauma informed teaching. This essay offers a practical, “nuts and bolts” walkthrough of promising practices for each part of the syllabus while also touching on complex pedagogical questions such as issues of accessibility, setting a cooperative tone for class, and preparing students for sometimes challenging discussions. This essay is not only about the transition to online teaching, but more broadly about shifts within legal education that only promise to become more relevant. The essay is a practical and helpful guide for those planning future semesters, even in a post-pandemic world.

Suggested Citation

Schendel, Sarah, The Pandemic Syllabus (October 27, 2020). Denver Law Review Forum Vol. 98 2020, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3720131 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3720131

Sarah Schendel (Contact Author)

Suffolk University Law School ( email )

120 Tremont Street
Boston, MA 02108-4977
United States

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