Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I write about innovation and the future of education. The conversation always starts the same way. A friend corners me and says, ...

Yesterday we looked at a philosophy of the college course syllabus and talked some about the legal and quasi-legal roles the syllabus plays. Now let’s get down to business -- what do you put in one?

You may remember the syllabus. Handed out on the first day of class, it was a revered and simple artifact that would outline the plan of a college course. It was a pragmatic document, covering contact ...