Title: Designing a performance-based syllabus to improve instruction and learning

Authors: Ronald L. Brown

Addresses: Bahrain Teachers College, University of Bahrain, P.O. 32038, Manama, Bahrain

Abstract: In performance-based instruction, teaching and assessment decisions are guided by the performance of each student rather than by completion of assignments and examination. In designing the syllabus for performance-based instruction, the focus is on both |knowing| and |applying|. Teaching, assessment, evaluation, and reporting are oriented around the demonstration of learning. All areas of the syllabus are integrated with demonstrations of learning through portfolios to provide holistic assessment and evaluation. This paper defines and describes the principles of performance-based instruction, then discusses how to develop a syllabus that incorporates performance-based principles.

Keywords: instructional design; curriculum; performance-based education; learning portfolios; student performance; syllabus development; teaching decisions; assessment decisions.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTCS.2010.033319

International Journal of Teaching and Case Studies, 2010 Vol.2 No.3/4, pp.237 - 249

Published online: 24 May 2010 *

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