Dr Suzanne Reid brought her course syllabus to life through the addition of an interactive digital welcome map.
Want a more engaging way to help students navigate your course?
A traditional course syllabus can overwhelm students at the start of the semester, making it harder for them to connect with key information.
Try this!
Transform your course syllabus into an interactive map using H5P. This visually engaging approach reduces information overload, supports diverse learning preferences, and helps students feel more connected to your course.
Addresses these teaching challenges:
- Information overload at semester start
- Student orientation to campus/building
- Engaging remote learners
- Making course information memorable
- Supporting diverse learning preferences
Image: AbsolutVision on unsplash
Implementation
- Identify key syllabus information to include.
- Take photos of relevant campus locations.
- Create interactive elements in H5P.
- Add fun course-related trivia.
- Embed in your Canvas course.
- Make it optional but engaging.
Pro tips
- Include photos of lecture venues for new students.
- Mix essential information with fun facts.
- Keep it visually clean and intuitive.
- Include clear navigation instructions.
- Consider adding audio descriptions for accessibility.
- Test the activity on different devices.
Benefits
- Improved information retention
- Better course orientation
- Supports inclusivity
- Helps remote students feel connected
- Creates virtual campus connection
- ~33% voluntary engagement rate
Teacher’s voice
“Students who engage with the activity feel more like they’ve been ‘guided’ through the course, rather than just reading a text document.” – Suzanne
Try this variation
Add student-contributed content spots where they can pin their own study locations or favourite campus spaces, creating a community-built course map.
Accessibility considerations
Design H5P activity with accessibility features (e.g., alt text, keyboard navigation, colour contrast).
Related documents
Figure 1: H5P slide with a welcome to the course message.
Figure 2: H5P slide with study tips.
Figure 3: H5P slide showing the location of student labs.
Have a teaching tip to share? Add it to our jar today. Email: teachwell@auckland.ac.nz
Faculty: Science
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Shared by
Dr Suzanne Reid
Professional Teaching Fellow
School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science