[Using Sakai] [DG: Teaching & Learning] [sakai2-tcc] [DG:, Open Forum] Possible update to Syllabus tool

[Marshall Feldman]

For two semesters now, I've had success using the Lessons tool for my 
syllabi. I create a long syllabus, with course policies, grading 
schemes, etc. as a pdf, and I create a very abbreviated Lessons page 
with nothing but a table containing a week-by-week list of topics, 
assigned reading, assignment available/due dates, exam dates, etc. At 
the top of the Lessons page I put my contact information and a link to 
the pdf version of the Syllabus. I assign the long version as a reading 
assignment for the first week. After that, the students just use the 
short version unless they need to look up a policy. The short version 
appears as a tab to the left, relabeled "Syllabus."

Enhancements to this implementation would include (1) some kind of 
accordion to open/close rows of the table when they are/are not needed, 
(2) a gizmo that automatically scrolls the focus to the row for the 
current date, and (3) an automatic date maker that maps each row or 
something like "Week 10" to the current date and add the date to the 
table (e.g., "Week 10, March 18-24"). These probably can be implemented 
easily using jQuery, but I haven't had the time.

This seems to address Ann's concerns, it does more than just add an 
accordion feature to the Syllabus tool, it offers great flexibility to 
the instructor, and it's available now.

     Marsh Feldman

On 3/19/13 9:34 AM, sakai-user-request at collab.sakaiproject.org wrote:
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Mon, 18 Mar 2013 12:23:49 -0700
> From: Katie Golus <kgolus at antioch.edu>
> Subject: Re: [Using Sakai] [DG: Teaching & Learning] [sakai2-tcc] [DG:
> 	Open Forum] Possible update to Syllabus tool
> To: "Jensen, Ann E" <aj14 at txstate.edu>
> Cc: "end-user-support at collab.sakaiproject.org"
> 	<end-user-support at collab.sakaiproject.org>,
> 	"sakai2-tcc-bounces at collab.sakaiproject.org"
> 	<sakai2-tcc-bounces at collab.sakaiproject.org>,	Sakai 2 Technical
> 	Coordination Committee	<sakai2-tcc at collab.sakaiproject.org>,
> 	"openforum at collab.sakaiproject.org"
> 	<openforum at collab.sakaiproject.org>,	RebaAnna Lee
> 	<RebaAnna.Lee at marist.edu>,	"sakai-user at collab.sakaiproject.org"
> 	<sakai-user at collab.sakaiproject.org>,
> 	"pedagogy at collab.sakaiproject.org" <pedagogy at collab.sakaiproject.org>
> Message-ID:
> 	<CAH9w++2Pcy2mDRbRbyf+_zwpsHrFnK3uB8g0FG_PFWKH7ncnog at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252"
>
> I agree with Ann's comments entirely.  This would be great to see.
>
> Thanks,
> Katie
> _____________________
> Katie Golus, Ed.M.
> Instructional Designer
> Antioch University
> 602 Anacapa Street
> Santa Barbara, CA  93101
> 805-962-8179 x5161
> kgolus at antioch.edu
> http://www.antioch.edu/at
>
> Have an IT-related concern? Please contact the help desk, available 24/7.
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>
> On Thu, Mar 14, 2013 at 8:32 AM, Jensen, Ann E <aj14 at txstate.edu> wrote:
>
>>   I agree. Syllabi tend to be lengthy and somewhat overwhelming,
>> especially in fully online courses. The proposed functionality would help
>> students quickly find assignment and due date information without having to
>> scroll through a lengthy document or open a separate schedule page or
>> document. I would love to see this in CLE.****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> Ann ****
>>
>> ______________________________****
>>
>> Ann Jensen, Sr. Instructional Designer
>> Texas State University-San Marcos
>> 601 University Drive
>> San Marcos, TX 78666
>> 512.245.2632
>> aj14 at txstate.edu****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> *From:* pedagogy-bounces at collab.sakaiproject.org [mailto:
>> pedagogy-bounces at collab.sakaiproject.org] *On Behalf Of *RebaAnna Lee
>> *Sent:* Wednesday, March 13, 2013 9:57 AM
>> *To:* Ward, Lynn E.
>> *Cc:* Sakai 2 Technical Coordination Committee;
>> end-user-support at collab.sakaiproject.org;
>> sakai2-tcc-bounces at collab.sakaiproject.org;
>> openforum at collab.sakaiproject.org; sakai-user at collab.sakaiproject.org;
>> pedagogy at collab.sakaiproject.org
>> *Subject:* Re: [DG: Teaching & Learning] [sakai2-tcc] [DG: Open Forum]
>> Possible update to Syllabus tool****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> All,
>> I think the change would encourage more of our faculty to use the syllabus
>> tool. I agree with Lynn that it is a valuable addition for encouraging the
>> faculty to use the tool in a new way.
>>
>>
>>
>> -- Reba-Anna
>>
>>
>> *************************************************************
>> Dr. Reba-Anna Lee
>> Associate Director, Academic Technology and eLearning
>> Marist College
>> Poughkeepsie, New York 12601
>> (845) 575-3516
>> rebaanna.lee at marist.edu
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> From:        "Ward, Lynn E." <leward at iupui.edu>
>> To:        Neal Caidin <nealcaidin at sakaifoundation.org>, "
>> pedagogy at collab.sakaiproject.org" <pedagogy at collab.sakaiproject.org>, "
>> openforum at collab.sakaiproject.org" <openforum at collab.sakaiproject.org>, "
>> end-user-support at collab.sakaiproject.org" <
>> end-user-support at collab.sakaiproject.org>, "
>> sakai-user at collab.sakaiproject.org" <sakai-user at collab.sakaiproject.org>,
>> Cc:        Sakai 2 Technical Coordination Committee <
>> sakai2-tcc at collab.sakaiproject.org>
>> Date:        03/13/2013 09:28 AM
>> Subject:        Re: [sakai2-tcc] [DG: Open Forum] Possible update to
>> Syllabus tool
>> Sent by:        sakai2-tcc-bounces at collab.sakaiproject.org ****
>>   ------------------------------
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> I don't know many people who post multiple syllabi for one course, but
>> this seems like a nice improvement that could lead to using the Syllabus
>> tool differently?for example, breaking it up into shorter, more easily
>> digestible sections instead of posting a single, very long document.  This
>> would make it easier for students to find what they are looking for in the
>> Syllabus.
>>
>> Lynn
>>
>>
>> ==========================
>> Lynn Ward, Principal Systems Analyst
>> Instructional Technology Systems and Services
>> University Information Technology Services <http://uits.iu.edu/>
>> Indiana University
>> Information Technology and Communications Complex (IT 342K)
>> 535 West Michigan Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202
>> Phone: 317-278-5713  E-mail: leward at iupui.edu ****
>>
>>
>> *From: *Neal Caidin <nealcaidin at sakaifoundation.org>*
>> Date: *Tuesday, March 12, 2013 3:52 PM*
>> To: *"pedagogy at collab.sakaiproject.org" <pedagogy at collab.sakaiproject.org>,
>> "openforum at collab.sakaiproject.org" <openforum at collab.sakaiproject.org>,"
>> end-user-support at collab.sakaiproject.org" <
>> end-user-support at collab.sakaiproject.org>, "
>> sakai-user at collab.sakaiproject.org" <sakai-user at collab.sakaiproject.org>*
>> Cc: *Sakai 2 Technical Coordination Committee <
>> sakai2-tcc at collab.sakaiproject.org>*
>> Subject: *Re: [DG: Open Forum] Possible update to Syllabus tool
>>
>> Question came up regarding Accessibility. Answer:
>>
>> Keyboard interaction
>>
>> When focus is on a header, the following key commands are available:
>>
>> UP/LEFT - Move focus to the previous header. If on first header, moves
>> focus to last header.
>> DOWN/RIGHT - Move focus to the next header. If on last header, moves focus
>> to first header.
>> HOME - Move focus to the first header.
>> END - Move focus to the last header.
>> SPACE/ENTER - Activate panel associated with focused header.
>>
>>
>> On Mar 12, 2013, at 3:51 PM, Neal Caidin <nealcaidin at sakaifoundation.org>
>> wrote:
>>
>> [to pedagogy, openforum, end-user-support, sakai-user]
>>
>> Dear All,
>>
>> Bryan Holladay has created a new feature in the Syllabus tool (sponsored
>> by Columbia). It is an "accordion" view of the syllabus sections (see
>> screen cast below). The printing feature stays the same as in the current
>> version of Syllabus (one long page) and there is a property that can be set
>> to determine which item in the "accordion" is open by default. Bryan set it
>> so it automatically scrolls to the opened item (both in portal or tool
>> view).
>>
>> Ultimately the TCC (Technical Coordination Committee, of which I am *not*
>> a part, fyi) and tool owners will make the call of whether this gets into
>> Sakai CLE, but we thought it would be interesting to get some input on
>> this. Please take a look at the screencast and the Jira and let us know
>> what you think. Is this an improvement? Does it meet a need?
>>
>> Here is a screen cast of the feature: http://screencast.com/t/kK7UGzXu
>>
>> Jira is https://jira.sakaiproject.org/browse/SAK-23342
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Neal Caidin
>>
>> Sakai CLE Community Coordinator
>> nealcaidin at sakaifoundation.org
>> Skype: nealkdin
>> AIM: ncaidin at aol.com
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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