[Using Sakai] [DG: Teaching & Learning] [sakai2-tcc] [DG:, Open Forum] Possible update to Syllabus tool
Keli Sato Amann
kamann at stanford.edu
Wed Mar 20 12:31:17 PDT 2013
Marshall, the idea about focusing on a row for the current date is on my wish list as well. I wonder how many developers read this list? I would take it one step further--Have those rows already created with dates associated, pulled in from the registrar for this class. It wouldn't just be text, but ideally, be associated as session # metadata so that if Lessons were imported into next year's course, the dates would automatically be updated.
We have done user research with students and we know they want to get to their assignments faster. Currently, we have both T&Q and Assignments pointing to the schedule tool--this is the only synoptic view they have when they log in, but it doesn't help with readings, or with offline assignments because instructors would never enter those offline work into these systems, since it is already in their syllabus and there is no benefit to them to do extra work.
Instructors do, however, all write a Syllabus and upload it as a doc or pdf. If they could write it once, and have all the dates updated year to year, I think that might convince them to do it online, not on word. If they had links to Assignments or Tests & Quizzes, they could add them.
So while we have been talking about building a synoptic tool that tells students as soon as they log in what assignments they have due in the next week across their sites, I think that relies on instructors entering information in a certain way. I think a syllabus is a much more natural way for instructors to enter this. If a student wants to know what they have to do in each class, they just click on the site tabs and if Syllabus were the first thing and after the first day it focused mainly on the next assignment, not forcing additional clicks or scrolling to get there, they would love it. Whether this gets built into Syllabus or Lessons, I don't care, but the Lessons tool could be an interesting place for this (we aren't using it currently, as we are still on 2.6. When we upgrade to 2.9, we might look at it; it has some skin issues, among other things)
As I look back, this thread started with Brian's adding an accordion in Syllabus tool. We don't use the Sakai Syllabus tool, so I recuse myself from voting. But I would say that if we were, I would prefer that it not just open to the current date section, but to actually hide older sessions it under a link called "Past sessions" --that way the last session would be visible at the top, instead of under a dozen closed sections.
Keli Amann
User Experience Specialist
Academic Computing Services, Stanford University
----- Original Message -----
From: "Francesca Socolick" <francesca.socolick at nyu.edu>
To: "Marshall Feldman" <marsh at uri.edu>
Cc: sakai-user at collab.sakaiproject.org
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2013 8:58:13 AM
Subject: Re: [Using Sakai] [DG: Teaching & Learning] [sakai2-tcc] [DG:, Open Forum] Possible update to Syllabus tool
Alot of our faculty opt to simply attach a PDF version of their syllabus into the Syllabus tool (so the item just contains a link to the document which is then downloaded to their local machine) -While this does not make full use of the Syllabus tool (rich text editor >> interactive syllabus) its how our users seem to be adopting/interpreting the technology.
Therefore, some sort of PDF reader within the Syllabus tool, similar to when a user adds Multimedia content via the Lessons tool, would be a cool option to see integrated into the rich text editor.
--Francesca
On Tue, Mar 19, 2013 at 11:40 AM, Marshall Feldman < marsh at uri.edu > wrote:
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.
Web form: IT Helpdesk <https://helpdesk.antioch.edu/> or Phone:
1-866-662-0056 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 _______________________________________________
sakai2-tcc mailing list sakai2-tcc at collab.sakaiproject.org http://collab.sakaiproject.org/mailman/listinfo/sakai2-tcc****
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--
Francesca Socolick
NYU Classes Support Lead
Unix Computing Accounts Service Lead
Educational Technology Services @ ITS | NYU
Contact: 2129926786 | francesca.socolick at nyu.edu
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