Learning Technology Guide - DEV

Simple Syllabus*

learning object creatorcontent delivery

What is it?

Simple Syllabus is a centralized, template-driven platform that enables instructors to quickly personalize and publish interactive class syllabi—directly within the Learning Management System (LMS) such as Brightspace.

What is its purpose?

Simple Syllabus is a centralized, template-driven platform that allows instructors to easily customize and publish interactive class syllabi, ultimately saving time and budget and reducing frustration across the entire campus. The application takes a unique approach by combining established institutional data, including policies, learning objectives, and course section content, eliminating the need for staff to input them manually.

On the administrative end, Simple Syllabus offers a user-friendly and immediate template builder, allowing you to swiftly define the necessary informational sections, structure, and design of your institution's syllabi while granting the faculty the autonomy to personalize content for their particular classroom needs. The standardized data built into the entire institution's syllabi, such as policies, save time and ensure consistency over the campus, particularly when updates are required.

Simple Syllabus simplifies the retrieval of institutions' syllabi for compliance purposes by relying on a centralized repository that archives all campus syllabi and their underlying data to support extensive reporting capabilities for accreditation.

How do I use it?

Simple Syllabus is a software-as-a-service model that works specifically at the institutional level. The school has to adopt Simple Syllabus in order for instructors to utilize it for their particular courses.

Why would I use it?

  • Simple Syllabus offers standardized templates both at the administrative and faculty levels, saving time and budget and reducing frustration across the entire campus.
  • It allows the institution to define the necessary informational sections, structure, and design of your institution's syllabi while granting the faculty the autonomy to personalize content for their particular classroom needs.
  • It offers a centralized repository that archives all campus syllabi and their underlying data to support extensive reporting capabilities for accreditation.
  • It offers a built-in accessibility checker.
  • It ensures consistency and centralization over the institution's syllabi.
  • It offers a built-in feature to convert syllabi into PDF files automatically.
  • It enhances the student experience by allowing them to easily navigate through syllabus items.
  • It allows users to track stats pertaining to student engagement both at the faculty and administrative levels.
  • It allows administrative monitoring of the syllabi over the whole institution.

Quick Facts
Category
Content Delivery
Rating Level 
Demo
Website
Simple Syllabus*
Last Modified
09 May 2024
Created
16 January 2024
License Available 
No
More Info

Security Concerns
Yes
Technical Support 
Vendor
Platform(s) 
Web browser, Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android

Ratings Information

CITL Rating

Select any category below for details about the criteria for each rating.

Functionality: ★★★
Scale:★★★
Works Well.
Ease of Use:★★★
Works Well.
Tech Support/Help Availability (for Instructors):★★☆
Minor Concerns. Technical support is provided by the vendor.
Tech Support/Help Availability (for Students):★★☆
Minor Concerns. Technical support is provided by the vendor.
Hypermediality :
Not Applicable.
Accessibility: ★★★
Accessibility Standards:★★★
Works Well.
User-focused participation:★★★
Works Well.
Required Equipment:★★★
Works Well.
Technical: ★★★
Integration/Embedding within a Learning Management System (LMS) :★★★
Works Well.
Operating Systems:★★★
Works Well.
Web Browser:★★★
Works Well.
Additional Technical Requirements:★★★
Works Well.
Mobile Design: ★☆☆
Access:★☆☆
Serious Concerns. The tool does not offer a mobile app.
Functionality:
Not Applicable.
Offline Access:
Not Applicable.
Usage and Account Set Up: ★★★
Sign Up/Sign In:★★★
Works Well.
Cost of Use:★☆☆
Serious Concerns. Simple Syllabus has an initial implementation cost of $7,500 and an annual fee of $2 per full-time enrolled student.
Archiving, Saving, and Exporting Data :★★★
Works Well.
Data Privacy and Ownership:★★★
Works Well.
Social Presence: ★★★
Collaboration :★★★
Works Well.
User Accountability:★★★
Works Well.
Diffusion:★★★
Works Well.
Teaching Presence: ★★★
Facilitation:★★★
Works Well.
Customization:★★★
Works Well.
Learning Analytics:★★★
Works Well.
Cognitive Presence:
Enhancement of Cognitive Task(s):
Not Applicable. The tool is not designed to enhance engagement in cognitive tasks.
Higher Order Thinking:
Not Applicable. The tool is not designed to facilitate learners to exercise higher-order thinking skills.
Feedback on Learning:
Not Applicable. The tool is not designed for learners to receive formative feedback on learning.

Security and Privacy

This service is not offered by Memorial University and has not been reviewed by Information Management and Protection. Once the content is created, its use is governed by the terms of use of Venngage. Special consideration should be given to the content of the images for privacy and copyright considerations.

Support Information

Simple syllabus offers support that can be reached within the tool. Any user including students and instructors can submit a ticket and get help from the support team. The support team turns around those tickets within 10-15 minutes on average during business hours.

Alternatively, Simple Syllabus support can be centralized within the institution's support team by routing tickets internally to the university through their infrastructure.

Simple syllabus also has a knowledge base and live Zoom sessions that users can join in.

Note: Instructional Support is available through CITL. Please connect with Learning Technology Coaches for assistance ltc_citl@mun.ca or visit the Teaching and Learning Exchange in ED 1001, St. John’s Campus.

Contact

Centre for Innovation in Teaching and Learning

230 Elizabeth Ave, St. John's, NL, CANADA, A1B 3X9

Postal Address: P.O. Box 4200, St. John's, NL, CANADA, A1C 5S7

Tel: (709) 864-8000