Tag Archives: syllabus

Part 2 of 2: Syllabus – Options for Posting Online

Here are a few easy ways to post your syllabus online. (Read Part 1 of this series for some reasons on why to post your syllabus online.)

1. WebCT – Upload a file
If you already have a syllabus in Word or pdf format, the easiest thing to do is to upload the file to WebCT.

Click on Course Content page, Add File, and Browse for Files:

Then, select the My Computer icon. (You may get a warning prompt about letting WebCT access your desktop. Be sure to allow access. Otherwise, you will not be able to access the My Computer icon.) Find your document and click Open.

2. WebCT Syllabus Tool
If you do not have a syllabus created, or would like to start fresh, you can use the WebCT Syllabus tool to create an online syllabus. To do this, you’ll need to activate the Syllabus tool from the Tools menu.

To access the Tools menu, click on Manage Course icon from within the Build tab:

Once you’re in the Tools menu, check off Syllabus then click Save:

This will make a Syllabus tab appear under Course Tools. To create your Syllabus, select the Syllabus tab while in Build mode:

Choose “Use built-in syllabus” then click Select. A drop down menu will appear that allows you to select and fill out different components of your syllabus.

Alternately, you may choose to upload a Syllabus in pdf or Word format from the Syllabus tool (similar to what you did in option 1). To do this, select “Use File” instead of “Use built-in syllabus.” Whether you “use built-in syllabus” or “use file”, students will need to go to the Syllabus tab to access your Syllabus. It will not appear in Course Content unless you add a link to it. Similarly, if you have added a syllabus file to the Course Content area, it will not appear in the Syllabus tab. One option is not better than the other. It all depends on how you choose to organize your course site.

3. WordPress
Finally, if you just don’t like the look and feel of WebCT, another option is to use WordPress. Although WordPress is a blogging platform, it allows you to create pages using an easy to use visual editor. This can allow for your syllabus to become more of a living document that you can edit without having to upload and download a file each time. If you’re interested in using WordPress, contact itg@emerson.edu to set up a consultation.

ITG wishes you the best of luck in planning your spring semester and we are here to help along the way. Email us with any questions or concerns at itg@emerson.edu, or stop by our office at Walker 403. Or, share your tips for posting your syllabus online by posting a comment!

Part 1 of 2: Syllabus – To post or not to post? (Answer: Post!)

Spring 2012 courses are now available to faculty on WebCT. If you do not post your syllabus online, let us convince you why you should.

Save trees (and your back) – Posting your syllabus online means that you do not have to print numerous copies of a multiple page document and lug them to class.

Accessibility – Students will always have access to the syllabus when it’s online should they misplace their copy. Furthermore, having the document in electronic format allows students to adjust how the document is displayed on their screen, cut and paste information into their calendars to stay organized, and access the document from multiple computers and devices.

Flexibility – Having your syllabus posted allows you the ability to make it a living document. This can come in handy if, for example, you want to swap out a reading with a groundbreaking new study that hits home with what you’ve been discussing in class; or, adjust your schedule to accommodate a fabulous guest speaker that you landed.

Finally, and I would argue the most important reason:

Transparency – If the syllabus is the map of your course goals and expectations, then it is important to make those goals and expectations as explicit and accessible to your students as possible. Posting your syllabus online is one easy way to do so.

So, now that I have convinced you, check out Part 2 of this blog series to learn about a few options for posting your syllabus online. Share your thoughts on making syllabi available online by posting a comment below.