The Next Big Thing: Course Documents

**PandaMoOo** · 09-29-06, 04:44 PM

Should course documents(syllabus/quizzes/exams) be uploaded and shared on GCP.com?
• Yes! And I will upload a lot!
• Yes! I will upload a little.
• Yes! I will not upload anything.
• No.

The goal of this possible service is to: Improve student information about classes.

I am polling people to see if they would like the course syllabuses, example quizzes or exams posted online. The documents would come from instructors or students who scan the documents and upload them as a pdf or jpg.

I know its a touchy subject, and therefore welcome your feedback! The legality of the issue I think is relatively small because I will offer instructors the option of removing documents, and because they are paid by the government therefore their work is "public" and therefore is not copyrighted. (Or so I think... if others weigh in, that would be appreciated.)

To answer the poll, please visit any page on gradecalpoly.com and vote!

To provide specific feedback, please comment below!

Talon · 09-29-06, 05:35 PM

That seems interesting Panda, but it also seems kind of risky. I think its okay to share a little information with students about future courses, but not too much information because it may alter the student's perception of a given class or teacher. I find it best that some professors who have their own websites, list the courses they have taught in the past with all the relevant information including the syllabus.

**PandaMoOo** · 09-29-06, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Talon

That seems interesting Panda, but it also seems kind of risky. I think its okay to share a little information with students about future courses, but not too much information because it may alter the student's perception of a given class or teacher. I find it best that some professors who have their own websites, list the courses they have taught in the past with all the relevant information including the syllabus.

A lot of instructors in my department do not use their website. I would gladly allow instructors to upload their own information to GCP.com, but i doubt many of them would.

I do not understand your concerns about providing "too much information" please elaborate.

Talon · 09-29-06, 06:13 PM

I meant that both experience and information is important. Its one thing to say that a professor is difficult because he or she requires quite a bit more work in comparison to others in the department. So based, on hearing this, other students may avoid the professor. However, sometimes student's notions of certain professors are not true. I guess the syllabus wouldn't be so bad in conjunction with the student's previous experineces with a given professor. The syllabus can only say so much, but the experience that the student has with an instructor says a lot more.

**PandaMoOo** · 09-30-06, 09:38 AM

Right. Everything will be in conjunction. I think the main way course documents would help is asking hard relative questions, like
"How hard is this material?"
"Do I already know this material?"
"How are the quizzes/exams structured?"
"Do I have enough time on the tests?"

All of those questions are highly relative, and another's students opinion can not really help them answer.

Thank you for your input talon!

***Admin*** · 10-01-06, 05:29 PM

A well thought out idea PandaMoOo. However I would be little wary when uploading syllabus without the instructor's approval.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PandaMoOo

The legality of the issue I think is relatively small because I will offer instructors the option of removing documents, and because they are paid by the government therefore their work is "public" and therefore is not copyrighted. (Or so I think... if others weigh in, that would be appreciated.)

This comment is interesting. I'll see if I can get some feedback on this topic at another web board.

This additional feature offers much more than what the students can ask for. Able to learn in advance how the course is structured and how the schedule is layed out is outstanding.

I don't think uploading the actual quiz is a good idea. Discussing about the quiz is a different matter but letting students download corrected quiz could possibly lead into trouble. I know a few professors that reuse their materials from the previous quarters. I'd think twice about the quiz/exam document (unless you want a ThePolyPost.com frontpage exposure

). Even if you do allow the instructor to 'manually' remove the documents themselves, do you think the instructor would be aware that their exam materials are widely available online?

Personally, I would love to be able to download the syllabus of the classes I need in advance and I bet most students would too. And if the 'Course Documents' feature are to be implemented, I hope that many students do participate.

Unless an incentive was rewarded, scanning the syllabus and uploading the image file seems like a hassle, resulting in a tiny percentage of uploads.
Uploading pdf and doc syllabus is a matter of seconds so that's no problem.

If uploading and sharing instructor's syllabus is indeed illegal and an act of copyright infringement, you could seek the instructor's approval but that would require much time and effort in your part. Last but not least, CalPolyOnline.com does not condone any illegal activities such as sharing copyrighted materials online.
I wish you luck.

***Admin*** · 10-02-06, 01:29 PM

Getting mixed feedbacks: some say college, some say professor would hold the copyright since they are the author, and depends how the contract was written between the university and the professor.

Usually the professor or the college. A college work (such as a study or collection of stories/thesis/etc) is usually copyrighted by the college and the authors, not the government. Although they may be a government institution, their info is not necessarily in the public domain (if it was - we could all go to state colleges for free!). Steelsun

**PandaMoOo** · 10-02-06, 02:25 PM

Interesting. I failed to realize the distinction between college & professor owning the copyright. It sounds like it really could be either way, and a legal grey zone.

I suppose I will see how the poll goes before I take the next step: getting professor feedback. So far most people are in favor on having syllabus' online.

Its unlikely that I would have time to do the programming until after I graduate in Dec, I am taking 24 units now. So I'll just let this one sit back while feedback grows.

Thanks very much for trying to answer the legal questions!

09-29-06, 04:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
PandaMoOo GCP.com Admin Joined: Aug 2004 Location: Mission Viejo, CA Posts: 401	The Next Big Thing: Course Documents Should course documents(syllabus/quizzes/exams) be uploaded and shared on GCP.com? • Yes! And I will upload a lot! • Yes! I will upload a little. • Yes! I will not upload anything. • No. The goal of this possible service is to: Improve student information about classes. I am polling people to see if they would like the course syllabuses, example quizzes or exams posted online. The documents would come from instructors or students who scan the documents and upload them as a pdf or jpg. I know its a touchy subject, and therefore welcome your feedback! The legality of the issue I think is relatively small because I will offer instructors the option of removing documents, and because they are paid by the government therefore their work is "public" and therefore is not copyrighted. (Or so I think... if others weigh in, that would be appreciated.) To answer the poll, please visit any page on gradecalpoly.com and vote! To provide specific feedback, please comment below! __________________ -PandaMoOo- www.GradeCalPoly.com

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09-29-06, 05:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
Talon Enthusiast Joined: Sep 2004 Posts: 184	That seems interesting Panda, but it also seems kind of risky. I think its okay to share a little information with students about future courses, but not too much information because it may alter the student's perception of a given class or teacher. I find it best that some professors who have their own websites, list the courses they have taught in the past with all the relevant information including the syllabus.

09-29-06, 06:13 PM	#4 (permalink)
Talon Enthusiast Joined: Sep 2004 Posts: 184	I meant that both experience and information is important. Its one thing to say that a professor is difficult because he or she requires quite a bit more work in comparison to others in the department. So based, on hearing this, other students may avoid the professor. However, sometimes student's notions of certain professors are not true. I guess the syllabus wouldn't be so bad in conjunction with the student's previous experineces with a given professor. The syllabus can only say so much, but the experience that the student has with an instructor says a lot more.

09-30-06, 09:38 AM	#5 (permalink)
PandaMoOo GCP.com Admin Joined: Aug 2004 Location: Mission Viejo, CA Posts: 401	Right. Everything will be in conjunction. I think the main way course documents would help is asking hard relative questions, like "How hard is this material?" "Do I already know this material?" "How are the quizzes/exams structured?" "Do I have enough time on the tests?" All of those questions are highly relative, and another's students opinion can not really help them answer. Thank you for your input talon!

10-02-06, 01:29 PM	#7 (permalink)
*Admin* Think About It Joined: Sep 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 4,948	Getting mixed feedbacks: some say college, some say professor would hold the copyright since they are the author, and depends how the contract was written between the university and the professor. Usually the professor or the college. A college work (such as a study or collection of stories/thesis/etc) is usually copyrighted by the college and the authors, not the government. Although they may be a government institution, their info is not necessarily in the public domain (if it was - we could all go to state colleges for free!). Steelsun

10-02-06, 02:25 PM	#8 (permalink)
PandaMoOo GCP.com Admin Joined: Aug 2004 Location: Mission Viejo, CA Posts: 401	Interesting. I failed to realize the distinction between college & professor owning the copyright. It sounds like it really could be either way, and a legal grey zone. I suppose I will see how the poll goes before I take the next step: getting professor feedback. So far most people are in favor on having syllabus' online. Its unlikely that I would have time to do the programming until after I graduate in Dec, I am taking 24 units now. So I'll just let this one sit back while feedback grows. Thanks very much for trying to answer the legal questions!