Simple Syllabus

 

Cross-listed Courses?

If you are using Canvas for cross-listed courses, please use the following link:

Simple Syllabus Portal Log In

 

 

 

Simple Syllabus

Simple Syllabus is a centralized, template-driven platform that enables instructors to quickly personalize and publish interactive class syllabi.

Also in Simple Syllabus

Support is available Monday – Friday, 8am – 5pm. Support is accessible by the following methods:

- Email your question to Jmlambert@cerritos.edu or TNFacultyHelp@cerritos.edu

- Place a support ticket through the Knowledge Base, or

- Use the in-site help form (accessed by clicking the question mark icon in the top left corner when logged into your Simple Syllabus site)

 

Get Started

Simple Syllabus can be accessed within Canvas or directly through the Simple Syllabus portal.

This is the standard method of accessing Simple Syllabus.

  • Click the Sign In via Canvas button above.
  • After signing in to Canvas, if needed, select the course to which the syllabus applies.
  • If this is your first time accessing Simple Syllabus through Canvas, you will need to enable Simple Syllabus in your Canvas class.
    • Go to Settings > Navigation. Scroll to the bottom of the menu options, select Simple Syllabus, click on the three dots and choose "Enable".
    • Drag Simple Syllabus to place it in the appropriate spot on your menu.
    • Hit Save. 
  • Select "Simple Syllabus" from the course navigation.
  • A frame within the screen should appear with an editable version of the syllabus.
  • You can begin editing your syllabus.
    • You can either begin typing directly in an open box or select the edit button to make edits.
  • Make sure to Save, where applicable, after editing information. If you need to make a change, select the edit button.
  • Select Submit when all required sections are complete.

This is the standard method of accessing Simple Syllabus.

  • Click the Sign In via Canvas button above.
  • After signing in to Canvas, if needed, select the course to which the syllabus applies.
  • Select "Simple Syllabus" from the course navigation.
  • A frame within the screen should appear with your course’s syllabus.
  • Click the Sign In button above.
  • If not already logged in:
    • Select Click here to log in using your Cerritos College credentials.
  • Fill out all boxes marked “Required”.
    • You can either begin typing directly in an open box or select the edit button to make edits.
  • Make sure to Save, where applicable, after editing information. If you need to make a change, select the edit button.
  • Select Submit when all required sections are complete.
The content from your most recently submitted syllabus will automatically populate your current syllabus. If you prefer to start from a different syllabus than the one that auto-imported, you can click 'Replace with a different syllabus' at the top of the publisher to search for and import the syllabus of your choosing.

When you open a new course in Simple Syllabus, you will see the question "Replace with a different syllabus?" at the top of the page. Click on this question and choose an already published syllabus. This allows you to keep the course SLOs, description, and key information while importing your class policies and other details.

Replace with a different syllabus option

If you are teaching cross-listed courses, you need to go directly to the Employee Portal, select the Simple Syllabus tile, and log in. From there, you can edit the syllabus for each course section. You can also preview the syllabus to see exactly what the students will see. Students will view the syllabus for their appropriate section directly from the Simple Syllabus navigation link in Canvas.

As the instructor, you will see an error message in Canvas when trying to view Simple Syllabus in a cross-listed course. This is because you are enrolled in more than one course section, and Simple Syllabus only pulls one section for a user. As long as each syllabus for each course is complete, the students will see the syllabus that corresponds with their course section.

  • Click the Sign In button above.
  • If not already logged in:
    • Select Click here to log in using your Cerritos College credentials.
    • View your syllabi and materials list for the term.

Rich Content Editor

Simple Syllabus provides plain text entry fields and a Rich Content Editor (RCE) to customize text formatting, apply heading structure, add rich media, or organize items into tables. 

The RCE toolbar in Simple Syllabus allows you to apply:

RCE toolbar

  • Basic Formatting - Bold, italicize, or underline text. Apply subscript or superscript to characters and numbers.

Basic Formatting buttons in the toolbar

  • Rich Formatting - Select a different font family or font size. Apply color to text and backgrounds.

Rich Formatting options in the toolbar

  • Paragraph Formatting - Apply heading structure and alignment to text, or create an ordered or unordered list. You will also find the options to indent paragraphs or insert a quote to emphasize a block of text. The paragraph tool allows you to set accessible headings within textboxes.

Insert Objects options in the toolbar

  • Insert Objects - Insert a hyperlink; upload or link to an image; link, embed, or upload a video file; and insert a table. Emoticons are also available to insert into (or emphasize) text.

Special Actions buttons in the toolbar

  • Special Actions - Insert special characters, undo/redo an action, or clear formatting from selected text. Select the Help button [question mark icon] to view a list of keyboard shortcuts.

Blocks options in the toolbar

  • Blocks Block of information are auto-populated with data from PeopleSoft (instructor, section, and course information) as well as attributes within Simple Syllabus (term, subject, and college information). If your information is incorrect, please notify Academic Affairs.

Integrate the Canvas Calendar

  • Integrate the Canvas Calendar – Toggle the Class Calendar to Visible and click the integration button to include your Canvas class calendar.

 

Sharing your Simple Syllabus in your Course

As an instructor, there are different ways to publish your Simple Syllabus in your Canvas course

You can move Simple Syllabus to the top of your course navigation and hide the native syllabus tool in Canvas.

  • In your course, click Settings.
  • Select the Navigation tab.
  • In the upper box, drag Simple Syllabus towards the top of the list. Disable the default Syllabus by selecting the three vertical dots and clicking 'Disable'.
  • Click Save.
  • After clicking Submit, an option to link to a PDF version of the syllabus in Simple Syllabus should appear.
  • Paste this link into the Rich Content Editor in your Syllabus tab on Canvas. For assistance editing the Syllabus tab, view the Instructional Guide: Editing the Syllabus
  • Click Save.

Note: Instructors and students must authenticate Simple Syllabus (either by clicking the Simple Syllabus navigation link or logging in directly to the Simple Syllabus portal)

 

Introducing Simple Syllabus