Benefits of Outline - the digital course outline repository

By integrating this digital repository, math instructors can focus on teaching while ensuring compliance, accessibility, and improved support for students and administrators. The main benefits are: 1) Designed for Instructors, 2) Streamlined Workflow for Instructors, 3) Benefits for Students, and 4) Administrative Reporting made easy. Source 

Designed for Instructors 

  • Scheduling Insights: Use the "student course schedule heat map" to identify conflict-free times for office hours or meetings. 

  • Legal and Procedural Clarity: Outlines are timestamped and version-controlled, providing clear records to address student grievances or disputes effectively. 

  • Peer Collaboration and Learning: Gain access to outlines from colleagues across departments for inspiration and benchmarking, particularly useful for new instructors. 

Streamlined Workflow for Instructors 

  1. Automated Submission to Departments: Outlines are seamlessly submitted to your department, eliminating the need to email you for your outline. 

  1. Accessibility Simplified: The platform ensures all outlines are fully accessible, avoiding the challenges posed by outdated PDFs. Using a strict HTML subset, your outlines meet accessibility standards effortlessly. 

  1. Effortless Compliance with Senate Requirements: Stay updated with the latest course outline guidelines automatically, saving time spent verifying and revising outdated requirements. 

  1. Enhanced Reusability: Previously published outlines for your course can be reused with a few clicks. Updates like class schedules and course descriptions sync automatically from Quest. 

  1. Preloaded University Templates: Access standardized text (e.g., policies on Generative AI or recording notices) to ensure compliance with university requirements. 

Benefits for Students 

  • Increased Transparency: Students can access your outlines during course selection, aiding informed decision-making. 

  • Enhanced Academic Support: Outlines are readily available to advisors, petition committees, and support offices like AccessAbility Services (AAS), improving guidance and reducing email requests to instructors. 

  • Historical Reference: Students can view past outlines for a better understanding of course expectations and materials. 

Administrative Reporting Made Easy 

  • Accreditation Support: Easily extract data for quality assurance and accreditation purposes (e.g., Engineering requirements). 

  • Cost Transparency: Report textbook and material costs directly to the Ministry of Colleges and Universities.