| 1. Sections |
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Each outline is divided into logical sections, with a separate tab for each section, where you can enter or change course information in the provided fields. Some fields are populated from University systems (e.g., Colleague, Identity Services); some fields have standard university, program, or department information; and, in most sections, custom fields are available.
Please note that while custom fields are available throughout the outline, as much as possible, data should be adapted and entered in the provided fields to maximize the value of the tool.
The tool provides access to previous outlines so you can update or change your outline from previous iterations of the course. Calendars will help you adjust dates throughout.
Course outline sections include:
- Details - calendar information about the course, pre-populated by other systems on campus
- Instructional Support - instructional support staff associated with the course
- Resources - learning resources that students may require while taking the course
- Outcomes - learning outcomes students will have demonstrated upon successful completion of the course
- Activities - teaching and learning activities that will take place in the course
- Assessment - methods, breakdown and specific due dates for the course
- Statements - standard statements that relate to the course and that may be required by the department, college or University
- Activity Log - any activity that has occurred on the outline since it has been created
- Properties - details about the outline, including currently associated authors and reviewers
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| 2. Creating or Modifying Section Content |
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You can create course content by selecting the section Menu button found in the top right of each individual section of the outline.
Each section has its own specific menu, but most follow the same structure:
- Modify Section Introduction - allows you to enter a preamble for each section; any content entered here appears immediately after this section's header on the final outline.
- Add Section Specific Content - allows you to enter the specific details required by each section.
- Add Additional Content - allows you to enter additional information to the end of each section; you can enter any content here but will be required to provide a heading.
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| 3. Updating Section Content |
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Once you have started populating the sections, you can modify your individual components by using the following controls:
 Edit - Edit the specific element in the outline.
 Delete - Delete the element from the outline.
 Move Element Up - Move the specific element up one element.
 Move Element Down - Move the specific element down one element.
Each element recognizes when it has been updated and will automatically display its last updated date.
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A comment is a note or annotation added to an outline by either an author or a reviewer; it is also the expected method for communication between the two roles of any feedback or changes. Comments are stored as metadata and are only viewable by users associated with the outline. Comments do not appear in the final published version of the outline.
Comments are made and associated with specific elements and can be displayed in either the Activity Log or through comment badges. Like other elements of the outline, you can modify and remove any comments that you make.
| 1. Comment Badges |
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Comment badges are available to both authors and reviewers. They are associated with specific elements and identify how many comments, if any, have been made to those elements. You can select comment badges to see, create, and respond to comments.
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| 2. Activity Log |
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The Activity Log provides a way to see all comments for an outline on a single page. In addition, it allows filtering of comments made by specific users. The Activity Log is available in the section tabs for both authors and reviewers.
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While separating the outline into sections may simplify the creation process, the final outline will result in a single document. To review the outline, you must switch to Review Mode, which can be accomplished by selecting the Review button.
| 1. Review Mode |
Review mode displays the outline as a single, inline document that will reflect the final published result. This is the default view for reviewers. While reviewers are in this mode, they are limited to making comments. Metadata, such as comment badges and last modified dates, are displayed but will not appear in the final output.
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| 2. Actions |
The Actions button allows users to move an outline to the next stage of the review process.
The actions available in this window will depend on your role in the outline and the outline's current status. Once you complete this action, the appropriate users in the next step of the review process will be notified.
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| 3. Printing Your Outline |
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By selecting the Print button, you can generate a sample PDF of the current outline for review purposes.
Note that the PDF of the outline created from Print is always watermarked as draft and is only a sample document. This version should not be shared publicly.
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| 4. Creating a PDF for Distribution |
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The function of creating a PDF to be distributed via print or a web link is currently still under development.
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| 5. Making Additional Changes |
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If an outline is still being drafted or undergoing revisions, authors can switch back to editor mode by selecting the Editor button.
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Each outline is divided into logical sections, with a separate tabbed page for each section, where you can enter or change the appropriate course information in the provided fields. Note that for this pilot phase, outlines have been populated with content from previous outlines; you will be able to update or change from previous iterations of the course.
| 1. General Details |
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This section collects and displays calendar information about the course and is pre-populated by other systems on campus.
Modifying Course Details
Although calendar information cannot be modified in the tool, you will be able to customize much of the information in the Details section. Please ensure that any information you provide does not conflict with existing authoritative sources such as Colleague or WebAdvisor.
Editing course details lets you modify some of the information.
Course Details Display Format
On the published outline, the course details appear on the first page as the first section.
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| 2. Instructional Support |
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This section displays the instructional support staff associated with a course. As an author, you will be able to associate any existing member of the University to your outline.
Lookup Instructional Support
You can associate support staff to your outline from the Menu on the Statement's tab. The system is integrated with the University's central directory allowing you to search--with any combination of central login--first name or last name, and automatically retrieve profile information.
After searching, a result of matching user profiles will appear and you can decide to add them to the outline.
Modifying Instructional Support
Once added to the outline, any details retrieved from the central directory can be further modified. The member's role in the project and name must be defined.
Instructional Support Display Format
On the published outline, Instructional Support staff are grouped by their roles in the order of Instructors, Teaching Assistants, and Other Instructional Support roles. Any fields left blank for a specific member (notes, email, etc.) will be excluded from the published outline.
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| 3. Resources |
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The Resources section displays learning resources that students may require while taking the course.
Creating Resources
You can create resources for your outline by clicking the Menu button on the Resources page. You will be required to specify the Requirement type, Resource type and Display text for the resource. The Display text should clearly identify the resource, while additional details, such as publication or authors, can be included in the Description field.
Resources Display Format
On the published outline, resources are grouped by their requirement type in the order of Required, Recommended, and Additional. Any fields left blank for a specific resource (URL, description, etc.) will be excluded from the published outline.
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| 4. Outcomes |
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The Outcomes section displays the course learning outcomes students will be able to demonstrate upon successful completion of the course.
Creating Outcomes
You add outcomes to your outline by clicking the Menu button on the Outcomes tab. For each outcome, you must provide a statement that describes the significant and essential learning that learners will achieve and can demonstrate upon successful completion of the course.
Associating Program Outcomes
Please note that many departments do not associate program learning outcomes (PLOs) in their outlines.
For some academic units, PLOs been have defined within the system and associated with each course in the unit. For each course outcome that you create, you will be asked to define its relationship by mapping it to zero or more program learning outcomes.
Outcomes Display Format
On the published outline, course learning outcomes appear in their own section as a numbered list. The list of outcomes is proceeded by the statement "By the end of this course, you should be able to:".
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| 5. Activities |
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The Activities section displays teaching and learning activities that will take place in the course.
Creating Activity Items
You can schedule or add an activity to your outline by clicking the Menu button on the Activities tab. You will be required to specify the Activity type, when the activity occurs, and the topic of the activity.
Activity Display Format
On the published outline, scheduled items are grouped and displayed by their Activity type, with each type appearing in a table of its own subsection.
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| 6. Assessment |
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This section displays the methods, breakdown, and specific due dates for assessments in a course. It collects individual assessments used within a course and then allows the creation of marking schemes based on those assessments.
Creating Assessments
You can add assessments to your outline from the Menu on the Schedule tab. When creating assessments, you will be required to specify the Assessment type and name. Although not required, the time period for when the assessment is to take place should also be specified, either with specific start and end dates, or by specifying the week number. A weighting (%) for each assessment should also be provided.
Associating Assessments to Outcomes
For each assessment that you create, you will be asked to define its relationship with the course and program level learning outcomes. Each assessment should be linked with one or more of the course outcomes, which have in turn been associated with program learning outcomes. For each relationship, you will also be asked to specify at which level the assessment will be measured.
Marking Schemes and Distributions
Using the assessments created for a given outline, the system will allow for the generation of distribution schemes, with each outline having up to five (5) marking schemes. By selecting the reload distribution scheme option  , the system will be able to generate a default distribution table using the currently specified assessment types and weighting. You will then be able to further adjust individual values within the marking scheme.
Assessment Display Format
On the published outline, assessments are separated into two subsections: Marking Schemes and Distributions, and individual Assessments. Marking Schemes and Distributions appears as a table in the first subsection, grouping assessment types and the attributed weighting for each of the marking schemes. Individual Assessments appear in the next subsection, grouped by the assessment type.
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| 7. Statements |
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This section displays standard statements that relate to a course. As an author, you will be able to create and modify standard statements that are specific to your course. Statements required by the department, college or University are automatically pulled and included in your outline.
Creating Statements
You can add course statements from the Menu on the Statements tab. All statements related to your offering should be collected in this one section as opposed to being dispersed throughout the outline. You will be required to provide a heading and the content for each of your statements, and each unique statement should be created individually. There is no limit to the number of statements you can provide, but please ensure that you are not duplicating or conflicting statements provided by the department, college or University.
Statement Display Format
On the published outline, course, department and University statements are grouped accordingly, with each displayed in their own sections and numbered accordingly.
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