Understanding Management of Classes

Before you can set up classes, you must:

• Define courses.

  See Creating Courses.

• Define equipment, materials, facilities and rooms, instructors, and session pattern templates (if applicable).

  See Understanding Learning Resource Management.

• (Optional) Define session pattern templates.

  See Patterns Page.

• Set up learning component types.

  See Setting Up Learning Component Types.

a class is an instance of a course. If you think of a course as a course, then a class would be a class. Classes are comprised of learning components, which are characterized by how they deliver instructional content to learners. For instance, learning components can be instructor led and scheduled, or they can be web-based and self-paced. Learning components are the building blocks that comprise a class. Classes contain at least one learning component, but they could contain as many as needed to reach the learning objectives of the class. So, for example, a single class could be comprised of a web-based test, an in class session, and an online student evaluation survey. This flexibility enables you to mix instructor led and self-paced components as appropriate to optimally achieve the objectives of your training. Furthermore, you can create multiple classes for the same course using different combinations of components. This enables you to cater to the different learning styles, conditions, and needs of a diverse learner base.

To define a class:

1. Define class details, such as pricing, learning period, duration, enrollment limits, waitlist rules, and drop rules.

   See Defining Class Details.

2. Define the learning components that make up the class.

   See Understanding Web-Based, Test, and Survey Learning Components.

   See Understanding Sessions, Webcasts, and Assignments.

3. Define completion rules for the class.

   See Defining Learning Component Completion Rules.

4. (Optional) Add materials, attachments, and notes to the class.

   See Adding Attachments and Files to Classes.

5. (Optional) Calculate the estimated costs of the class.

   See Assigning Class Costs.

6. Activate the class on the Classes - Class Details page.

7. Run the Create Catalog Index process so that the new class appears when searching the learning catalog.

   See Updating the Catalog Indexes.

Every class has a delivery method, which you define at the course level. Delivery methods set defaults for new classes and ease the searching and browsing of the catalog by indicating to the learner the available classes (differentiated by delivery method) for a course. For example, you can offer the course "Communication Etiquette" two ways, through a self paced offering and through a scheduled offering. So depending on the learner's preference, he or she could choose the class that best suits his or her needs. You can define as many delivery method types as you like.

See Defining Delivery Method Types.

Classes cannot include curricula, items, or other classes. The system tracks the following information at the class level: fees, costs, continuing credit units, minimum and maximum number of learners, and waitlists. In addition, classes can have a learning period, such as learners must complete the class 30 days after they enroll. You cannot define a learning period for a learning component. However, you can define a duration for each learning component. Component duration is how long the component is expected to take a learner to complete, such as 1 hour for reading a chapter, or 4 hours for completing web-based content. Duration is informational only. You can also define duration for a class in addition to the class's learning period.

You can define as many learning component types as you want, but you must associate every learning component type with one of the six delivered basic learning component types: web-based, session, webcast, test, survey, or assignment. You associate the learning component types that you create with a basic learning component type so the system knows what information needs to be defined for the learning component and how to track learner progress in that component.

Class templates may be used to quickly create new courses and classes, or classes from existing courses, or multiple items and classes in a single job.

See Defining Class Templates.