Types of course template properties
- Course Template Code - A short form for the template name, used to differentiate it from other templates. For example, in the case of Introduction to Science and Technology, "ST100" could be used.
- Course Template Name - The full, recognizable name of the course the template is used for. For example, "Introduction to Science and Technology" or "Principles of Accounting."
- Course Template Path - The location on the server where files associated with the template are stored. You can type the path into the field or click Browse to navigate the server’s directory structure and select a folder. The path length is limited to 230 characters. The path should be unique; using the same path as another course template or course offering might cause files to be overwritten.
- Department - The department through which the course is offered. The selected department will automatically be associated with all course offerings attached to this template. (Your institution might use another term in place of department.)
Course offering properties
- Active - Controls whether the course is currently active (available to users). Inactive courses are normally visible only to system administration. This setting is independent from the course offering’s start and end dates.
- Content Sandboxing - Controls whether an HTML file executes scripts (such as JavaScript) within an iFrame only, preventing them from executing outside the iframe (against the domain).
- Course Address Book - Controls whether the course offering is listed as a filter option in the Email inbox and address book. When selected, this setting allows users enrolled in the course offering to easily email other users in the course and in their course groups and section.
- Course Offering Code - A short form for the course offering name, used to differentiate it from other course offerings. For example, Introduction to Science and Technology might use "ST100_Fall2012."
- Course Offering Name - The full, recognizable name of the course plus the session (term, semester, etc.) in which it is offered. For example, “Introduction to Science and Technology Fall 2012” or “Principles of Accounting (W06).” Used throughout Brightspace wherever courses are listed.
- Course Offering Path - The location on the server where files associated with the course offering are stored. You can type the path into the field or click Browse to navigate the server’s directory structure and select a folder. The path length is limited to 230 characters. Using the same path as another course offering or course template can cause files to be overwritten.
- Course Template Code - The code your organization uses to identify the course offering’s parent template.
- Course Template Name - The name of the course offering’s parent template.
- Dark Color - Color for widgets and title background. White text appears on Dark Color areas.
- Department - The department the course offering’s parent template is associated with. Changing the department affects all other course offerings associated with the same template.
- Description - A description of the course offering.
- End Date - The date when the course offering closes. Users cannot access the course offering after this date without the appropriate permissions.
- Force Language - When selected, the course language overrides user language preferences.
- Has Sections - Controls whether the course offering has multiple sections. If the check box is not visible, you can add it to the page through Form Elements > CourseOfferingInfo > HasSections.
- Language - The language the course uses. All text in the interface is displayed in this language.
- Light Color - Seldom used color option. White text appears on Light Color area. We suggest setting this to the same color as the Dark Color.
- Registration - Opens the course for self-registration.
- Semester - The semester in which the course offering is offered. Your institution might use an alternate name (e.g., term, session).
- Soft Color - Color setting used for tabs. Black text is used with Soft Color areas.
- Start Date - The date the course offering opens. Users cannot access the course before this date without the appropriate permissions.
About SIS integration
If your D2L system is integrated with an external Student Information System (SIS/UIS), the integration service likely creates new course offerings automatically when it imports courses from the SIS. You can still use course templates to configure and store the standard components of a course; you simply need to map incoming courses to their corresponding course templates. When data is imported from an SIS, it is first moved into Holding Tank where you can view it and manually prepare it for integration into Brightspace. It is in this stage of the integration process that incoming course offerings can be linked to existing course templates.
To map a course to the correct template, use the Course Mapping tool to locate the course in Holding Tank, and then enter the template code for the appropriate template.
For example, say you have a course called Introduction to Science and Technology with the template code (specified when the template is created) “ST100.” When importing new data from the SIS, you would locate the Introduction to Science and Technology course using the Course Mapping Tool and enter “ST100” as the Template Code for this incoming course. The integration service would then create a new course offering in Learning Environment and associate it with the Introduction to Science and Technology course template. You could then copy the course’s standard components from the course template into the new course offering.
All SIS logs are available in Universal Time Coordinated (UTC) format.
For more information about SIS Integration, see Holding Tank – Administrator Guide.