When should I use the Course Management Tool vs. bulk copying
courses?
Bulk copying courses from the district domain via CSV import allows district administrators to create multiple copies of the same course in bulk for multiple school domains. The courses should be copied from a master copy at the district domain into one or multiple sub-domains. The Course
Management Tool can be used to create single copies of multiple courses within the same domain.
The chart below provides examples for determining which course copy method is best for your
situation.
If your course copy need is ...... | Then consider using ..... |
Copying multiple courses to multiple schools (Domains) |
Bulk copying courses using the CSV import will allow you to add multiple School Domain ID’s to the spreadsheet for individual courses. Course copies will be created in the specified domains. |
Creating multiple copies of the same course |
The Bulk Copy CSV Import method will allow the multiple copies of the same course to be created at once. The Course Management Tool does not allow copying of previously copied courses until enrollments have been added to those courses. |
Copying multiple courses to one school (Domain) |
Use the Course Management Tool to quickly copy multiple courses to a single Domain. |
Retrieving the Master Course List from the District Domain
Typically the district administrator performs the following actions from the district domain where the master courses to be copied live. However, courses can also be copied from a school domain if master course copies are kept there.
Note: If the same set of courses needs to be copied to multiple schools or programs under the
same district, the same import file can be used. Alternatively, the Domain ID column can be added
to the file and the courses that need to go into each school can be placed into one file.
To save time and ensure that correct column headings are in place, the master course list can be exported using the Course Details report for the district domain.
To pull the Course Details report, follow the steps below:
1. Log into the domain as an administrator within the district domain.
2. Select Other Reports from the menu.
3. Select Course Details.
4. Click Submit to export all active courses within the district domain.
5. Open the report using a spreadsheet application. The spreadsheet looks similar to this
example:
Using this report, you can now create a file to use for bulk course creation importing.
Create the Course Import File from Course Details Report
Modify the Course Details report data to format it for course importing as follows:
1. Create a new column to the far left called Action. Copy down the word Add into every row
under this column.
2. Create another new column called Copy Action. Copy down the word Child into every row
under this column.
3. If the course import will be for multiple domains, keep the Domain ID and Domain Name
columns and update each row to the appropriate domain information. If the course import is
for a single domain, these columns can be deleted.
4. Change the column header of Course ID to Base ID.
• Note: This is a very important step so that the courses do not import empty!
5. The Term column can be used to define fall / spring terms, or delete this column if not used.
6. The external ID field is used to document integration mapping between SIS and Pearson
Connexus. Delete this column if not used.
7. Modify these column headers to the following new names:
- Course Title change to Title
- Course Type change to Type
- Course Start Date change to Start Date-First day of enrollment. Defaults to course start date. Please use the Year/Month/Day format, such as 2009/1/30 or 1999/10/03.
- Course End Date change to End Date.- Last day of enrollment. Defaults to course end date. Please use the Year/Month/Day format, such as 2009/1/30 or 1999/10/03.
8. Delete all other columns to the right of End Date in the report. The columns listed above are
the only fields that will properly copy when copying a course. Other fields must be
edited/added after the course is created in the domain.
9. The Course Details report represents dates with time. You can reformat the column to only
date format within the spreadsheet. Select the option for Year/Month/Day format, such as 2009/1/30 or 1999/10/03.
10. With the changes complete, the file should look similar to the image below.
11. Save the file as a CSV file (in the Save As type list).
Importing a CSV Course File
Log into the domain where the courses will live as a school or district admin.
1. Select the Admin app.
2. Select Courses from the toolbar.
3. Select the More button, then Import.
4. A new window called Import Course appears. Select Browse.
5. Find the CSV file you saved, select it, and select Open.
6. The Import Courses pop-up will list the courses contained in the CSV. Review the details to
ensure accuracy. If any rows appear in red, that indicates an error. When you confirm
accuracy, select Import.
7. An Importing process bar will appear and the page will repopulate with all of the courses that
were imported, with the row now showing "xx rows imported".
8. Select Close. The imported courses are now in the Courses tool and available for further editing or enrollment.
Modify New Courses to Add Course Metadata
After the courses have been imported, you can edit their information to add definitions for course
metadata, such as the Teacher Type.
To edit existing courses to add course metadata information, follow these steps:
1. From the school or district domain, log in as an administrator.
2. Select Other Reports from the menu.
3. Select Course Details report.
4. Ensure that you have the school domain selected, along with Active course status.
5. Click Submit.
6. Open the report using a spreadsheet application.
7. Create a new column to the far left called Action. Copy down the word Edit into every row
under this column.
8. Delete all other columns except Course ID and Title.
9. Add a new row after the Title column named meta-teacher-type.
10. If any additional course metadata fields are needed, be sure to add “meta-“ to the name of
that metadata field in the first box found within the domain menu’s Settings, Course Options. 11.The CSV to edit existing courses should look similar to this example:
Follow the same steps to import this file to edit existing courses and append course metadata.
Additional Articles