Module 5 - Courses and Sections Overview

Video Summary

• Courses vs. Sections (Core Concept):

  • A course = the subject (e.g., Algebra 1), independent of year/term.

  • A section = a specific instance of that course (tied to term/teacher/specific times).

Course Page Overview

• Accessible to admins only; lists all courses.

• Includes:

  • Course number, abbreviation, and course name.

  • Courses are alphabetized by name.

• Left sidebar filters:

  • Academic level

  • Department

  • Archived courses

• Action menu:

  • Archive courses (cannot delete)

  • “Advance sections” (rarely used)

Course Management

• Courses are never deleted, only archived.

• Archive when:

  • Course is no longer offered

  • Making major changes (e.g., credit value) → create a new version

• Supports course options (e.g., Honors, AP designations)

Sections Overview

• Found within each course.

• Include:

  • Academic term

  • Section number

  • Teacher

  • Schedule (time/day)

  • Capacity

• Represent the actual class students enroll in.

Impact on Reports

• Progress Reports:

  • Show course name only (not section number)

• Transcripts:

  • Show course name by default

  • Can use a custom transcript name override (for clarity with colleges)

Naming Best Practices

• Course name = subject-focused (e.g., “Algebra 1”)

  • Avoid generic names like “Second Grade”

• Keep naming consistent and simple, especially early on

• For sorting:

  • Use “Algebra 1 Honors”, not “Honors Algebra 1” (keeps related courses grouped)

Course Numbers

• Required but primarily for internal/admin use

• Flexible:

  • Can be simple (1, 2, 3) or complex (structured codes)

• Example complex system:

  • Grade + department + sequence (e.g., 090401)

• Can be edited later

Course Abbreviations

• Required field

• Can be:

  • Simple (e.g., “Math”)

  • Structured codes (e.g., “SCI II”)

• Should be meaningful but concise

Section Numbers

• Identify specific class instances

• Visible to teachers and students

• Flexible format:

  • Simple (1, 2)

  • Detailed (year + section, time-based codes, etc.)

• Useful for:

  • Messaging

  • Distinguishing multiple sections of same course

• Can include:

  • Year, time, day, or teacher identifiers

Key Setup Strategy

• Required fields when creating a course:

  • Course name

  • Course number

  • Course abbreviation

• Section numbering comes after (course number + section number structure)

Overall Guidance

• Start simple, especially for smaller schools

• Scale complexity (naming, numbering) as needed

• Prioritize:

  • Clarity for reporting (courses)

  • Precision for scheduling and communication (sections)

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