The Master Template Process

Ferris, ElizabethGranja, FernandoFlorida International University

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What we are going to discuss

• the instructional design and pedagogy behind the master template creation

• the process of applying the master template

• the reasons behind using snapshot to replace the master template daily

• “speed bumps” hit along the way

• other applications of this process

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About FIU Online

• FIU has 46,000 students• FIU Online supports over

11,000 fully online student• Over 500 fully online

courses a semester• Learn 9 user since 2010

with full migration in 2011

• Our Model:

• Instructional Designers

• DEE team

• LMS team

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Why a Master Template

• Branding• Quality • Consistency

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Quality Matters

• 1.1 Getting Started

• 1.3 Nettiquette

• 1.4 Policies

• 1.7 Self Introduction

• 1.8 Introduce Yourself

• 7.1 Student Technical Support

• 7.2 Accessibility

• 7.3 Academic Support

• 7.4 Student Support

• 8.1 Accommodations

faculty-centered, peer review process that is designed to certify the quality of online and blended courses

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The Problem

• How should we have the master template applied to each course?

• How can we be sure master template was authentic?

• How can we make this an automatic process?

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How We Implemented It and What We Learned

• Template through snapshot for new courses

• Master Template Layout ( 3 - course setup )

• Speed Bumps

• Beyond the Master Template

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Template For All New Courses

• “Snapshot” Master Template is created and managed by DEE Team.

• Master Template “Snapshot” course is disabled via snapshot to ensure content is not changed.

• Our IMS snapshot XML process attaches the Master Template to all new courses.

• Instructional Designer enters the new course and makes appropriate changes. (Syllabus, content, etc..)

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Master Template Layout

• Two courses – Development and Snapshot

• Development course is where the DEE Team makes all changes and updates.

• Snapshot courses is the finalized Master Template course that is pushed to all new courses.

• Every time there is a new update to the Master Template the DEE Team contacts the LMS Team. LMS Team archives the Development course and restores a new Snapshot course. Old Snapshot course is unlocked and deleted.

• LMS Team notifies the SSD Team of the new Section ID and SSD Team modifies the Master Template Process.

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Daily Master Template Process

• A “Third” course is created daily.

• Custom Master Template process – starts at 11pm• Create new Master Template course – uses snapshot course.

• Delete previous Daily Master Template course

• Provides access to all staff users – from query on database.

• This course is added to all Instructional Designers for them to have access to the Master Template content and perform course copies.

• This process ensures two things – automatic process and correct content.

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Complete Layout

• Master Template courses – Development, Snapshot, Daily Master Template.

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Speed Bumps

• Course Menu course menu changes order of links in the course menu. Encountered randomly.

• Permissions permissions on course files do not transfer over. Master Template not big deal, but Showcase course big issue. Showcase course must use absolute links.

• Course Files Sometimes course files do not carry over. Issue when course files are not in snapshot file. We always check.

• User Access No users must be enrolled in Snapshot course, if not they will be added to all courses automatically that uses the template. We always check.

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Beyond the Master Template

• Different Templates – We are currently using different templates for Web Assisted and CBA Web Assisted newly created courses.

• New types of Templates – different departments or programs.

• Giving ID’s the ability to choose a template.

• Blank Template – used for when ID’s will perform a course copy. Would cut down work needed to clean up course.

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Questions?

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Contact

• Elizabeth Ferris - eferris@fiu.edu @biz_ferris

• Fernando Granja – fgranja@fiu.edu

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