Schoology, a popular learning management system (LMS), offers a robust set of tools for organizing and streamlining the educational process for instructors and students alike. One handy feature is the ability to link courses, allowing teachers to manage content and assessments across multiple class sections efficiently.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about linking classes in Schoology, including the benefits, prerequisites, step-by-step instructions, and best practices.
Why Link Classes in Schoology?
Linking classes in Schoology offers several compelling advantages:
- Save Time: Instead of manually updating and posting materials, assignments, and discussions in each separate class section, you can create them once and automatically have them appear across all linked sections.
- Consistency: Linking classes guarantees that all your students in multiple sections receive the same materials and instructions ensuring a consistent learning experience.
- Reduce Errors: When you only need to update content in one place, you drastically reduce the chance of inconsistencies or accidental omissions.
- Enhanced Collaboration: Linked classes can facilitate collaboration and sharing of resources among teachers instructing the same course.
Prerequisites for Linking Classes in Schoology
To successfully link classes in Schoology, make sure you meet these requirements:
- Course Alignment: The classes you wish to link must be the same course. You cannot link different courses together.
- Grading Periods: Classes must belong to the same grading period.
- Unique Enrollment: Classes cannot have overlapping student rosters. Each student should be uniquely enrolled in only one of the linked sections.
- Course Admins: All linked classes must have the same Course Admins assigned.
How to Link Classes in Schoology: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Navigate to “My Courses”: Log in to your Schoology account. From the homepage, click on the “Courses” dropdown menu and select “My Courses.”
- Identify the Master Section: Locate the class section you want to designate as the “master” section. This is where you’ll primarily add and manage course content.
- Access the Gear Icon: Find the gear icon located to the right of the master section’s name. Click on it.
- Choose “Link Existing Sections”: A dropdown menu will appear. From this menu, select the “Link Existing Sections” option.
- Select Sections to Link: A list of eligible class sections for linking will be displayed. Tick the checkbox next to each section you want to include.
- Click “Next”: Review the summary of the sections you’re about to link. If everything looks accurate, click the “Next” button.
- Confirm Linking: You’ll see a confirmation message outlining the ramifications of linking sections. Read it carefully and click “Link Sections” to finalize the process.
Congratulations! Your selected class sections are now successfully linked.
Best Practices for Managing Linked Classes
- Careful Updates: When adding new content to the master section, ensure it’s suitable and relevant to all linked class sections.
- Individual Assignments: If you need to create assignments or assessments unique to a specific section, you can still do so even after linking.
- Utilize the Unlink Option: If you made a mistake or the circumstances change, you can always unlink sections by accessing the gear icon and selecting “Unlink Sections.”
Conclusion
By mastering the process of linking classes in Schoology, you’ll gain a valuable tool for saving time, ensuring consistency in your teaching, and reducing the potential for errors. Whether you’re managing multiple sections of the same course or collaborating with fellow teachers, this feature can significantly streamline your course management efforts within the Schoology platform.