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Course Outline Repository (Enhanced)“The CORE”

Using the Enhanced Application

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Table of Contents1. Introduction to Quality Assurance

2. Using the Applicationa. Fall 2008 Process/Critical Dates

b. Three Key Tabs

c. Creating/Editing a Master Course Outline

• Editing an Existing Course Outline

• Approved Course Outlines

• No Course Description

• Populating Information

• Topics

• Essential Employability Skills

• Gen Ed Themes

• Learning Outcomes

• Learning Elements

• Assessments

• Approvals

3. Resourcesa. Maintenance

• Search for a Resource• Adding a Resource• ISBNs Explained

b. Linking Resources • No Resources• Finished Linking for Now?• Submit Resources for Approval • Viewing Approved Resources

4. Linking to Vocational and/or External Standards

a. Quick Link• Finished but want to come back?• Approving Quick Links• Quick Link for Gen Ed• Approval Checklist

b. CLinking• What is CLinking?• CLinking on CORE

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The CORE• Rolling out in phases:

• 2007/08 – 1st Year Course Outlines• 2008/09 – 2nd Year Course Outlines• 2009/10 – 3rd Year Course Outlines

• Benefits:• One time input and approvals • Easy editing• Course outlines accessible across departments• Instant access for students when registering• On-line archives for students in 2007/08 intake onward

Done

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Ontario College Quality Assurance Service

Credentials Validation Service (CVS)

Program Mapping:Outcomes-based course outlinesLinks to StandardsCurriculum Mapping MatrixAnalysis

Provincial Quality Assurance Process Audit (PQAPA)

Program ReviewsKPIsFast Track (aka FITS)Mapping Report

Program Quality Assurance at Mohawk College

Other InitiativesSemester Start

Course Outline RepositoryNew on-line applicationOne outline per courseOwnership of quality

On-going Matrix UpdatesMay/JuneMini-reviewQuality Enhancement

Learning PlanImplementationCoordination

AssessmentsMeasure outcomesLinked to StandardsEssential Employability Skills

The CORE was developed in response to Ministry and Colleges Ontario call for quality processes and assurance.

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Course Outline Repository

Using the Application

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Checklist of Approvals• Master Course Outline• Resources• Quick Link to VS and/or ES

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Creating/Editing a Course Outline

Three Key Tabs

• Course Outline – one master document per course, automatically applies to all programs that offer the course, no matter in which semester

• Resources - text/courseware/on-line/supplies by program,

• Links & CLinks – program specific

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Course Information

Fill fields, in order, across the screen:

Effective Term: 200830 (Note: no longer differentiate between Post-secondary and Continuing Ed)

Subject Code: 4 letter code preceding course code (ie COMM)

Course Code: 2 letter, 3 number or 5 number code (ie LL041, or 10092)

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Existing Course Outlines

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Approved Courses

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No Course Description

If no course description exists in Banner, this page will NOT populate. You can continue to enter course outline information in subsequent sections but the outline cannot be approved until the course description is entered.

Complete a Course Update form and send the hard copy to Tammy Capone.

The information will automatically populate one the course description is input.

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Populating Information

Once you fill in the top fields and press enter, the repository automatically populates the remaining fields on this page using information from Banner.

If any of the information (i.e. course description) needs to be amended, you need to complete a Course Update form and send a hard copy to Tammy Capone.

Foundational: learners acquire a broad introduction to and/or context for further learning.Specialized: learners achieve in-depth and/or focused learning on a limited number of topicsIntegrational: learners synthesize numerous concepts and processes at a program-exit level. 

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Topics

Topics are “titles” for your course learning outcomes. If you have 3 outcomes, you likely have 3 “titles.” They should be input one at a time (so they show up as bullets).

If you want to change the order of the topics, click edit and change the # in the sequence (i.e. from 1 to 3, and 3 to 1) and click update. The topics will rearrange into the new sequence.

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Standards – EEs & GE Themes

Drop down menu for:• Essential Employability Skills (EEs) – links to EEs remain the same no matter to which program the course is offered • General Education (GE) – if a course links to GE themes, it cannot be linked to Vocational Standards (VS).

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Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes, usually 3-5 for a 42 hour course: Describe one of the required skill proficiencies for course Capture performance a competent person would use outside context of the course Begin with an action verb (at the appropriate level of Bloom’s Taxonomy) Specify an integrated performance instead of multiple performances Describe a performance that is observable and can be assessed Require application of skill, knowledge or attitude/value Present a clear, concise and precise statement describing the required action Describe learner performances, not instructor’s activities, learning plans, or instructional standards

All learning outcomes are input first; elements follow on the next screen. Input the learning outcomes one at a time, push add, then do the same for the next. The stem “Upon successful completion of this course, the students will reliably demonstrate the ability to ...” already exists in the database. You do not need to type it in here.

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Learning Elements

Learning elements are associated with specific learning outcomes and define/clarify the process by which the learning outcome can be accomplished.

Input learning elements one by one so they appear as a list (as below). If the list is long, the elements will wrap to a second page.

Development of learning elements follows the same 8 characteristics as learning outcomes.

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Assessments

In most cases, there is a selection from the drop down menu that will meet broad assessment requirements.

Since there is only one outline per course, the assessments section must remain broad enough to allow for faculty and student flexibility while maintaining the overall integrity of the course.

Indicate whether or not the course is “requirements met” or if it receives a grade.

Select broad assessment types and indicate what % of the course grade will be earned using the selected method. Assessments must add up to 100%. Link at least one learning outcome to each assessment.

Once an assessment has been used, it does not appear on the drop down menu anymore.

“Requirements met” courses may have assessment types defined but no weight % will be assigned.

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Approvals

Once the input is complete and proofed, it is sent for Associate Dean approval, course outlines cannot be edited.

Students will not be able to access course outlines until they are approved.

Approvals remain for course outlines from one semester to the next, until the Associate Dean takes it off.

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Resources

All resources (textbooks, courseware, online resources, and supplies) must be input into the database using the Maintenance function. A resource is input only once, regardless of the number of programs for which it is used.

Resources are then linked to specific programs using the Linking function.

All resources must be submitted for approval before the course outline can be served to students.

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Resources - Maintenance

In Maintenance, select the type of resource(s) you want to add.

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Searching for a Resource

Before you input a resource, search the database using the ISBN, title, key word, author, or publisher.

If the resource exists in the database, you can go directly to Linking.

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Adding a ResourceTo add a textbook, enter the correct ISBN, title, author, publisher, and version. You can find the ISBN on the cover of your text.

Search for book information – enter a key word in Search All

• As of 2007, ISBN became 13 digits long.

• For a 10 digit ISNB created before 2007, add the “prefix” 978. Some 10 digit ISBN end in X

A different ISBN will be assigned, however, if you have ordered a special printing of the text (i.e. selected chapters) or are having it bundled with other materials (i.e. another text, workbook). You will need to contact your publisher’s representative to obtain the correct ISBN.

Please note: at the moment, there is no edit or delete feature in the database at this time. Please proof information before you add.

It is essential that all resource information be correct and match that used by the bookstore to order textbooks, courseware and other resource material.

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International Standard Numbers are unique codes used by publishers, libraries and suppliers to identify published monographs, serials and music.

ISBNs (International Standard Book Numbers) are assigned to books, pamphlets, educational kits, microforms, CD-ROMs and other digital and electronic publications;

ISSNs (International Standard Serial Numbers) to serial publications;

ISMNs (International Standard Music Numbers) to printed music publications.

The parts of a 10-digit ISBN and the corresponding EAN-13 and barcode. Note the different check digits in each. The part of the EAN-13 labeled "EAN" is the Bookland country code that converts the 10-digit ISBN to 13 digits

ISBNs Explained

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Adding Custom CoursewareCustom Courseware has either a 6 or 8 digit barcode number assigned by the print room.

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Adding Online ResourcesAdd the URL of any online resource that students need to access during the course, including links to WebCT or FRED.

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Adding SuppliesAdd a list of supplies students require to successfully complete the course. Before adding a supply, make sure it hasn’t been added previously.

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Linking Resources

In this section, resources are linked to individual, specific programs. Complete the resources for one program before moving on the next following the instructions on the following pages.

Select the Subject, Course, and Program (CE=0000)

Version – is the POS version (defaults to the most current version)

Semester – select the semester in which this course is offered in the program area

Select the Resource type and then indicate if it’s:

REQ – required

REC – recommended

REF – reference material

Click these ONLY When you are finished inputting ALL resources:

Finish – if you want to come back to this section later (i.e. to proof and edit)

Submit – if you are absolutely, positively, sure that you have no more resources to input AND all the information input is correct.

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Find/Link a Text

Once you select the type of resource (i.e. textbook) the database list of all textbooks will appear. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen … it could be a long way …and search for the text you want by entering a keyword. To add to current resources, double click on the selected text.

When you’re finished selecting texts, go on to the next resource type.

When a resource has been mistakenly added, you can easily delete it at this point.

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Find/Link Online ResourcesLink online resources in the same way as you did texts. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. If you see the online resource you want, you can double click on the selected supply to add to current resources.

Or you can enter a keyword to search. Again, double click on the selected resource to add to current resources.

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Find/Link Supplies

Link supplies in the same way as you did texts.

Scroll down to the bottom of the screen, enter a keyword to search for the supply. Double click on the selected supply to add to current resources.

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Find/Link Courseware

Link Custom Courseware in the same way as you did texts.

Scroll down to the bottom of the screen, enter a keyword to search for the supply. Double click on the selected courseware to add to current resources.

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No Resources

Even if the course has no resources, you must indicate this for each program to which it is offered. This information is stored in the database under “courseware”

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No Resources

This is how “No Resources” is stored in the database. This does not, however, show on the student view of the course outline.

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Finished Linking for Now?

If you want to proof resources or come back to keep inputting resources later, click on Finish.

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Finished Message

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Submit for Approval

If you’ve finished inputting your resources and are certain everything is input correctly, click Submit

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Viewing Approved Resources

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Link and CLink

When linking courses to Program Vocational and/or External Standards, you have two choices:

Quick Link – link the course outline to standards

CLink – link to course learning outcomes to standards & characterize links (1, 2, 3, 4)

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Quick Link

Quick link courses to Program Vocational and/or External Standards.

To add links, select the type of standard (VS or ES), then select the specific standard(s) to which the course outline links.

Select ONLY those standards that the course specifically addresses and assesses, either in part or in its entirety.

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Finished but want to come back later?

If you want to leave Quick Link and come back later, select “Finish”

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Approving Quick Links

“Quick Links” must be approved before for each program to which the course is offered before outlines will be served to students.

Before you approve “Quick Links” make sure you’ve selected the appropriate VS and/or ES.

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Quick Link for Gen Ed Courses

When a course has been linked to Gen Ed themes, in “Quick Link” the version shows as GE. Even though there are no VS and/or ES links for a Gen Ed course, you still need to submit the “Quick Link” for approval before the outline can be served to students.

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Checklist of Approvals• Unless all three of the following are approved,

the course outline cannot be served to students:• Master Course Outline• Resources• Quick Link to VS and/or ES

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Course Outline Repository (Enhanced)“The CORE”

CLinking Demystified

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Quick Link versus CLinkQuick Linking• Identifies which vocational

standards (VS), essential employability skills (EE), and/or external standards (ES) the course (as a whole) helps the student accomplish

• Linking is used during for the:

• Program approval process

• Credentials Validation Service (CVS) process

• Detailed on student view of course outlines on a program by program basis

CLinking• Linking course outcomes to

standards

• Characterizing relationship of outcomes to achieving standard

• A link is established when the performance described in the Course Learning Outcome contributes to a learner’s ability to achieve the graduate level performance.

• CLinking used to develop Curriculum Mapping Matrix (CMM)

• CMM basis of program map and informs on-going program quality enhancement and program review

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Linking Considerations• Does the Learning Outcome and associated

Learning Elements link to any VS, EE, and/or ES and associated Elements of Performance?• A link is established when the performance described in

the Course Learning Outcome contributes to a learner’s ability to achieve the graduate level performance.

• Establish a link only if the VS/EE/ES is explicitly addressed in the course (or previously taught courses). (Do you teach it?)

• Establish a link only if the learner’s performance of the LO is assessed in the course and assigned a grade. (Do you mark it?)

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Linking Considerations• Some courses, notably field placement or capstone courses,

may have learning outcome links to several VS, EE, and/or ES.

• Some courses and/or outcomes may not associate clearly with one set of standards. That’s OK. They usually associate with another set.

• Learning Outcome statements describe performances that lead gradually to the learner’s ability to achieve the graduate level Vocational Standards.

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CLinking with Multiple SMEs• If there are multiple people teaching a course,

before linking, it is best to:• Examine course learning outcomes• Review the range of assessments used by those Subject

Matter Experts (SMEs)• Obtain consensus between SMEs regarding which links

to VS, EE, and/or ES• Is it addressed? Is it assessed?

• Develop a common understanding and agreement on the characterization of the link (i.e. minor, moderate, significant, very significant)

• Review & revise assessments in light of CLinks

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Characterization of Links (CLinking)• The characterization represents the degree to which the

learner performance at the end of the course contributes to the graduate performance described in the VS/EE/ES.

4 very significant degree 3 significant degree 2 moderate degree1 minor degree

• Learning outcomes lead gradually to graduate performance.• Outcomes characterized as “contributing to a minor degree”

are as essential to the learning process as those characterized as “contributing to a very significant degree”.

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In what semester is this

course delivered?How is this course

classified? Foundational? Specialized? Integrated?

To what depth do I assess this learning

outcome? Do I assess it?

At what level of Bloom’s is the outcome being accomplished?

To what degree does this outcome contribute to the

graduate’s ability to do their job?

To what degree does this outcome contribute to the graduate’s ability

to accomplish this standard? Do not force linking!

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Characterization = 1 (Minor)These outcomes tend to be:

• In foundational or introductory courses

• At the beginning of the program

• Associated with lower levels in Blooms (comprehension, application)

• Not assessed at a high level or represent only a portion of the assessment

• A minor contributor toward the grad’s ability to accomplish the overall standard or skill

• Focused on only a portion of the standard or skill, or perhaps on only a few elements of performance

Outcome Contribution to Graduate Performance of

Standard

00.5

11.5

22.5

33.5

44.5

Minor Moderate Significant VerySignificant

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Characterization = 4 (Very Significant)Outcomes tend to be:

• In capstone, specialized, or integrational courses

• In the final year of program

• Associated with higher levels in Blooms (i.e. evaluating, internalizing)

• Assessed at high levels or form a major portion of the assessment

• Focused on the whole standard or skill, and cover a number of elements

• Contribute significantly to the grad’s ability accomplish the standard or skill at a graduate level

• Student can demonstrate with little supervision or guidance

Outcome Contribution to Graduate Performance of

Standard

00.5

11.5

22.5

33.5

44.5

Minor Moderate Significant VerySignificant

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Link and CLink

When linking courses to Program Vocational and/or External Standards, you have two choices:

Quick Link – link the course outline to standards

CLink – link to course learning outcomes to standards & characterize links (1, 2, 3, 4)

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CLinking

Rollover the Link and CLink Tab

Select CLink

Select course and program information from the drop down menus

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CLink on a program-by-program basis

CLinking must be completed for each program to which the course is offered, except Continuing Education (at this point)

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CLink each individual learning outcome

Consider each Course Learning Outcome carefully.

Examine the Learning Elements.

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Consider CLinks to VS, EE, and/or ES

Consider how each course learning outcomes contributes to the graduate’s ability to perform the standard or skill

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Link outcome to standards & characterize

Vocational standards in the current database are those used for Clinking during the Mapping Process. If new exist, please let Jaspreet.Grewal@mohawkcollege.ca know so we can update the files.

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CLinked outcome

The accomplishment of LO01 contributes, to a significant degree, toward the student’s ability to “execute mathematical operations accurately.” Does it?

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Edit, if necessary

If the CLink isn’t right, you can edit it (as long as you do so before you submit a course for approval).

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No external standards

ES gathered during the Mapping Process are in the database. It is the program’s responsibility to ensure appropriate ES are sent through to Curriculum Design team as revisions are made.

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Finish or Submit Approval

Click on Finish if you want to come back later and continue working. Click on Submit if you want to approve CLinking.