Creating Session Learning Components
To create session learning components, use the Maintain Classes (LM_ACT) and the Session Templates (LM_TMPL ) components.
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Page Name |
Definition Name |
Usage |
|---|---|---|
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LM_LC_SES |
Enter or modify name and description information for this learning component. |
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LM_LC_PTRN |
Create session patterns. You can base session patterns on a previously defined session template. You use session patterns to generate actual sessions when the session has a repeating pattern. |
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LM_LC_SES_LIST |
View and edit automatically generated sessions. You can also add and delete sessions. |
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LM_ACT_CNFL |
View sessions that are in conflict. Click the Session Date link or the Conflicting Class link to access the Session Details page, where you can correct the conflict. |
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LM_SES |
Modify automatically generated session details, or create new sessions. |
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Room Detail Page |
LM_ROOM_ADMIN_DTL |
View room detail. The detail is the same as you see on the Room Details page, which you access from the Rooms page in the Facilities component. |
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LM_TMPL |
Create session templates of common class session characteristics. |
Session learning components are scheduled, instructor-led, classroom-based training. They are comprised of sessions. Sessions, in this sense, are blocks of time designated for instruction. When you create session learning components, you can define one or more sessions individually or you can define a session pattern. You also identify instructors, required equipment, and facilities.
To speed the creation of session patterns, you can define session templates that include commonly used scheduling patterns and resource assignments, including instructors, facilities, and materials. Templates decrease the amount of data entry required to create the same session definitions for multiple classes. You can apply a session template to a class that you are scheduling, and then modify the session patterns at the class level as necessary. Session patterns create actual sessions within the class.
Use the Maintain Classes - Component page to enter or modify name and description information for this learning component.
Navigation:
To create a session component, click Add Component, and then select Sessions. To edit a session component, click Edit.
This example illustrates the fields and controls on the Maintain Classes - Component page.
Field or Control |
Description |
|---|---|
Component Name and Short Name |
Enter the full and short name for the session component. |
Description |
Enter a description for the session component. |
Provider Type |
If the session component is provided by a Department or Vendor select a value in this field. |
Provided By |
If you select a value in the Provider Type field, use this field to enter the specific department or vendor that is providing the session component. |
Notes |
Enter any additional notes that you want to list for the session component. |
Use the Patterns page (LM_LC_PTRN) to create session patterns.
You can base session patterns on a previously defined session template. You use session patterns to generate actual sessions when the session has a repeating pattern.
Navigation:
From the Maintain Classes - Component page, click the Patterns page tab.
This example illustrates the fields and controls on the Patterns page.
Field or Control |
Description |
|---|---|
Template ID |
Select a template if you want to use a template to create this session pattern. Create session templates on the Session Templates page. |
Apply Template |
Click to apply the template to your session pattern. The system creates the session based on the template that you apply. You can edit the session pattern after applying a template. |
Session Pattern
Field or Control |
Description |
|---|---|
Facility |
Enter the facility in which you want to hold this session. Define facilities on the Facility page. |
Room |
Enter the room in which you want to hold this session. Define rooms on the Rooms page. |
Start Date |
Enter the start date of this session. Note: This is not necessarily the start date of the class. |
Create |
Enter the number of sessions you want to create. This tells the system when to stop repeating the pattern that you define. The pattern only tells the system on which days it can schedule sessions, such as Tuesdays and Wednesdays. So if you tell the system to create 10 sessions, then the class would repeat every Tuesday and Wednesday for five weeks. The system determines which days based on the session pattern, the start date, and the number of sessions you want it to create. For an example of how the number of sessions you create affects session creation, see Number of Sessions Created Example later in this documentation. Note: If you do not enter the number of sessions to create, the system does not create any sessions. |
Instructors
Click the Add Instructor link to add session instructors. Select an instructor type for each instructor. You can also specify the department or vendor that is providing the instructor's services in the Provider Type and Provided By fields. Any costs for the instructor are added to the class costs. Define instructor types on the Instructor Types page.
Note: The value of the Name Display field is populated by default with the value of the Primary Instructor field on the Maintain Classes - Class Details page. The value of the Type field is populated by default with the instructor type designated as the default on the Instructor Type page.
Equipment
Click the Add Equipment button to select equipment for the session. To narrow your search, select the equipment type. Define equipment types on the Equipment Types page.
Additional Elements
Field or Control |
Description |
|---|---|
Observe Holidays |
Select this check box if you want to observe the holiday schedule that is linked to the facility that you selected for this session. If the system observes holidays and a holiday occurs on a day that would have otherwise become a session, the system finds the next available day and continues the pattern until it has created all the sessions that you specified. Holiday schedules are linked to facilities on the Facility page. For an example of how holidays affect session creation, see Number of Sessions Created Example later in this documentation. |
Delete Existing Sessions |
Select to delete all existing sessions if you have made changes to an existing pattern. The system deletes any sessions previously built by the pattern and any sessions that were added manually. If you don't select this check box, the system adds any new sessions that you build to the existing sessions. |
Build Sessions |
Click to build sessions based on the pattern that you defined. The system does not allow you to build sessions that fall outside of the class start and end dates. |
Simple Session Pattern Example
Suppose a session or webcast learning component runs from June 6 through June 9, Monday to Thursday, and the learning component involves two instructors, one primary and one secondary. This requires four sessions with each session having two instructors. You can have the system generate the four sessions by creating a session pattern, either directly or by using a session pattern template. This table shows how the session template or session would be set up:
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Field |
Field Value |
|---|---|
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Facility |
Building 1 |
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Room |
Room 1 |
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Start Date |
June 6 |
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Start Time |
10:00 a.m. |
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End Time |
5:00 p.m. |
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Monday |
Y |
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Tuesday |
Y |
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Wednesday |
Y |
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Thursday |
Y |
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Friday |
N |
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Saturday |
N |
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Sunday |
N |
Complex Session Pattern Example
Although the preceding example is simple, session patterns can also handle a much more complicated session scenario. A session or webcast learning component can have multiple session patterns with multiple instructors for each. Using multiple session patterns for a session or webcast learning component is useful for those sessions that meet in several different facilities (for session learning components) or have different instructors or instructor combinations throughout the session. This table shows complicated examples and descriptions of how session patterns can be set up to automate the creation of sessions for session learning components:
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Requirement |
Setup |
|---|---|
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Learners meet for two weeks, Monday to Thursday in Room 1 and Friday in Room 2 with the same instructors for both weeks. This requires 10 sessions that the system can build from two session patterns. |
The first session pattern spans both weeks, with Monday to Thursday selected and facility set to Room 1. The second session pattern also spans both weeks but with only the Friday option selected and facility set to Room 2. |
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Same scenario as above, but four different primary instructors are needed, one each for Monday to Thursday of each week and one each for Friday of each week. This still requires 10 sessions but needs four session patterns. |
The first session covers the first week with Monday to Thursday selected, facility set to Room 1, and instructor set to the first primary instructor. The second session covers only Friday of the first week, with Friday selected, facility set to Room 2, and instructor set to the second primary instructor. The third session covers the second week with Monday to Thursday selected, facility set to Room 1, and instructor set to the third primary instructor. The fourth pattern covers only Friday of the second week, with Friday selected, facility set to Room 2, and instructor set to the fourth primary instructor. |
Number of Sessions Created Example
The following three scenarios show how the system creates sessions based on the number of sessions that you specify in conjunction with the pattern that you establish. Scenario 3 includes a holiday.
Scenario 1
This table presents requirements for scenario 1:
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Parameter |
Value |
|---|---|
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Start date |
October 21 |
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Number of sessions to create |
2 |
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Pattern days |
Monday through Thursday |
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Holidays |
N/A |
This graphic shows the calendar with the results for scenario 1.
Scenario 2
This table presents requirements for scenario 2:
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Parameter |
Value |
|---|---|
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Start date |
October 21 |
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Number of sessions to create |
9 |
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Pattern days |
Monday through Thursday |
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Holidays |
N/A |
This graphic shows the calendar with the results for scenario 2.
Scenario 3
This table presents requirements for scenario 3. Note that there is a holiday in the session span and holidays must be observed.
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Parameter |
Value |
|---|---|
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Start date |
October 21 |
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Number of sessions to create |
9 |
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Pattern days |
Monday through Thursday |
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Holidays |
Observe holidays selected. October 28 is a holiday. |
This graphic shows the calendar with the results for scenario 3.
Use the Sessions page (LM_LC_SES_LIST) to view and edit automatically generated sessions.
You can also add and delete sessions.
Navigation:
From the Learning Component page, click the Sessions tab.
This example illustrates the fields and controls on the Sessions page.
When you click the Build Sessions button on the Sessions Patterns page, you can view the sessions that the system built from the patterns. You can view session details by clicking the Session Date link to go to the Session Details page. You can also create new sessions in the Session Details page by clicking the Add Session button.
If any sessions are in conflict within this class or with sessions in another class, a Warning - Scheduling Conflicts link appears. Click the link to access the Session Conflicts page.
Use the Session Conflicts page (LM_ACT_CNFL) to view sessions that are in conflict.
Click the Session Date link or the Conflicting Class link to access the Session Details page, where you can correct the conflict.
Navigation:
Click the Warning - Scheduling Conflicts link on the Sessions page. (This link appears only when sessions are in conflict.)
This example illustrates the fields and controls on the Session Conflicts page.
View session details by clicking the Session Date, Conflicting Event, or Conflicting Class link. Either link will take you to the Session Details page.
Use the Time tab to have the conflicting time detail displayed. The key fields displayed by the Conflict tab are retained for the Time tab.
Note: You will always see a link to the conflicting session, but you can only navigate to the conflicting session if you have a learning environment that allows such access. You can only edit other sessions for classes that are shared in your learning environment. Room reservations that conflict with your class sessions are displayed in the Room Conflicts group box, but do not have a link in the Conflicting Events column.
Use the Session Details page (LM_SES) to modify automatically generated session details, or create new sessions.
Navigation:
Click the Session Date link (to view or edit an existing session) or the Add Session button (to create a new session) on the Sessions page.
This example illustrates the fields and controls on the Session Details page.
Field or Control |
Description |
|---|---|
Display Facility to Learner |
Select to allow learners to view facility information from the self-service Class Details page. If you select this check box, a location link appears in the Scheduled Sessions grid on the Class Details page. Learners can follow this link to view the facilities location, attachment, and accommodations information. |
Details |
Click to view room details. The Room Detail page appears. |
Use the Session Templates page (LM_TMPL) to create session templates of common class session characteristics.
Navigation:
This example illustrates the fields and controls on the Session Templates page.
This list summarizes the relationship between a session template and a session pattern:
Whatever you can do on the Patterns page when scheduling a class, you can also do in session templates, except specify a start date.
Start dates do not appear in templates.
When you apply a template on the Patterns page when scheduling a class, the template becomes the session pattern just as if you had set the session pattern up directly at the class level.
You can modify the session pattern as required after applying the template.