The Online Learning Environment and Learning Management System (LMS)
2 Master to Term Shell System
At McMaster Continuing Education (MCE), we use a Master Shell to Term Shell system for our courses.
Master Shells
- are created during the course development process and contain all course content, learning activities, and evaluations
- are updated as needed through the Tracking Sheet process
Term Shells
- are used by instructors and students each term for every course offering
- a new Term Shell is used each time a course runs
- content from the Master Shell is copied over to the Term Shell in advance of the course start date
Maintaining the Master Shell
Tracking Sheets are used by instructors to record any changes or updates that need to be reflected in the Master Shell, and therefore, future course offerings. Examples of updates or changes to be recorded in the Tracking Sheet for implementation in the Master Shell are:
- Identifying broken links and providing replacement links
- Updating out of date content or readings
- Updating references
- Updating course documents
- Reporting any issues within the shell
Please be sure to submit your completed Tracking Sheet to your Program Manager on time to ensure that all necessary changes can be reviewed, approved, and implemented in advance of the next course offering.
Course Personalization
Instructors may choose to personalize their Term Shells with video notes, supplementary resources, announcements, etc. Term Shell updates (i.e. checklist items sent by the Program Associate) and instructor personalization will not be reflected in the Master Shell or subsequent course offerings, and therefore should not be recorded in the Tracking Sheet.