Creating a Self-Paced Learning Opportunity

The information on the next screen is referred to as “details,” but it’s actually pretty important. You can change any of this information later — except the provider (as we’ll explain below).

Note that the procedure on this page is nearly identical for self-paced and instructor-led courses! The only difference is step 10.

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1. You are here.

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Check the header for a reminder! You’re still working under the System Administration tab, and you’re creating a learning opportunity — in this case, a self-paced one; of course if you choose instructor-led, it will say so here.

2. Title and description

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Your title and description will be visible to educators searching Home Base for professional development. It will be the first information they see and will help them identify the opportunity and decide whether to take it, so make sure this information is clear and engaging! You must enter a title now, though you can change it later; you can add your description later if you wish. The disclaimer is optional and can be used as you deem appropriate to provide further information to potential participants.

3. Office

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The office is the administrative office or LEA responsible for the learning opportunity. Your office or LEA may be the only choice you see; otherwise, select it from the menu.

4. Course provider Important!

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Select Moodle or Non-Moodle, as you decided earlier. Note that once you save this selection, you will not be able to change it!

5. Credit types

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This information is required; you must select a credit type and number of credits that participants will receive upon completion of your learning opportunity. However, you can set the number of credits to 0, and you can come back later and edit this information. If your participants will be awarded credit on their transcripts through Home Base, it’s important to double-check this information before releasing the learning opportunity.

6. PD Type

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Setting this option helps educators find your offering in the catalog via advanced search options. The list of options was created for PD developed by NCDPI’s Division of Educator Effectiveness and may not apply to the PD you are creating.

Options that may apply to self-paced learning opportunities are:

Self-paced online modules
Self-paced learning opportunities with actities and (self-)assessments for which at least 0.5 CEU credit is awarded.
Self-paced online mini-modules
Self-paced learning opportunities designed primarily for informational purposes, requiring less than 5 hours’ work. Credit may or may not be awarded for completion.

If none of these options apply, you may leave this field blank.

7. Duration

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The duration of the course in hours, days, weeks, or other units. This is only for informational purposes and does not affect availability.

8. Prerequisites

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Prerequisites for your learning opportunity may be recommended or enforced.

Recommending a prerequisite

To recommend prerequisites, simply type them in the box provided. You might recommend a specific learning opportunity, or might list skills or knowledge participants will be expected to have.

Enforcing a prerequisite

If you enforce a prerequisite, participants will not be able to register for your learning opportunity unless they have been credited in Home Base with completion of the prerequisite. To enforce a prerequisite, click Add. You will see the following screen overlaid on your main window.

Search for the learning opportunity you want by number, title, or description. You will then see a list of results.

In the list of results, check the box next to the learning opportunity or opportunities you want, then click Next. The overlay screen will disappear, and the learning opportunity you selected will appear next to Enforced Prerequisites in your original details window.

To remove the prerequisite, uncheck the box and save the form.

9. Notes

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Use the Notes field for any information not provided elsewhere in the course shell.

10. Release date

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This option is available only for self-paced courses.

Because a self-paced learning opportunity does not have scheduled sections — participants can register for it any time they choose. Releasing the learning opportunity makes it available in the catalog of PD opportunities in Home Base, and educators will be able to register for it at that time.

You can check the box next to release now to release your learning opportunity immediately, or enter a date and time for a scheduled release.

11. Course survey

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Districts cannot create surveys in Home Base at this time; however, Pilot Surveys are available for use. Districts can also create their own surveys using Google Docs, Survey Monkey, or any other platform available and link the survey to the course for participants to access.

12. Saving the record

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When you are finished, click Create Self-Paced Learning Opportunity to save the information you’ve provided.