- Resource
- Master VS. Template
- The Difference Between a Template and a Master?
The Difference Between a Template and a Master?
Both a template and master course serve the same primary function: a repository for the final pristine version of a course. ETS always recommends using a template over a master when possible given that there are more benefits:
| Features/Benefits | Template | Master |
|---|---|---|
Repository of final course version? | Yes | Yes |
Template/Master is auto-created when course is created? | Yes | No |
The Program Head/Assistant can be given access to the same courses that were offered in the past and will be offered in the future? | Yes | No |
Easier to copy content via Copy / Export / Import? | Yes | No |
Course associated with a template? | Yes | No |
Typically used for most courses? | Yes | No |
Templates and Masters are clearly identifiable? | *Yes | No code or process to identify Master |
* Templates have a code starting with CRS and are accessed in the Course Management tool in the Learning Hub Cog.
Materials in a template or master can be re-used from term-to-term or year-to-year. Ideally, these materials are copied to the current course offering. If changes need to be made at the course offering, updates should also be made to the template or master so that it contains the most current materials.
Template
Templates are automatically created in Banner. They are identified by the program or course name. Examples are:
- NURS-3036 (template is CRSNURS-3036)
- ATTM-4GAP (template is CRSATTM-4GAP)
With a Program Head’s approval, a PA can be added to a template. Or a Program Head can request to be added to a template. The Program Head or PA that are added in a Template can then manage the enrollment in all course offerings.
To access the course template, click on the single ⚙️ (cog icon) next to your name, and select Course Management, then choose the Template tab. Or click on the following job aid, How to Access a Course Template.
Ideally, there should only be one instructor for a template to makes changes, and all others should have the Reviewer/Copy role so they don’t change content. Here is a job aid to show the different roles available.
Master
Masters are courses that are manually created by the ETS team. Master courses can be difficult to find and might contain many varieties of the same course. Masters were also used before Templates were implemented, so many Masters still exist in the Learning Hub and might be out of date or not even used. In most cases these Master courses can be transferred to a Template. The ETS group is happy to help! Just send an email to techhelp@bcit.ca for assistance.
There may be a situation when the use of a Master is appropriate. For example, when the same course is delivered to two different program areas who teach the exact same materials. Having one Master will avoid updating two templates. Example NSPN/NSNE 7100; with the two templates of CRSNSPN-7100 and CRSNSNE-7100. In this case, the Master acts as the final “pristine” version of the course materials.
Another example is where a program uses three masters for the same course over different time periods. The same course materials are covered for three different Master versions for the different formats:
– 2 week course
– 4 week course
– 6 week course
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