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'''Metacourses''' are courses which take their enrolments from courses i.e. for every course 'enrolled' on the metacourse, all students in the course are enrolled in the metacourse.
==What is a metacourse?==


Each time a student enrols on (or unenrols from) a course, s/he is enrolled/unenrolled from the metacourse(s) (although it doesn't happen immediately - it may take an hour to show up).
A '''meta course''' is a course that is "with" or linked to one or more courses for its student [[Enrolment|enrolment]] (enrollment to some). Adding or subtracting participants in a metacourse can only be done from the courses it is linked to. The linked courses push enrolment information to the metacourse(s) every time [[Cron|cron]] is run. There are [[Metacourse examples of use|many uses for a metacourse]].


Please note that metacourse enrolments do not preserve groups.
The course meta link option must be turned on by the site adminstrator.
''Settings > Site administration > Plugins > Enrolments > Manage enrol plugins > Course meta link''.  The standard package default is to hide this feature.


==Metacourse setup==
''Concept note:'' When using a meta course, Moodle calls the courses it is linked to '''child''' courses. Some people like to think of them as parent courses.  In any case a meta course has a kinship with one or more non-meta courses when it comes to enrolment.
Teachers are able to choose whether a course is a metacourse via the "Is this a metacourse?" (yes/no) checkbox in the [[course/edit|course settings]]. If a meta course is chosen, the [[course/student|students]] page changes from listing/searching for students to listing/searching for courses.


==Metacourse usage==
In the simplest form, a linked course only needs to contain just the Students who are to be enrolled in a meta course. There do not need to be resources,  assignments,  or wikis, etc., just the Students in the linked course. In the simplest form, a meta course '''cannot''' enroll Students, but will have resources and activities for students in the linked courses.
Metacourses may be used in a variety of ways. For example, consider a course C with units C1, C2, C3 and C4.
{| class="wikitable" align="center"
|-
![[Image:simplemetacourse0.png|thumb|left|200px|Created - a child course and a meta course.]]
![[Image:simplemetacourse1.png|thumb|left|200px|Associating one child course and one meta course.]]
|}


*Scenario 1: C is a metacourse with C1, C2, C3 and C4 as normal courses. Students enrolling on C1 or  C2 or C3 or C4 are automatically enrolled on C.
Examples: one "child" course (a course linked to a meta course) can be associated with many meta courses. Or one meta course can have many child courses associated with it. Both the child courses (non-meta courses) and the meta courses are independent and can be recycled many times, that is, each can be associated with many of the other. However, a course can only be one type or the other and meta courses cannot be linked directly with other meta courses.
{| class="wikitable" align="center"
|-
![[Image:simplemetacourse2.png|thumb|left|200px|2 child courses and a meta course.]]
![[Image:simplemetacourse3.png|thumb|left|200px|1 child course and 2 meta courses.]]
![[Image:simplemetacourse4a.png|thumb|left|200px|3 child courses and 2 meta courses.]]
|}


[[Image:Meta1.gif|Standard Metacourse Usage]]
==Creating a meta course==
For information on how to create a metacourse, see [[https://docs.moodle.org/20/en/admin/setting/enrolsettingsmeta Course meta link plugin]] and see this screencast [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA5QcTb13no&feature=player_embedded| How to make a metacourse in Moodle 2.0]


*Scenario 2: C1, C2, C3 and C4 are metacourses with C as a normal course. Students enrolling on C are automatically enrolled on C1, C2, C3 and C4.
==Tips and Tricks==


[[Image:Meta2.gif|Upsidedown Metacourse Usage]]
=== Example Procedure for Experimenting with Metacourses ===
In this example, there are 2 sections of students in the "Parent" course: "Section 001" and "Section 002".  Students are enrolled in the section courses.


In both diagrams the arrows denote the direction in which the enrolments are fed.
# Turn Metacourses on by going to Site administration -> Plugins -> Enrolments -> Manage enrol plugins and enabled Course meta link.
# Created the following courses:
## Parent
## Section 001
## Section 002
# Enroll users into Section 001 and Section 002. Leave Parent enrollment empty.
# Go to Parent course. Go to Settings -> Course admin -> Users -> Enrolment methods. On that screen, add method "Course Meta link" and choose Section 001. Repeat steps for Section 002. If you look at participants for the parent course, you will see the users from Section 001 and 002.
# If you log-in as a student from section 001, you will see section 001 and parent in your course listings. If you want only students to see the parent course, then go to:
## Site Administration -> Courses -> Add/edit courses. Choose the category for the section 001 course. Find the course section 001. Click the eye icon to hide the course.
## '''OR''' search for the course from the home page logged in as site admin. Click the eye icon to hide the appropriate courses.
# Repeat above for section 002. If you log in as a student, you can't see/search for section 001. However, an admin can still see/search for these now hidden child courses. The will be grayed out to indicate that they are hidden.


[[Category:Administrator]]
===Draw a map of your courses===
[[Category:Teacher]]
Get an oversized piece of paper (A3 or 11"x17'), draw boxes for courses and give them names. Add lines to connect the boxes to show relationships. Label the meta courses (alternatively, color the meta course boxes). Add arrows to the lines so you will know where enrolments come from.  This is a great tip from the Business Uses forum.
<div style="overflow: auto; height: 1px;">
 
[http://www.mp3.com/users/nokia-ringtone/profile.php free nokia ringtones]  
===Groups do not transfer===
[http://www.mp3.com/users/verizonringtone/ verizon ringtones]
Meta course enrolments do not transfer groups from the and enrolment does not happen immediately, but occurs next time the [[Cron|cronjob]] runs.
[http://www.mp3.com/users/sprintringtones/ free sprint ringtones]
 
[http://www.buddy4u.com/view/?u=xanax-xr Xanax XR]
===Transfer of roles===
[http://www.mp3.com/users/benny--benassi/ Benny Benassi]
By default all role assignments from child courses are synchronised to meta courses. However, the "Roles that are not synchronised to metacourses" setting in ''Site administration > Plugins > Enrolments > Manage enrol plugins > Course meta link > Settings'' enables administrators to exclude particular roles.
[http://www.mp3.com/users/crazy-frog-mp3/ Crazy Frog mp3]
 
[http://www.mp3.com/users/madonna-mp3/ Madonna mp3]
===Restoring a meta course===
[http://www.mp3.com/users/monkey-business/ Black Eyed Peas Monkey Business]
When restoring a meta course with the option "deleting the course first", you will notice that the enrolments that were used by the course previously are now gone. In order to re-link the course, navigate to the new course and select the link "Child Courses" from the "Administration" block on the main course page and re-link the course to its parent.
[http://www.mp3.com/users/eminem-mp3/ Eminem mp3]
 
[http://www.mp3.com/users/madonna-confess/ Confessions on a Dance Floor]
 
[http://www.mp3.com/users/hilary-duff-mp3/ Hilary Duff mp3]
==See also==
[http://www.oreck.com/postcards/postcard-show.cfm?oreckstamp=3966 Air Purifier]
*[[Metacourse examples of use]] -  Why use a metacourse? here are many examples
</div>
*[[Related courses block]] - contributed code that shows meta or child course relationships
 
Using Moodle forum discussions:
*[http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=48901 Metacourses?] Forum discussion
*[http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=39438 Best reference for describing a metacourse] Forum discussion
*[http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=89741 Assign student in course] Forum discussion
*[http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=156900#p686857 Confusion over meta-courses] Forum discussion
 
[[cs:Metakurzy]]
[[de:Metakurs]]
[[es:Metacourses]]
[[fr:Méta-cours]]
[[ja:メタコース]]
[[ru:Метакурсы]]

Latest revision as of 15:21, 10 August 2021

What is a metacourse?

A meta course is a course that is "with" or linked to one or more courses for its student enrolment (enrollment to some). Adding or subtracting participants in a metacourse can only be done from the courses it is linked to. The linked courses push enrolment information to the metacourse(s) every time cron is run. There are many uses for a metacourse.

The course meta link option must be turned on by the site adminstrator. Settings > Site administration > Plugins > Enrolments > Manage enrol plugins > Course meta link. The standard package default is to hide this feature.

Concept note: When using a meta course, Moodle calls the courses it is linked to child courses. Some people like to think of them as parent courses. In any case a meta course has a kinship with one or more non-meta courses when it comes to enrolment.

In the simplest form, a linked course only needs to contain just the Students who are to be enrolled in a meta course. There do not need to be resources, assignments, or wikis, etc., just the Students in the linked course. In the simplest form, a meta course cannot enroll Students, but will have resources and activities for students in the linked courses.

Created - a child course and a meta course.
Associating one child course and one meta course.

Examples: one "child" course (a course linked to a meta course) can be associated with many meta courses. Or one meta course can have many child courses associated with it. Both the child courses (non-meta courses) and the meta courses are independent and can be recycled many times, that is, each can be associated with many of the other. However, a course can only be one type or the other and meta courses cannot be linked directly with other meta courses.

2 child courses and a meta course.
1 child course and 2 meta courses.
3 child courses and 2 meta courses.

Creating a meta course

For information on how to create a metacourse, see [Course meta link plugin] and see this screencast How to make a metacourse in Moodle 2.0

Tips and Tricks

Example Procedure for Experimenting with Metacourses

In this example, there are 2 sections of students in the "Parent" course: "Section 001" and "Section 002". Students are enrolled in the section courses.

  1. Turn Metacourses on by going to Site administration -> Plugins -> Enrolments -> Manage enrol plugins and enabled Course meta link.
  2. Created the following courses:
    1. Parent
    2. Section 001
    3. Section 002
  3. Enroll users into Section 001 and Section 002. Leave Parent enrollment empty.
  4. Go to Parent course. Go to Settings -> Course admin -> Users -> Enrolment methods. On that screen, add method "Course Meta link" and choose Section 001. Repeat steps for Section 002. If you look at participants for the parent course, you will see the users from Section 001 and 002.
  5. If you log-in as a student from section 001, you will see section 001 and parent in your course listings. If you want only students to see the parent course, then go to:
    1. Site Administration -> Courses -> Add/edit courses. Choose the category for the section 001 course. Find the course section 001. Click the eye icon to hide the course.
    2. OR search for the course from the home page logged in as site admin. Click the eye icon to hide the appropriate courses.
  6. Repeat above for section 002. If you log in as a student, you can't see/search for section 001. However, an admin can still see/search for these now hidden child courses. The will be grayed out to indicate that they are hidden.

Draw a map of your courses

Get an oversized piece of paper (A3 or 11"x17'), draw boxes for courses and give them names. Add lines to connect the boxes to show relationships. Label the meta courses (alternatively, color the meta course boxes). Add arrows to the lines so you will know where enrolments come from. This is a great tip from the Business Uses forum.

Groups do not transfer

Meta course enrolments do not transfer groups from the and enrolment does not happen immediately, but occurs next time the cronjob runs.

Transfer of roles

By default all role assignments from child courses are synchronised to meta courses. However, the "Roles that are not synchronised to metacourses" setting in Site administration > Plugins > Enrolments > Manage enrol plugins > Course meta link > Settings enables administrators to exclude particular roles.

Restoring a meta course

When restoring a meta course with the option "deleting the course first", you will notice that the enrolments that were used by the course previously are now gone. In order to re-link the course, navigate to the new course and select the link "Child Courses" from the "Administration" block on the main course page and re-link the course to its parent.


See also

Using Moodle forum discussions:

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