View source for Ops: Course Reuse

At the start of a new intake (e.g., Spring 2026), you do not need to build courses from scratch. Instead, you should copy the content from the previous successful semester (e.g., Autumn 2025) into a new course shell.

This process ensures consistency across cohorts and saves significant setup time.

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== 1. The Strategy: "Import" vs "Reset" ==
For our operations, we use the '''Import''' method.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Method
! Description
! Why we use it?
|-
| '''Import''' (Recommended)
| You create a blank course for the new students and "pull" content into it from an old course.
| ✅ Keeps cohorts separate (clean data).<br>✅ Preserves the old course as an archive.<br>✅ Safer (less risk of accidental data deletion).
|-
| '''Reset'''
| You delete all students and grades from the ''existing'' course and use the same URL for new students.
| ❌ Destroys historical data.<br>❌ Not recommended for our audit requirements.
|}

== 2. Prerequisite ==
Before you begin, ensure you have:
# '''The Source Course''': The "Gold Master" or the previous semester's course (e.g., "Academic English - Autumn 2025") which has the content you want.
# '''The Destination Course''': A newly created, empty course shell (e.g., "Academic English - Spring 2026").
#* ''See [[Ops: Creating New Courses]] for how to create the empty shell.''

== 3. Step-by-Step Import Process ==
Perform these steps inside the '''Destination Course''' (the new, empty one).

=== Step 1: Locate the Import Tool ===
# Go to the new course page.
# Click the '''More''' tab in the secondary navigation bar (under the course title).
# Select '''Course reuse''' from the dropdown.
# On the next screen, ensure the dropdown menu at the top left says '''Import'''.

=== Step 2: Select Source ===
# You will see a list of courses. Use the '''Search''' bar at the bottom to find the old course (e.g., search "English").
# Select the radio button next to the correct source course.
# Click '''Continue'''.

=== Step 3: Initial Settings (What to Copy) ===
Moodle asks what types of data to include.
* '''Include activities and resources''': '''YES''' (The actual content).
* '''Include blocks''': '''YES''' (Right-hand side menus).
* '''Include files''': '''YES'''.
* '''Include filters''': '''YES'''.
* '''Include calendar events''': '''NO''' (Unless you want old dates).
* '''Include groups and groupings''': '''NO''' (New students will need new groups).
* '''Include competencies''': '''No''' (Usually not used).
* Click '''Next'''.

=== Step 4: Schema Selection (Specific Items) ===
You will see a long list of every item in the old course.
* By default, everything is checked.
* **Review the list**: Uncheck specific items you don't want (e.g., "Announcements" from last year regarding a specific holiday, or an old "Midterm Feedback" survey).
* Click '''Next'''.

=== Step 5: Confirmation and Perform ===
* Review the summary page.
* Click '''Perform import'''.
* Wait for the progress bar (this may take a minute depending on file sizes).
* Click '''Continue''' to return to your new course.

== 4. Post-Import Checklist (Critical) ==
The content is copied, but it is not ready for students yet. You must perform these updates:

=== A. Update Dates ===
* Go to '''Settings''' and check the '''Course start date'''.
* Even though you imported the content, assignment deadlines remain in the past (e.g., 2024).
* You must manually edit every **Assignment** and **Quiz** to update:
** ''Allow submissions from''
** ''Due date''
** ''Cut-off date''

=== B. Clean Up "Announcements" ===
* The "Announcements" forum is automatically created in every new course.
* If you imported the old "Announcements" forum, you might now have **two** forums (one empty, one from the old course).
* Delete the duplicate one.
* Delete any specific welcome posts that mention the wrong year.

=== C. Update External Tools (LTI) ===
* If the course uses **Zoom**, **Turnitin**, or **Panopto** links:
* Click on each link to ensure it establishes a fresh connection for the new semester.
* Sometimes copying breaks the link between Moodle and the external tool.

=== D. Update Course Guide / Syllabus ===
* Check the "Course Guide" page or PDF.
* Ensure it doesn't say "Welcome to the class of 2025!".

== 5. Troubleshooting ==
* '''"The course is too big to import"''': If the import times out, check if the source course has massive video files directly uploaded. Suggest to the teacher to move videos to a streaming server.
* '''"My quizzes are missing questions"''': This happens if you didn't include the "Question bank" in the import. Usually, Moodle handles this automatically, but ensure "Include activities" was checked.