Loyola Support Documentation

What are course sites?

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A course site is the official worksite for a particular academic course. A course site's roster is automatically updated by LOCUS.

Course sites usually contain a selection of tools and resources provided by the instructor so that students may access course materials, interact with other site participants, and submit work.

Default participant roles for course sites

The default participant roles in a course site are as follows:

  • Instructor: Instructors have full permissions throughout the site, including the ability to publish the site and set its global access. Instructors can read, revise, delete, and add both content and participants to a site in all tools. Instructors have full grading privileges for all tools with grading capabilities, e.g. Assignments, Forums, Gradebook, Lessons, and Tests & Quizzes. Instructors have full access to all communication tools, both synchronous and asynchronous.
  • Student: Students can read content, and add content to a site where appropriate, e.g., submit assignments, post to asynchronous and synchronous tools.
  • Teaching Assistant (TA): Teaching Assistants can read, add, and revise and delete content in most tools. Additionally, TAs can grade in tools with capability, e.g. Assignments, Forums, Gradebook, Lesson, and Tests & Quizzes. They can communicate with students through common communication tools, e.g., Announcements, Email, and Messages.
  • Course Builder (CB): Course builders can read, add, and revise, and delete most content but are unable to post/publish tests in Tests & Quizzes or grade in any tool with that capability, e.g., Assignments, Forums, Lessons, and Tests and Quizzes. Nor can Course Builders access the Gradebook. They can communicate with students through common communication tools, e.g., Announcements, Email and Messages.
  • Tutor: Tutors can read content and add content within certain tools without access to any grades or graded items. They can communicate with course participants through Email and Messages and can create a blog to add material to assist students. Tutors will not have access to the course site if the site is not published.

Please note: All instructor and student enrollment must be completed through LOCUS.

Because Teaching Assistants have access to student grades in course sites, the role may not be given to students who are already enrolled in the course.

Participant enrollment in course sites

  • Instructors & Students: Assignment or enrollment in a LOCUS course will automatically trigger enrollment in the corresponding course shell in Sakai. Registration changes (add/changes/drops) in LOCUS are usually reflected in Sakai after approximately 24 hours.
  • Teaching Assistant: Enrollment can be completed through LOCUS by the department/school, or by the instructor of record of the course placing a request with the self-service form available at the ITS Service Desk.
  • Course Builder: The instructor of record for the course needs to place a request through the ITS Service Desk
  • Tutor: The instructor of record for the course needs to place a request through the ITS Service Desk.
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