Instructor Support for Educational Systems

What is the standard course vocabulary?

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It is important to pay attention to the vocabulary used in your course on Brightspace. There is a standard module structure that is used in courses, you can see the recommended structure in the following article

If it is not possible to fully obtain this recommended structure, we strongly advise to make use of the standard course vocabulary explained below. This will help students to more easily find information on their courses in Brightspace. 

Standard vocabulary

In order for easier navigation within Brightspace, a set vocabulary has been chosen to be used within courses. 

If you use one of the below content types, please address them as:

  • General information: This category contains a number of different terms. The terms that fall under "General information" are:
    • Syllabus: A syllabus (or reader, prospectus, course manual, etc.) is a document with a complete explanation and overview of a course. You can also add a link to the Leiden University Studyguide here. 
    • Timetable: If present, timetables and/or schedules (such as dates and meeting rooms) can be placed under this term. 
    • Grading: If present, this category contains the information on how the grade for the course comes about, for example a formula for calculating the final mark or how many specific parts count in terms of percentage. This could be simialar to the information under Assesment Method in the Leiden University Studyguide.
    • Contact Information: If necessary, the contact information (names, e-mail address, room number, telephone number) of the instructors of the course will be listed under this category. 
    • Field trips: If there are excursions for a course, this is the place to communicate all information, such as data, locations, groups, etcetera, to students.
  • Assignments: You can add an assignment, which can be graded and reviewed using this tool.  
  • Weblectures: you can place the web link(s) to the weblectures under this category.
  • Exam(s): All information regarding an examination can be placed under this category. This may include, for example, practice tests or examinations, exam material, and the answer key.
  • Q&A: In this category there is the possibility to create a discussion primarily intended for asking questions to the instructors.
  • Lecture(s): All substantive information concerning the lectures can be placed in this category. This includes the PowerPoint slides, but also additional information about, for example, preparing for the lecture or videos that are shown in the lecture.
  • Literature: You can place literature under this category. These can be (scientific) articles, a bibliography, books, et cetera.
  • Media: If you have extra web links, videos or other extra media, this is a place to post them.
  • Tutorial(s): If there is information that only concerns the tutorials within a course, such as tutorial-specific assignments or tutorial formats, you can place it here. 
  • Practical(s): All information regarding a practical can be placed under this category. This concerns the information such as assignments related to the practical or for example the group (participants). 
  • Discussion board: In this category there is the possibility to create a discussion that can be used for different purposes, for example for handing in special assignments or so that students can discuss matters of the course with each other.
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