Managing Subjects in EaseLabs
This guide provides instructors with comprehensive instructions on how to create, manage, and organize their Subjects (often referred to as Courses) within the EaseLabs platform.
Introduction to Subjects/Courses
What are Subjects in EaseLabs?
In EaseLabs, a "Subject" or "Course" serves as a primary container to organize all aspects of a specific class, module, or academic offering. Think of it as your digital classroom space. Each Subject typically includes:
- Assignments: All programming tasks, quizzes, and projects specific to that class.
- Students: The roster of students enrolled and participating in the Subject.
- Settings: Specific configurations tailored to the Subject, such as grading schemes, due date policies, and communication channels.
- Analytics: Performance data and insights related to the students and assignments within that Subject.
Why are they important?
Effectively managing Subjects is crucial for:
- Organization: Keeps all related materials, assignments, and student information neatly structured and easy to access.
- Targeted Assignments: Allows you to create and assign work specifically to the students enrolled in that particular Subject.
- Student Enrollment & Management: Facilitates clear tracking and management of students for each class. (For more details, see Getting Started for Instructors).
- Focused Analytics: Provides specific insights into student progress and performance within the context of a single Subject.
Creating a New Subject/Course
Creating a new Subject is a straightforward process:
- Navigate to the Subjects Section: From your Instructor Dashboard, find and click on the "Subjects," "Courses," or "My Classes" section. This terminology might vary slightly based on your specific EaseLabs setup, but it will generally refer to your main class groupings.
- Initiate Creation: Look for a button labeled "Create New Subject," "Add Course," or a similar "+" icon.
- Fill in Subject Details: You will typically be prompted to provide information such as:
- Subject Name: The official name of the Subject (e.g., "Introduction to Python Programming").
- Subject Code: A unique identifier for the Subject (e.g., "CS101").
- Description: A brief overview of the Subject, its objectives, or any relevant information for students.
- Semester/Term: The academic period during which the Subject is offered (e.g., "Fall 2024," "Spring Semester").
- Department (Optional): The academic department offering the Subject.
- Initial Configuration (if available):
- Default Grading Scheme: Some platforms might allow you to set a default grading rubric or weighting for the Subject. You can often customize this further later. See Custom Grading Criteria on our features page.
- Visibility: Options to set the subject as "Published" (visible to enrolled students) or "Draft" (hidden while you set it up).
- Confirm Creation: Once all necessary details are entered, click "Create," "Save," or a similar confirmation button. Your new Subject will now appear in your list of subjects.
Managing Existing Subjects/Courses
Once Subjects are created, you can manage them as needed:
- Viewing Your Subjects: The "Subjects" section on your dashboard will display a list or grid of all subjects you have created or are associated with.
- Editing Subject Details:
- Select the Subject you wish to modify.
- Look for an "Edit," "Settings," or "Manage Subject" option.
- You can typically update the name, code, description, term, and other details you entered during creation.
- Archiving a Subject:
- If a Subject is no longer active (e.g., the semester has ended), you may have an option to "Archive" it.
- Archived subjects are usually hidden from the main view but retained for record-keeping. You might be able to access their data or unarchive them if needed.
- Deleting a Subject:
- Deleting a subject is a permanent action and should be done with caution. It will likely remove all associated assignments, student data, and submissions for that subject.
- Confirm any warning prompts carefully before deleting.
- Managing Student Enrollment:
- Within each subject, you'll have tools to manage student enrollment. This typically involves adding students, removing students, or viewing the enrollment list.
- For detailed steps on adding students, refer to the Adding/Inviting Students section in our Getting Started guide.
Subject Dashboard/Overview
When you select or open a specific Subject, you will typically be presented with its Subject Dashboard or Overview page. This page provides a focused view of everything related to that particular Subject, including:
- List of Assignments: All assignments created for this Subject, along with their due dates and status. From here you can typically create new assignments.
- Enrolled Students: A list of students currently enrolled in the Subject.
- Quick Statistics: Key metrics and analytics specific to this Subject, such as average grades, submission rates, or areas where students might be struggling. (See Smart Analytics).
- Recent Activity: A feed of recent submissions or important notifications related to the Subject.
- Subject-Specific Settings: Shortcuts to manage settings unique to this Subject.
Best Practices for Managing Subjects
- Consistent Naming Conventions: Use a clear and consistent naming scheme for your Subjects, especially if you teach multiple sections or the same Subject over different terms (e.g., "CS101 - Fall 2024," "CS101 - Section A - Spring 2025").
- Logical Structure: If your institution has many Subjects, consider how they are organized (e.g., by department, by year level) and try to reflect a similar logical structure if the platform allows for grouping or categorization.
- Regular Archiving: Archive Subjects after they conclude to keep your active Subject list clean and manageable. Ensure you understand your institution's data retention policies.
- Clear Descriptions: Provide clear and concise descriptions for each Subject so students can easily identify the correct one, especially if they are enrolling themselves.
- Utilize Subject Codes: Always use accurate subject codes as these are often key identifiers for students and administrative purposes.
By effectively creating and managing your Subjects in EaseLabs, you can maintain a well-organized and efficient teaching workflow, ensuring a smooth experience for both yourself and your students.