Um Learn is the University of Manitoba’s Learning Management System (LMS), a vital platform for students and instructors alike. Whether you’re looking to manage course content, connect with students, or optimize your online teaching experience, understanding how to effectively use UM Learn is crucial. This guide provides you with essential instructions and tips to navigate and utilize UM Learn to its full potential.
Managing Course Assignments in UM Learn
Assignments are a cornerstone of any course, and UM Learn provides a robust system for managing them. From creating submission folders to grading student work, UM Learn streamlines the assignment workflow. For detailed steps on setting up and managing assignments, refer to the UM Learn support documentation.
How to Merge Course Sections in UM Learn (Cross-listing)
Instructors often teach multiple sections of the same course or manage courses that are combined for various reasons. UM Learn’s cross-listing feature, also known as merging, allows you to combine multiple course sections into a single UM Learn course page. This consolidation simplifies course management and communication.
Reasons for cross-listing courses in UM Learn include:
- Multiple Sections of the Same Course: If you are teaching several sections (e.g., A01, A02, A03) of the same course within the same semester, cross-listing merges them into one unified course space.
- Combined Department Courses: When a course is offered by different departments with distinct course codes but shared content, merging them in UM Learn ensures all students access the same materials.
- Lecture and Lab Sections: For courses with associated lab sections, cross-listing integrates the lecture and lab components into a single, cohesive UM Learn environment.
- Spanned Courses: Courses that extend over two consecutive academic terms (like Fall/Winter) can be cross-listed to maintain continuity and allow students registered for the entire duration to access all materials in one place.
Important Note on Cross-listing: The cross-listing process in UM Learn is irreversible and erases all student-specific data from the secondary courses being merged. This includes grades, assignment submissions, discussion posts, and more. Therefore, cross-listing is only performed on courses before they commence and are populated with student activity. Requests for cross-listing should be submitted well in advance of the term start, ideally allowing for up to five business days for processing, as delays are common at the beginning of each term.
To request cross-listing for your UM Learn courses, the primary course instructor needs to email the Service Desk at [email protected] with the following details for each course to be merged:
- Exact Course Names: (e.g., CHEM 2370 A01, CHEM 2370 A02)
- Exact Course CRNs: (e.g., 12345.202490, 12346.202490)
- Exact Course Terms: (e.g., Fall 2024, Fall 2024)
Utilizing a Demo Student in UM Learn to Verify Course Functionality
Before students access your course, it’s essential to ensure everything is functioning correctly. UM Learn offers a “Demo Student” feature, allowing instructors to preview the course from a student’s perspective. This enables you to check content visibility, assignment setups, quiz functionality, and overall course flow. Detailed instructions on how to add and use a demo student are available in the UM Learn documentation on using a Demo Student.
Adding Teaching Assistants, Graders, or Liaison Librarians to Your UM Learn Course
Collaboration is key in education. UM Learn allows you to add various roles to your course to support teaching and learning. This includes Teaching Assistants (TAs), Graders/Markers, and Liaison Librarians, each with specific permissions to assist in course delivery and student support. For step-by-step directions on adding these roles, consult the UM Learn support section on adding support roles (login required).
Efficiently Emailing Students from UM Learn
Communication is paramount in any course. UM Learn provides a built-in email tool that simplifies sending messages to your students. The “Email Classlist” feature, located under “Communication” > “Classlist and Email,” is the most direct and secure method for contacting students within UM Learn. For comprehensive instructions on using this feature, click here for detailed email instructions within UM Learn.
Managing Student Enrollment in UM Learn: Un-enrolling Students
Student enrollment in UM Learn is synchronized with the Aurora system. If a student needs to be un-enrolled from your UM Learn course due to dropping the course or other administrative reasons, this process is managed through Aurora. If a student incorrectly appears on your UM Learn classlist, they should contact the IST Service Desk. The Service Desk can verify the student’s official enrollment status and make necessary corrections.
Requesting a UM Learn Course Shell for Non-Banner/Aurora Courses
For courses not managed through Banner/Aurora or FlexReg, UM Learn allows instructors to request a course shell. This is useful for special programs, workshops, or non-credit courses that still benefit from the UM Learn platform. To request a course shell, complete the Course Creation Request Form.
Accessing Further Support and Video Tutorials within UM Learn
UM Learn offers extensive support documentation and video tutorials directly within the platform. Once logged into UM Learn, click on the Support link at the top of the page to access a wealth of resources. Specifically, look for UM Learn Video Tutorials in the left sidebar menu for visual guides on various UM Learn functionalities.
By utilizing these resources and following these guidelines, you can effectively manage your courses and enhance the learning experience for both you and your students within UM Learn.
