{"id":5019,"date":"2018-11-13T17:23:39","date_gmt":"2018-11-13T17:23:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.citl.mun.ca\/technologyresources-dev\/?page_id=5019"},"modified":"2026-07-06T14:25:00","modified_gmt":"2026-07-06T16:55:00","slug":"combining-course-sections","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blog.citl.mun.ca\/technologyresources\/course-setup\/combining-course-sections\/","title":{"rendered":"Combining Course Sections"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\"><button class=\"bellows-menu-toggle bellows-menu-toggle-skin-vanilla\" aria-controls=\"bellows-main-259\"><i class=\"fa fa-bars\"><\/i> <span class=\"bellows-menu-toggle-text\">Section Menu<\/span><\/button><div id=\"bellows-main-259\" class=\"bellows bellows-nojs bellows-main bellows-source-menu bellows-align-left bellows-skin-vanilla bellows-type- bellows-expand-current bellows-mobile-collapse\"><ul id=\"menu-coursesetup\" class=\"bellows-nav\" data-bellows-config=\"main\"><li id=\"menu-item-42209\" class=\"bellows-menu-item bellows-menu-item-type-post_type bellows-menu-item-object-page bellows-menu-item-has-children bellows-menu-item-42209 bellows-item-level-0\"><a  href=\"https:\/\/blog.citl.mun.ca\/technologyresources\/course-setup\/\" class=\"bellows-target\"><span class=\"bellows-target-title bellows-target-text\">Course Setup<\/span><button class=\"bellows-subtoggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Submenu\"><i class=\"bellows-subtoggle-icon-expand fa fa-chevron-down\"><\/i><i class=\"bellows-subtoggle-icon-collapse fa fa-chevron-up\"><\/i><\/button><\/a>\n<ul class=\"bellows-submenu\">\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-42211\" class=\"bellows-menu-item bellows-menu-item-type-post_type bellows-menu-item-object-page bellows-menu-item-42211 bellows-item-level-1\"><a  href=\"https:\/\/blog.citl.mun.ca\/technologyresources\/course-setup\/brightspace-homepage\/\" class=\"bellows-target\"><span class=\"bellows-target-title bellows-target-text\">Brightspace Homepage<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-42213\" class=\"bellows-menu-item bellows-menu-item-type-post_type bellows-menu-item-object-page bellows-menu-item-42213 bellows-item-level-1\"><a  href=\"https:\/\/blog.citl.mun.ca\/technologyresources\/course-setup\/combining-course-sections\/\" class=\"bellows-target\"><span class=\"bellows-target-title bellows-target-text\">Combining Course Sections<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-42215\" class=\"bellows-menu-item bellows-menu-item-type-post_type bellows-menu-item-object-page bellows-menu-item-42215 bellows-item-level-1\"><a  href=\"https:\/\/blog.citl.mun.ca\/technologyresources\/course-setup\/copy-components\/\" class=\"bellows-target\"><span class=\"bellows-target-title bellows-target-text\">Copying Between Courses<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-42217\" class=\"bellows-menu-item bellows-menu-item-type-post_type bellows-menu-item-object-page bellows-menu-item-42217 bellows-item-level-1\"><a  href=\"https:\/\/blog.citl.mun.ca\/technologyresources\/course-setup\/library\/\" class=\"bellows-target\"><span class=\"bellows-target-title bellows-target-text\">Course Reserves<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-42219\" class=\"bellows-menu-item bellows-menu-item-type-post_type bellows-menu-item-object-page bellows-menu-item-42219 bellows-item-level-1\"><a  href=\"https:\/\/blog.citl.mun.ca\/technologyresources\/course-setup\/semester-start-up-checklist\/\" class=\"bellows-target\"><span class=\"bellows-target-title bellows-target-text\">Course Setup &#8211; Final Check<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-42221\" class=\"bellows-menu-item bellows-menu-item-type-post_type bellows-menu-item-object-page bellows-menu-item-42221 bellows-item-level-1\"><a  href=\"https:\/\/blog.citl.mun.ca\/technologyresources\/course-setup\/brightspace-course-setup-kit\/\" class=\"bellows-target\"><span class=\"bellows-target-title bellows-target-text\">Course Setup Kit<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-42223\" class=\"bellows-menu-item bellows-menu-item-type-post_type bellows-menu-item-object-page bellows-menu-item-42223 bellows-item-level-1\"><a  href=\"https:\/\/blog.citl.mun.ca\/technologyresources\/course-setup\/course-site-availability\/\" class=\"bellows-target\"><span class=\"bellows-target-title bellows-target-text\">Course Site Availability<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-42225\" class=\"bellows-menu-item bellows-menu-item-type-post_type bellows-menu-item-object-page bellows-menu-item-42225 bellows-item-level-1\"><a  href=\"https:\/\/blog.citl.mun.ca\/technologyresources\/course-setup\/about-brightspace\/\" class=\"bellows-target\"><span class=\"bellows-target-title bellows-target-text\">Getting Started<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-42227\" class=\"bellows-menu-item bellows-menu-item-type-post_type bellows-menu-item-object-page bellows-menu-item-42227 bellows-item-level-1\"><a  href=\"https:\/\/blog.citl.mun.ca\/technologyresources\/course-setup\/set-up-kit-advanced-topics\/\" class=\"bellows-target\"><span class=\"bellows-target-title bellows-target-text\">Managing Course Files<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-42205\" class=\"bellows-menu-item bellows-menu-item-type-post_type bellows-menu-item-object-page bellows-menu-item-42205 bellows-item-level-1\"><a  href=\"https:\/\/blog.citl.mun.ca\/technologyresources\/course-setup\/notifications-and-personal-profiles\/\" class=\"bellows-target\"><span class=\"bellows-target-title bellows-target-text\">Personal Settings<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-42207\" class=\"bellows-menu-item bellows-menu-item-type-post_type bellows-menu-item-object-page bellows-menu-item-42207 bellows-item-level-1\"><a  href=\"https:\/\/blog.citl.mun.ca\/technologyresources\/course-setup\/course-home\/\" class=\"bellows-target\"><span class=\"bellows-target-title bellows-target-text\">Widgets<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column pagecontent is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Combining Course Sections<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p>Every course listed in Memorial\u2019s Banner system has a Brightspace site automatically created for it, and instructors typically maintain a separate site for every course they teach. In some cases, however, instructors may prefer to merge several course sections into a single Brightspace course site. This is usually done when:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>An instructor is teaching multiple sections of the same course<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>A course is cross-listed<\/strong> (i.e., it is offered under two different course codes, often across different academic units).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>When course content, materials, and assessments are consistent across the different course sections, combining them into a single Brightspace site streamlines management and enhances efficiency for instructors. This combined site then includes multiple \u201cchild\u201d sections under a single parent course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group note-container has-base-background-color has-background\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Note<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Instructors cannot combine course sections themselves. If you wish to have your course sections combined, please contact the <a href=\"https:\/\/citl.mun.ca\/support\/\">CITL Support Centre<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Benefits<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Combining course sections offers several benefits, some of which are outlined below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It allows instructors to perform fewer content updates if the content in the different sections is the same.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It combines grade books, which can create efficiencies if the grading schemes and assignments are the same (please note that instructors can always filter the grade book and view grades for a specific course section).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In cases where content in the merged sections is the same but assessments are different (e.g. grad\/undergrad courses that share the same content), asessments can be configured This is often done for sections of the same course, or grad\/undergrad courses which share the same content, but different assignments.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For sections that have different CRNs, but the same physical meeting time and instructor, this is likely the best and most efficient configuration.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Communication tools are combined, meaning any discussion-based classwork will benefit from the larger student group. This can also be a drawback if the courses are too big, and the assignment does not fit.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Drawbacks<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Not recommended if the pacing of the combined sections varies and releasing timed assignments or content access is important.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>While it can be done in a single course site, it is more complicated to manage different dates for different sections in the same site.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Assignments or grading varies for the sections.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If student work has been completed in any of the course sections. This type of information is lost when combining course sections, and cannot be moved to the new combined section. Thus, if student work has been completed (announcements, assignments, quizzes, surveys, discussions, etc\u2026), combining is not recommended.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Considerations<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>When course sections are combined, the existing sections remain in place, with whatever content\/work completed was available at the time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A new, blank course site is created with all of the students from the two (or more) sections.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Course content must be copied into this new site, and items reconfigured.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Also, the old course sites should be deleted once any content is migrated.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Combining Course Sections Every course listed in Memorial\u2019s Banner system has a Brightspace site automatically created for it, and instructors typically maintain a separate site for every course they teach. In some cases, however, instructors may prefer to merge several course sections into a single Brightspace course site. This is usually done when: When course &#8230; <a title=\"Combining Course Sections\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.citl.mun.ca\/technologyresources\/course-setup\/combining-course-sections\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Combining Course Sections\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":255,"featured_media":0,"parent":41369,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[229],"tags":[231,237],"class_list":{"0":"post-5019","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","5":"category-course-setup","6":"tag-brightspace-tools","7":"tag-course-admin"},"featured_image_src":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.citl.mun.ca\/technologyresources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5019","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.citl.mun.ca\/technologyresources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.citl.mun.ca\/technologyresources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.citl.mun.ca\/technologyresources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/255"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.citl.mun.ca\/technologyresources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5019"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blog.citl.mun.ca\/technologyresources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5019\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":42285,"href":"https:\/\/blog.citl.mun.ca\/technologyresources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5019\/revisions\/42285"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.citl.mun.ca\/technologyresources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/41369"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.citl.mun.ca\/technologyresources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5019"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.citl.mun.ca\/technologyresources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5019"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.citl.mun.ca\/technologyresources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5019"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}