Edit Settings

There are various settings that the instructor can change within the course website to better cater towards his/her teaching approach and style. These are only general settings for all areas within the course; some can be overridden by settings enacted within an individual activity.

Table of Contents

Course Settings

Course Settings

Available options

  1. In the Settings block (left side of page), click on Edit settings.
  2. The following are options that can be changed/implemented for the course:
    • Course summary is a statement that shows up in the course search. It can briefly outline what the course is about, or it can be a welcome message for students.
    • Format determines how the course is laid out on the main page. The two most commonly used types are Topics and Weekly formats—choose the desired preference.
    • Number of weeks/topics determines how many weeks or topics appear on the main course page.
      Note: By increasing or decreasing this number you can change the number of content blocks displayed.
      screen image of number of topics
    • Course start date lets PolyLearn know when the class is set to start (for most, Cal Poly's first day of instruction). It is important to accurately set this for gradebook purposes.
    • Hidden sections shows week/topic sections as either collapsed (displaying a "Not available" message to students) or completely invisible when hidden from students.
      • Note: Hide sections from students by clicking the corresponding eyeball icon while in editing mode.
    • News items to show displays the number of items that appear in the Latest news block.
      • Note: The Latest news block will not show up on the main course page if this number is set to '0' or if the block has been already disabled.
    • Show gradebook to students controls whether students can see grades for their completed activities within the course.
    • Show activity reports controls whether students can see activity reports for their completed work.
    • Maximum upload size sets the default file upload size for the entire course website.
      • Note: This value can be overridden if maximum sizes are set within individual activities.
    • Force theme allows the instructor to select a different theme background for the course. If desired, another theme can be chosen from the pull-down list.
      Note: The theme named calpoly is the default theme for our campus.
    • Allow guest access determines whether guests can access the course website without being enrolled.
    • Password allows guests to access by typing in the correct password (not available if guest access is not allowed).
      • Note: Click Unmask to see the password as you are typing it.
    • Group mode enables students to work in groups within PolyLearn.
      screen image of group
      • Note: This option can be overridden within individual activities.
        - No groups: There are no sub groups, everyone is part of one big community
        - Seperate groups: Each group member can only see their own group, others are invisible
        - Visible groups: Each group member works in their own group, but can also see other groups
    • Force group mode requires every activity to be completed within groups.
      • Note: This option CANNOT be overridden within individual activities.
    • Availability allows students to access the course.
      screen image of availabilitity pull down
      • Note:Be sure to make the course available to students when it is ready. This is a VERY common step that instructors forget to do!
    • Force language prevents students from viewing the course website in any language other than English.
    • "Your word for..." assigns custom names to roles of people in the course (i.e. 'Student', 'Instructor', etc.)
      • Note: This does not change any roles—only what they are referred to as.