Understanding Course vs. Rotation

One of the major foundational shifts in the new version is that it will be built around courses.  This allows the system to be organized around a course number, term and academic year, mirroring the organization utilized by academic programs.

Course

A “course” is what a student will enroll in.  It is a stand-alone element that can be used time after time. Courses are basically the foundation of any academic program. You only have to create a course once. Just as the registrar’s office at your academic institution recognizes a course, such as PA 601, and allows students to register for it at any time the department offers it, Exxat STEPS allows the same.

Like a syllabus, each course will have specific learning activities that students complete during that course such as specific evaluations and assignments.  Each time a student participates in this course, these activities will be presented to the student for completion.

In PT/OT/Nursing, Courses define Timeframe, often done in any Setting. However, in PA program, courses define Setting often done at any time of the clinical year.

Finding a Course:

1. Select Courses from your left-menu or dashboard
   
   
   
2. The page will display all existing courses.
   

Rotation

Rotations are the time period during which students participate in a course or courses, and this is where students can complete specific learning activities.  

A rotation may be a time in which all students from a cohort complete the same course (such as in PT or OT) or a time in which students from a cohort complete one of many courses offered (such as in PA).  When setting up a rotation timeframe, you will select which course(s) students may complete during that timeframe.

If multiple courses have been selected for a rotation, you will be given the opportunity to identify the specific course a student is completing when placing a student in a slot.

Finding a Rotation:

1. Select Placements from the left menu or dashboard. 
   
   
   
2. Select the course you’d like to manage. 
   
   
   
3. Within the Setup tab, you will see all your rotations.