Table of Contents
How to Create a Course
Learn how to create and set up a new course in Portal LMS. This guide will walk you through the entire process from start to finish.
🎯 What You'll Learn
- •How to create a new course from scratch or using templates
- •How to configure course settings and academic parameters
- •How to set up course structure and organization
- •How to prepare your course for student enrollment
📋 Prerequisites
Before starting this workflow, ensure you have:
- •Teacher Account: Account with course creation permissions
- •Course Information: Course name, description, and details ready
- •Academic Settings: Academic year and term determined
- •Enrollment Limits: Maximum enrollment capacity established
🔄 Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Access Course Creation
- •
Navigate to My Courses
- •From your dashboard, click "My Courses"
- •You'll see your assigned courses and course management options
- •Click "+ Add Course" button
- •
Choose Creation Method
- •You'll see two options: "Start from Template" or "Start from Scratch"
- •Start from Template: Choose from available course templates, previous courses, and shared templates
- •Start from Scratch: Create a new course without using a template
- •Click "Start from Scratch" to begin with a blank course
Step 2: Configure Basic Course Information
- •
Enter Course Name
- •In the "Course Name" field, enter a clear, descriptive title
- •Example: "Algebra I"
- •Tip: Use consistent naming conventions for similar courses
- •
Select Subject
- •In the "Subject" field, enter or select the subject category
- •Examples: "Mathematics", "Science", "English", "History", etc.
- •
Write Course Description
- •In the "Description" field, provide detailed course information
- •Include:
- •Course objectives and learning outcomes
- •Course content and topics covered
- •Prerequisites or requirements
- •Assessment methods and grading criteria
- •Tip: Be comprehensive but concise in your description
Step 3: Configure Advanced Fields (Optional)
- •
Show Advanced Fields
- •Click "Show Advanced Fields" to reveal additional course configuration options
- •This will show fields for course codes, schedule, credits, and academic parameters
- •
Course Code (Optional)
- •Enter a course code if your school uses them
- •Example: "MATH101", "ENG201", etc.
- •
Section Code (Optional)
- •Enter a section code if applicable
- •Example: "A", "B", "1", "2", etc.
- •
Grace Period
- •Set the number of days after due date when late submissions are allowed
- •Default is 0 (no grace period)
- •Example: Set to 1 for 1-day grace period
- •
Credits
- •Set the credit value for this course
- •Default is 0 (no credits, doesn't affect GPA)
- •Example: Set to 1.0 for courses that count toward GPA
Step 4: Set Academic Parameters (Required for Publishing)
- •
Choose Academic Year
- •Select the academic year for this course from the dropdown. Academic Years are set by Administration, if the setting you need isn't shown, reach our to your admin.
- •Example: "2025-26"
- •Note: This field is required before publishing a course as active
- •
Select Academic Term
- •Choose the academic term from the dropdown. Academic terms are set by Administration, if the setting you need isn't shown, reach our to your admin.
- •Example: "Fall", "Spring", "Summer", etc.
- •Note: This field is required before publishing a course as active
- •
Add Schedule (Optional)
- •Click "+ Add Schedule" to add meeting times and locations
- •This is optional and can be configured later
- •Tip: You can add multiple schedule blocks for courses that meet at different times
Step 5: Create Course
- •
Review Course Information
- •Double-check all entered information
- •Ensure required fields are completed
- •Note: You're creating a draft course that won't be visible to students until published
- •
Create Course
- •Click "Create Course" to save your course as a draft
- •You'll be taken to the course management page
- •You can add more details and publish the course later
🎯 Next Steps
After creating your course, you can:
Course Management
- •Add Course Content: Upload materials, create assignments, and set up course structure
- •Manage Enrollment: Add students, handle enrollment requests, and track enrollment
- •Configure Settings: Update course information, modify settings, and adjust policies
- •Publish Course: Make the course visible to students when ready
Student Enrollment
- •Open Enrollment: Make course available for student enrollment
- •Manage Waitlists: Handle enrollment limits and waitlist management
- •Student Communication: Send announcements and communicate with enrolled students
🚨 Troubleshooting
Common Issues
Can't Access Course Creation
- •Check Permissions: Ensure you have course creation permissions
- •Contact Administrator: Ask administrator to verify your account status
- •Verify Role: Confirm you have teacher role assigned
Form Validation Errors
- •Required Fields: Ensure all required fields are completed
- •Academic Year: Verify academic year is properly configured
- •Term Selection: Ensure term is selected for the academic year
- •Data Format: Check that data is entered in correct format
Course Creation Fails
- •Network Issues: Check internet connection and try again
- •Browser Issues: Try refreshing the page or using a different browser
- •System Issues: Contact administrator if problem persists
💡 Best Practices
Course Information
- •Clear Naming: Use clear, descriptive course names
- •Consistent Structure: Follow consistent patterns for similar courses
- •Comprehensive Description: Provide detailed course information
- •Appropriate Prerequisites: Set realistic prerequisites and requirements
Academic Configuration
- •Realistic Enrollment: Set realistic enrollment limits
- •Qualified Instructors: Assign qualified and experienced teachers
- •Aligned Policies: Ensure course policies align with school policies
Course Management
- •Regular Updates: Keep course information current
- •Student Communication: Communicate clearly with enrolled students
- •Content Management: Regularly update course materials and resources
🎉 You're All Set!
Your course has been created and is ready for students to enroll. You can now:
- •Add course materials and resources
- •Create assignments and assessments
- •Set up grading and feedback systems
- •Communicate with enrolled students
Need help with the next steps? Check out our Assignment Creation Guide to learn how to add assignments to your new course.