Catalyst FAQ

Table of Contents

• What is the difference between Coursetune and Catalyst?
• What content do I put in Catalyst?
• What will I have to do in Canvas once I push from Catalyst?
• How do I build an activity that spans several modules/weeks?
• Does Catalyst create a syllabus?
• How do I view the Learn More Resources?
• Do you use Catalyst for future versions of the same course?
• How do I add Cengage, McGraw Hill Connect, Pearson MyLab or similar assignments?
• Can I delete a module? (Do I have to have 7 modules?)

What is the difference between Coursetune and Catalyst?

Coursetune is a dynamic curriculum mapping software that provides visuals and reports to ensure outcome alignment at the institutional, program, and course level. These visualizations can help to inform continuous improvement and course/program iteration.

Catalyst is an all new, first-of-its-kind, faculty-centric software for course mapping and course development. Catalyst is where you will design and develop your course content while working with your instructional designer.

When you are done designing and developing your course you will push the content to the LMS and all of your content will appear in Canvas in the program specific, university branded template.

The following Catalyst Overview Document provides a high level overview of the tool.

Catalyst is powered by Coursetune, meaning that while you are building your course in Catalyst, the objectives, alignment, and learning activities are being captured in Coursetune so that you have the power of Coursetune’s visualizations and reports at your fingertips and can discuss gaps and overlaps with your instructional designer. You do not need to enter anything into Coursetune or use the tool.

What content do I put in Catalyst?

You will create introductions, directive text for lectures, links to articles, websites and videos, discussions, assessments, and summaries in Catalyst.

You will need to create rubrics, adjust settings for discussions and assignments, embed videos and images in Canvas.

This guide will help guide you as to what is built where: Catalyst vs. LMS

What will I have to do in Canvas once I push from Catalyst?

You will meet with your instructional designer to push your content from Catalyst to Canvas and together walk through the course in Canvas to determine what final touches are needed and create a comprehensive list.

This guide will help you make sure everything is ready in the course before you copy into the live shell: Catalyst Push Next Steps

How do I build an activity that spans several modules/weeks?

Catalyst mirrors exactly how the modules or weeks are set up in Canvas, so just as you would need multiple pages in Canvas, you will create those in Catalyst. For example, if an assignment has 3 parts and they are due in Modules 2, 4 and 6, you will create these assignment pages in Catalyst and label them as you want them to appear in Canvas. Or, you may want to introduce a comprehensive project in Module 1 and it is due in Module 7; in this case you will create a learn page in Module 1 in Catalyst and then an assignment page in Module 7.

Does Catalyst create a syllabus?

No. Catalyst will not automatically generate a syllabus. You will use the syllabus template that is a file within your Canvas shell to create your syllabus.

How do I view the Learn More Resources?

Throughout Catalyst you will notice small ? icons next to key terminology, such as Course Objectives. When you click on the ? you will see some initial information about the topic and there is a Learn More link at the bottom of the pop up. The learn more links contain examples, job aids, video tutorials, research and more to assist you while you are designing and developing your course. To access these resources, you will need to create an account in Faculty eCommons and login.

This guidance document provides information on logging in to Faculty eCommons.

Do you use Catalyst for future versions of the same course? 

After you finish designing and developing your course in Catalyst, you will push to a development shell in the LMS. This development or DEV shell will become the main course. You will then copy the course into the live shell when you are ready and make necessary minor adjustments such as adding due dates and announcements. If there are minor edits to the course for future terms, such as adding directive text, tweaking instructions for discussions or assignments, adding a video, these would be made in the DEV shell in the LMS.

How do I add Cengage, McGraw Hill Connect, Pearson MyLab or similar assignments? 

You will pair these publisher tools to the LMS as you have in the past. Depending on how you use the assignments in these tools, there are two options in Catalyst.

Option 1: If you are using the activity as a non-graded practice assignment OR if you are integrating the tool with your gradebook, you will want to create a LEARN page in Catalyst, provide directive text to help tee up the activity and its value and then provide the specific link to the learning activity on this page.

Option 2: If you are using the learning activity as a graded assignment that you are checking, even complete/incomplete, create an ASSESS page in Catalyst. Again, you will want to provide directive text and assignment instructions and link to the activity in the tool, but the assignment will create a category in your gradebook allowing you to enter values.

Can I delete a module? (Do I have to have 7 modules?)

Yes, you can delete a module on the CT side, before pushing to the LMS. But we would make sure the program lead approves of this. Will it still be 7 weeks? How will students pace?

Want to know more about Catalyst? Check out these articles:

• Catalyst Course Map Guide
• Catalyst Login Guide
• Catalyst Learn More Guide
• Catalyst vs. LMS Guide
• Catalyst Objective Alignment Guide
• How do I use Catalyst Reports?