Creating a New Custom Curriculum (without Rich Media content)

This manual shows the basics of creating a new custom curriculum. For more details on editing and enhancing your master curriculum with Rich Media Content including videos, see the manual: PLSIS – PLS Dimensions1)

How do I get there? Teacher Pages>Manage Curriculum

You will see any curriculum you’ve already created or are already using with your students in a list. Click on the to start the process for your new curriculum. If you just want to edit an existing curriculum, click “Edit Content” to the right of the curriculum name. Then jump to Step 1 - #2 in this manual.

  1. Naming your curriculum creates a folder for your future assignments, objectives, and standards.


    1. Name the curriculum. The curriculum name you create should make this curriculum easy to find in a list at a later time. Names such as English 9 or 7 Language Arts are typical but not as good as English 9 (JSmith 15-16) or 7-8 – Science – Company Name (2016 )which notes the author of the curriculum and the school year it was created.
    2. Choose a curriculum category
    3. Check the State and/or Common Core Standards this curriculum will refer to.
    4. Grade levels refer to which standards will be available when creating the curriculum..
    5. Your name will show as the owner. Depending on your permissions in the system, you may change the course owner.
    6. Note any textbooks or other pertinent information you may want to refer to later.
    7. Checking HIDE prevents the course from being available to use in the system.

      Either Save & Exit your curriculum folder to go back to the main list of all curriculum, or click Save, Edit Curriculum to go directly to start creating your curriculum.

      You can always click on the Edit Properties from the main list to change/edit your curriculum folder or to delete.

  2. Click Edit Content to start your custom curriculum creation.

    1. Click to Add Module. A module is School Pathways' name for a unit of study - similar to Unit or Chapter.
    2. Add a Title to the module. You may optionally add objectives and assignments at this point as well. The system automatically numbers all items.
    3. Each item must be separated by a blank line.
    4. Confirm to view the Module you created.

    5. Go Back, Edit or Save as Is to view your module

      You now see your first module. Click the > to the left of the blue Module folder to expand and view lessons.

      Expanded View.

      Go back to step 2. a-f to create your next module.

      Objectives are designated by
      Assignments are designated by
      Standards are designated by
  3. Editing your module
    1. Click on any item. The blue highlight shows it is in edit mode.
    2. The text of the blue highlighted item shows in the Title box to the right. Edit if necessary and then click Save Edit. You can add a link here also.
    3. Attach a sub assignment, objective, standard, or resource.

    4. When edits and additions have been completed, click Save Curriculum.
  4. Re-ordering your modules
    1. Close all modules using the black ►
    2. Left click on the module and drag it up. Release the left click to drop it in its new location.
    3. Change the number in the Key/Url: field to the right to the correct number order.
    4. Save Edit
  5. Moving items within a module
    1. Left click and drag any items to a new location.
    2. Notice the black ► icons which designate folder hierarchy. If you want an item nested beneath another, drop when the black ► is present.
    3. Save Edit.
  6. Adding more assignments.
    1. Click on the module title.
    2. Click on Assignment in the “add new items… “ drop-down.
    3. a new assignment called “New Assignment” will appear in the list of assignments on the left.
    4. Click on the words “New Assignment” to edit.
    5. Save Edit.

  7. Appending standards to your assignments.
    1. To add a standard to a specific assignment or module, click on the assignment or module wording then choose Standard from the drop down. The item highlighted in blue will gain the appendage.
    2. Open the standards viewer by choosing “Standard.”
    3. Open standards by clicking on the blue ►. You can also filter by adding key words.

    4. Check any items you want to attach.

    5. SAVE at the bottom right.
    6. The standard is now attached to the assignment.

  8. Adding Resources to your assignments.
    • See manual PLS – Curriculum – PLS Dimensions.2)
  9. Using your curriculum.
    1. Attach your curriculum to any class to create a grade book. See manual CMS - Grade Book - Attaching Curriculum (Instructors).
    2. Attach your curriculum to any PLS class individual learning. See manual PLS - Classes - Add New and Copy to Other Students 9.8.16
    3. You can edit your curriculum at any time and it will be updated in the curriculum attached to your grade book. NOTE the updates will not alter any assignments already assigned.

This feature is only available for schools using the PLS or have added this extra value module.

To Begin, Click on the Import Curriculum button:

Use the sort features to find the curriculum lesson plan you want to borrow. Leave “Range” set to “Global” to find School Pathways curriculum lesson plans.

Any SP curriculum in the system that matches your search criteria will be listed. Use the Ctrl/F key to narrow your search further.

Click to view/print or Import to the new curriculum folder you are building.

Modules of the imported curriculum are now available for use with the title of the original curriculum you imported. Click Edit Properties to change the name of the curriculum. Click Edit Content to edit any module/objective/assignment/standard.

Click the + to the left of each module to view all information within the module. Click on any item in the “tree” to edit. Refer to Step 1 above for details on how to edit a curriculum.

This curriculum is also now available to attach to any course/class in the PLS or CMS. See manual PLS - Courses – Add New and Copy to Other Students.

Also see the manual PLS - Editing Master Curriculum for details on how to edit assignments, objectives, and standards as well as adding rich text media and other resources to your curriculum.


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FIXME: PLS Dimensions manual in-development. Link will be provided when it is available!
  • pls/custom_curriculum.txt
  • Last modified: 2018/06/01 16:25
  • by max