Forum Getting Started: Re: Locked Sessions

Locked sequences can't be modified once you have "run" them with a class.

As you well point out, you can make a copy of it and modify it. However, you need to save it under a different name.

I know, this is a bit annoying, but there's a good reason for this: when you assign a sequence to a class (in monitor), sequences get locked so all students can run thru the learning experience just as you designed it.

Imagine if you could change the first activity of a sequence once half of the students have already gone thru it. Then you'll have students with different experience in the same sequence which might be inconsistent.

However, you *can* change the content of an activity in Monitor (if you have set the activitiy to "Define in Monitor" while authoring it).

Also, if you want to preview your sequences while you are authoring it, you can use the Preview button (on the top right hand side of the screen) and that will show you the sequence just as your students will see it. You can go thru it and then do any modifications you want to best suit your design.

In the next version of LAMS (1.1), we not longer lock a sequence. Instead, when we assign a sequence to a class, we automatically copy the entire sequence and only run the class with a copy of the running sequence, leaving the original design untouch, so you can modify it as you please. However, this original design is not the one you are running with your class (that will be the running copy we created when assigning it to the class).

LAMS 1.2 or later will allow you to change running copies of a design. If and only if no student has reach the part of the sequence you want to modify. And that's to ensure that all your students go thru the same design and get the learning experience as you create it.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Thanks,

Ernie

Posted by Ernie Ghiglione