By the end of this article you will be able to create a coursensu compatible .csv file of design content, import the content, run any fixes (if needed) and then import the content into your design. Importing helps you bring design ideas from other sources, for example a whiteboard board app, documents or spreadsheets. You may not meet every column the import can cater for, that's perfectly normal. Most imports are likely to have little more than Sections and Titles. Designs will differ, and if you have more details it will be supported by the other fields.
Import becomes powerful when you have existing design or course content that you want to redesign or iterate on. Simply grab the headline content from your LMS/CMS or other published content, convert to the .csv and then import to make design changes within the collaborative learning design platform.
Contains
Start the import process - where to find the import feature
Setting up your .csv for import - preparing your data before it comes into coursensu.
Cleaning an import on Coursensu - using the import tools to make changes during import.
Import your design - create design content quickly.
Terminology
csv - a simple version of a spreadsheet, text-based and can be opened in all popular spreadsheet software.
Ready? Let's import content and give your designs a content boost! 💃
Start the import process - from an existing design
Tip: Skip to the next section if you want to create a new design to import into.
Step: Navigate to a design you want to import content into and select the Import icon from the toolbar.
Select the import icon from your design
Note: This design is blank, it has no content items or sections.
Outcome: You're done - ready to import. Skip the next section if you are importing to an existing design.
Start the import process - from a new design
Step: Select 'START HERE' from My designs area of coursensu and select Import content from the 'How do you want to start?' popup.
Start a new design and import content
Step: Give your design a name and then select 'Start importing!'
Give the import design a name
Outcome: You're done - ready to import.
Starting import from a .csv (see related articles for other options)
Step: Select your import method from the options presented.In this example - we're uploading a .csv with our design items.
The import starting screen (your icons may vary - depends on your plan)
Step: Download and open the .csv template from the import page to get a ready-made csv file for you to work with in any data or text editor.
Selecting to import from .csv
Step: We're using Numbers on a Mac but it'll work in any spreadsheet software.
Working with the csv template
Step: Add data to describe your design. Most columns are optional but you will want to at least add Order, Sections and Titles.
Formatting your data
Tip: If you want content to be in the same section, you just need to repeat the same name in each row. The import process will identify the repetition and group items together.
Note: We've added a bit more in this demo, but only to give it some depth when we import.
Step: Save as, or Export, your file as a .csv (some spreadsheet software 'encourages' you into their own format, like .numbers or .xlsx - these are not compatible with the import process.
Saving your file as .csv
Step: Return to coursensu and Select the 'Select your csv' button. Find the file somewhere on your computer.
Selecting your .csv file
Step: Review the 'Field mapping' to check the fields in the file you have uploaded match coursensu's format.
Starting the import process by mapping the csv fields to Coursensu
Note: this is where things can get tricky, fields from the template should match automatically, however your csv may differ and the mapping option gives you some flexibility to align files with the required format.
Optional step: if needed - select fields that map to your .csv
Mapping more fields - green icons mean a successful automatic mapping
Tip: You don't have to map all fields. Most of them are optional, the import tool is flexible, working with whatever you can give it.
Changing which fields are being mapped
Step: If you're happy with the mappings - select 'Upload Now'. If not - you may need to adjust your csv file in your spreadsheet software.
Reviewing the mappings
Step: Smart importer will confirm your action. Select 'Start import' to continue, if it looks correct.
Importing content
Cleaning an import on Coursensu.
This section we will use some import tools to help confirm and clean our design import before it is fully imported. All steps here are optional.
Step: Review the preview table and check you are happy with the data and the formatting. If not - see below.
Cleaning and making bulk changes during the import process
Optional step: Perform bulk operations on any selected line in the preview table to edit or fix items you are importing.
Bulk operations that can be performed
Optional step: The drop down menu contains fixes or changes that you can make in bulk, this can help speed up the process or fix issues.
Import your design
This final step will bring your import preview content into your design - the goal!
Step: Select all lines in the Import preview that you wish to import.
Selecting items to import into your design
Step: Select the 'Import all items to ' (in our example 'Coursensu import demo' - yours will differ!).
Step: Wait for the import to complete - do not navigate away. It is happening in the background, and pretty fail-safe but we prevent your movement just for a moment to be sure).
Import in progress
Step: Select 'FINISHED - Go to Designer' when the button appears
Import now finished (it can take 30-60 seconds to process your import, be patient)
Step: Review your import in the designer view.
Reviewing our imported items
Outcome: You have completed this task 🚀 Nice one. You have imported design content and can now use Coursensu to make your future design decisions for this work.
Note: The import columns will attempt to import into their respective areas (such as Duration, Method, Purpose, Resources, Type, etc.) but these are worth checking as it's not 100% guaranteed due to the nature of csv and that you can 'type anything' in other software. It can be buggy for many reasons, something we will try to improve but can't be immune to!
Top 3 next steps
Check your design and make sure Import bought all your data over.
Review the team for this design and add others to collaborate.
Start adding more design details, such as the richer pedagogic information.
