Beyond the Syllabus: Saving, Sharing, and Structuring Asynchronous Learning with the CST

Steve Harper February 27, 2026

Curriculum Scheduling Tool

We’ve already released a video showing how the new Curriculum Scheduling Tool works.

This post focuses on why it matters.

The real power of the tool isn’t just assigning dates. It’s the ability to:

  • Save and share delivery models (.cst files)
  • Design structured asynchronous learning with clear pacing expectations

You’re Not Saving a Calendar — You’re Saving a Delivery Model

In Select & Organize, you build your curriculum sequence.

*Images compressed to save space. Click on any image to view details.


Build and arrange your curriculum sequence.

You choose the order. You define the flow. You shape the instructional experience.

Then in Settings, you define:

  • Start date
  • Hours per week
  • Weekend/holiday exclusions


Define pacing expectations.

When you click Save Schedule (.cst), you’re saving:

  • The sequence
  • The pacing logic
  • The time expectations

You’re saving your instructional blueprint.

Why the .CST File Is a Game Changer

Saved schedule files allow you to:

  • Standardize cohort models
  • Create day, night, or accelerated versions
  • Reload and adjust prior schedules
  • Share pacing templates with instructors


Reuse and share saved pacing models.

Instead of rebuilding every term, you refine and redeploy.

That improves consistency across instructors and across training centers.

Designing Asynchronous Learning with Intention

CML is not seat-time based. Apprentices progress through structured learning on their own.

That means pacing must be clear.

When you set weekly study hours, the tool calculates:

  • Estimated weeks
  • Completion date
  • Total hours


Automatic calculation of duration and completion.

This transforms assignment from:

“Complete these modules.”

To:

“Complete approximately 6 hours per week. Your target completion date is May 23.”

Clear expectations reduce procrastination and increase accountability.

Weekly Hours = Instructional Control

Adjusting weekly study hours changes the entire experience.


Changing weekly hours recalculates pacing.

The content stays the same.
The structure changes.

You can:

  • Stretch learning across a semester
  • Compress for accelerated programs
  • Create catch-up plans
  • Design remediation tracks

That’s intentional asynchronous design.

Structure Improves Engagement

The Course Schedule Overview makes pacing visible.


Clear start and end dates for each course.

Apprentices can see:

  • What comes next
  • When it starts
  • When it ends

That visibility supports self-management.

Documentation Matters

The Review & Print function turns your schedule into a communication tool.


Print or share structured pacing plans.

Use it for:

  • Apprentice meetings
  • Committee discussions
  • Employer communication
  • Program planning

It documents instructional intent.

The Bigger Shift

Without structured pacing, instructors react when apprentices fall behind.

With this tool, you design progression up front.

You:

  • Balance workload
  • Define expectations
  • Standardize delivery
  • Document pacing

That’s the difference between managing completion and leading instruction.

Start Here

  • Build one standard cohort schedule.
  • Save it as a .cst file.
  • Share it with another instructor.
  • Create one structured asynchronous plan.

The tool isn’t just about scheduling.

It’s about delivering consistent, accountable, and intentional computer-mediated learning for an entire cohort, or students studying asynchronously.

Final Point

The CST is available in the Training Management System area of the OLS. Instructors wishing to build their own schedules will need a TMS account with the proper permission set by their Training Director.

LMS Update

Steve Harper February 6, 2026

Happy Friday! The start of 2026 has brought some solid improvements to the LMS—both under the hood and right in front of you as an instructor. One recent update stood out as particularly helpful, and we think it’s worth a closer look.

Improved Visibility in CML Progress Reports

CML Progress Reports have been updated to give instructors a more complete picture of their class.

Progress Reports will now include students whose course access is set to begin on a future date. Previously, these students were not visible until their access became active, which could make rosters and progress checks feel incomplete or confusing.

What’s changed:

    • Students in a session/course with future-dated access now appear in CML Progress Reports

    • These students will show no progress yet, which is expected until their access begins

    • Once their access becomes active, progress will track normally

What this means for you as an instructor:

    • A more accurate view of your full class roster

    • Fewer questions about “missing” students in reports

    • Better planning and communication before a class or term begins

This update improves transparency and helps instructors understand who is enrolled, who is active, and who is scheduled to start—without guessing or waiting for access dates to arrive.

Steve Harper – Director – LMS

 

ICA License Stacking is LIVE!

Jim Stover February 5, 2026

HUZZAH! Effective today, February 5, 2026, TMS administrators can assign consecutive ICA licenses to instructors without interrupting access. Training centers no longer need to wait for an existing license to expire before assigning a new one. This updated workflow allows a new license to be assigned in advance, ensuring continuous access with no gaps.

Jim Stover | Director | Training Management System

Add a 2nd MFA Delivery Method to Bulletproof Your Login Experience

Jim Stover January 26, 2026 No Comments

Recently, some major email service providers experienced technical difficulties that may have delayed or prevented the delivery of Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) codes.

Please be advised that these disruptions originated with the external email providers and were not caused by an issue within our internal systems. Most services have now stabilized, and you should be able to receive these security codes as usual.

Did you know the LMS has the ability to deliver MFA codes via SMS text and Authenticator app as well as email?

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Post CML Update – What to Know

Jim Stover December 30, 2025 No Comments

I wanted to follow up as we near the completion of the CML Module Update.

As a consequence of the update, users who have already been in a particular module will see a slide asking them if they want to resume or restart.

If they select Resume, the slide in the module will not do anything.

They must click Restart to reset the module.

Here is an example of the first slide asking to Resume or Restart (notice how Restart is really small and at the bottom?). Clicking the big white Resume button will take them to this next slide where the Yes and No buttons do absolutely nothing. (See screenshots)

Users that encounter this situation need to close the module, relaunch it and select Restart. This will only need to be done the first time a user accesses one of the replaced modules.

This does not affect module completion. If the module was complete prior to the update, the completion status will be retained.

Also, anyone who gets a blank screen, garbled data, or anything else out of the ordinary should try the following:

  • Log out of the LMS
  • Clear their browser cache completely. Not just the data for the LMS. You can find instructions HERE
    • Select all time, not just a specific timeframe. ALL historical data must be cleared.
    • Make sure that Data and Cookies at a minimum are selected.
    • Close and restart the browser after the cache is cleared.

Continue to watch this space if additional idiosyncrasies are found.

Jim Stover | Director, TMS

Navigating the Upcoming CML Software Update

Jim Stover December 1, 2025 No Comments
🤝 Navigating the Upcoming CML Software Update
I’d like to take this opportunity to follow up on the LMS notice regarding the upcoming update to the CML course modules. While these technical updates are a necessary part of maintaining a robust learning environment, I understand they can occasionally cause confusion for both you and your students. This update has been scheduled during what is a historically slow period of LMS activity to minimize the disruption, but I understand that it will potentially negatively impact certain students. This is the underlying reason for providing additional lead time for you and your students.
I want to inform you, the instructor, our first line of communication with the students, about why we do these updates and how you can best support your students through the process.

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Getting Under the Hood with Data Analytics – NEW FEATURE

Jim Stover November 24, 2025 No Comments

Effective Tuesday, November 25, 2025, JATCs will have access to a new, powerful tool inside the TMS.  The Course Analytics dashboard are here to help your training location move beyond basic completion data and achieve true program optimization. Are you looking to pinpoint exactly where learners struggle, justify resource investments, or benchmark your team’s performance against national standards?

By leveraging granular data on grades, time-to-completion, and activity performance, you can uncover hidden challenges and align your curriculum with real learner behavior. (more…)