From a functional standpoint, a master and a shell are identical; they both exist in either the Blackboard or Moodle learning management systems.

The differences are in their relationships to Datatel/Colleague, the college's administrative software.

Shells:

• are automatically created in Blackboard each semester for all courses. 
• include the instructor of record (from Datatel course document)
• automatically add officially enrolled students, usually around 12:01am on the start date of the course
• automatically disable all officially withdrawn students; their activity, assignments, etc. are retained, but hidden
• are automatically archived after each semester and retained for at least two years
• for Moodle must be requested; visit the Course Administrative Webtools area (the CAW); network login is required; click on "Request shells" and follow the directions

Masters:

• are not required; development can occur directly in a course shell if it's available
• are for development purposes only; students are never enrolled
• can be created for individual instructors or for divisions and the content then copied into shells as desired
• to request a master, visit the Course Administrative Webtools area (the CAW); network login is required; select either Blackboard or Moodle; then click on "Request master" and follow the directions