In a computing environment comprising a course authoring system connected to a server, a method for creating a hierarchy of course materials, the method comprising creating a master course comprising a plurality of course elements, storing the master course in the course authoring system, selecting elements of the master course to be copied into a shadow course, copying the selected elements of the master course into a shadow course that includes course elements which are inherited from the master course, storing the shadow course in the course authoring system, associating at least one element in the shadow course with an element of the master course, and modifying at least one element of in the shadow course, wherein any modification to a course element of the master course is automatically propagated to any course elements of the shadow course which are associated with the modified course element of the master course.