Lessons

From e-Learning Documentation

Revision as of 20:58, 4 January 2012

Last updated: 1-04-2012

Overview

Lessons tool is for displaying content to students in a structured form. Each Lessons module can provide an introductory paragraph, links to documents, websites, audio and video recordings, and a "Next Steps" paragraph instructing students what to do when they have completed the module. The content is easily navigated by way of a Table of Contents and Prev and Next buttons at the top of the page. You can elect to display modules during specific date ranges.

When you click on Lessons in the left menu bar, you will see four bullet points at the top of the page.

• "View" is a quick link to show you the module as the student will see it. You cannot edit or change things in this view, but can see if it appears the way you intend
• "Author" is where you create the modules, add or edit content, set start and end dates, change indention, delete and archive modules and content
• "Manage"
  • "Manage Content" allows you to upload up to 10 files at once (file size limit of 100MB each) that can be then added to content items. You can also delete content you no longer want.
  • "Restore Modules" is where you restore a module that was previously archived.
  • "Import/Export" does not work at this time
• "Preferences" is where you determine if modules will be set to show as expanded or collapsed, show "Link to Publisher's Content," Select a default license, allow students to print modules and set autonumbering of modules and content.

Note: The preference to show as expanded or collapsed is specific to each user. While you can set Lessons to show as expanded, a student can set her preferences to show as collapsed.

Manage Content

Lessons tool has its own file manager. The files you will add to your modules do not have to be uploaded to Resources. You may want to add your files to the Lessons file manager prior to building your modules. You can upload up to 10 at one time by going directly to the file manager and uploading the files there. When you then create the modules, the files will already be there available to add.

At the top of the Lessons page:

1. Click Manage
2. Click Manage Content
3. Leave "Add Item Type" at the default of "File Upload"
4. Change the "Number of items to Upload" to "10" or whatever number you have to upload.
5. Click Continue
   • You will see as many "Chose File" buttons as you requested.
6. Click Choose File to locate the file on your computer. Repeat this step for each file you want to upload. The Choose File button will return you to the folder where you found the last file, so if your files for the course are organized into one folder or area, uploading 10 files will be quick and easy.
7. When you've chosen all the files, click Continue

The files are now located in your Lessons file manager. Repeat Steps 4-7 until all files are uploaded.

Create and Manage Modules

From the "Author" view:

• Click Add Module
• Give the Module a Title
• If desired, add a Description/Overview or Objectives - this is shown as the "header" of the Module.
• If desired, insert Keywords to facilitate effective search of content.
• If desired, choose start and end dates. The students will be able to see the Module and all links, but the links will not be "live" except between the dates you entered.
• Check "Add Start and End dates to Schedule" if you want these dates posted on the Calendar tool.
• Click Add
• Click Add Content Sections

Add Content

A Content Section is like a container for a piece of content - either a file or a link to web content. Rather than just having a link to a file name, the Content Section can provide a title, instructions, copyright information, etc.

• Title the content section.
• If there are specific instructions for this piece of content, add them to the "Instructions" box.
• Choose the modality - what kind of content are you adding? Check ALL that apply (for example, a video would be both visual and auditory).
  • Textual content - PDF, Word (with no images in it), Excel spread sheet (no images)
  • Visual content - PowerPoint, Documents with images, links to websites
  • Auditory content - any content that has sound, such as mp3 recordings, videos with sound
• Choose the content type - how will you add the content?
  • Compose content with editor - opens the Content Editor allowing you to create HTML documents.
    • Create your document and click Add
  • Upload or link to a file - upload a file from your computer, or link to a file that already exists in the Lessons inventory.
  • Link to new or existing URL resource on server - link to any content on the internet, including files in the Resources tool.
    • The options "Upload or link to a file" and "Link to new or existing URL resource on server" will give you a Select link
    • Click Select to take you to a screen where you can upload a file from your computer.
      • Click Browse, select the file on your computer, click open, and click Continue
    • or link to a file that already exists in your Lessons inventory.
      • Click link to me beside the file you want to add.
    • Click Continue. You are returned to the main screen
  • Set Copyright Status if desired (the Help icon will give you more information about the copyright choices. If you still have questions, the UF library is a good source of information about copyright.)
  • Click Add
  • Click Add Another Section or Finish

Edit a Module

Once modules and content are created, you can go back and edit at any time.

• Check the box next to the item you want to edit.
• Click Edit at the top of the page.
• Make any changes to the content, including replacing the file with a different file, adding/changing instructions, or setting copyright status.
• Click Add Another Section or Finish

Right (Indent) and Left (Outdent)

Moving content left and right can further organize your content. Here is an example of using right indention to make the two pieces of content "Mary Leakey" and "Richard Leakey" appear under the heading "The Leakey Family.":

To indent (move right) or outdent (move left) content:

• Check the box next to the item(s) you want to move to the left or the right.
• Click Left or Right at the top of the page.

Sort

Sort allows you to reorder the content. You can sort the modules, or the content within the modules. To sort:

• Click Sort
• Choose whether you want to Sort Modules or Sort Sections
  • Sort Modules
    • You see two boxes listing your Modules. One is called "Original Sequence" and displays the modules in their current order. The other is called "New Sequence" and allows you to reorder the modules by using up and down arrows. To sort modules:
      • Click on the module you want to move. It is now selected (blue). Use the single arrow to move your selection up or down one place at a time.
      • To move your selection to the top of the list, use the double up arrow
      • To move your selection to the bottom of the list, use the double down arrow
  • Sort Sections
    • Click Sort Sections
    • From the drop-down menu, select the Module that contains the Content Sections you want to reorder
    • The two boxes, "Original Sequence" and "New Sequence" now display the content of that specific module.
    • Use the arrows and double arrows to reorder the content as described above.
  • To return to the main Lessons page, click the Reset icon at the top of the page.

Move Sections

This option allows you to move content from one module to another.

• Check the box next to the content items you want to move.
• Click Move Sections at the top of the page. A screen opens displaying all modules.
• Select the module where you want the content to go
• Click Save

Delete

Delete permanently removes content. The content is also removed from the Lessons inventory.

• Check the box next to the module(s) and/or content items that you want to remove.
• Click Delete at the top of the page.
• Click Continue

Archive

Modules can be archived. They are removed from the list of available modules, but can be restored from the archive for later use. Modules are archived as a whole. Individual content items cannot be archived.

• Check the box next to the module(s) you want to archive
• Click Archive at the top of the page

Restore an archived module

• Go to the "Manage" option at the top of the page
• Click Restore Modules
• Check the box next to the module(s) you want to restore to the active list
• Click Restore

Grant Special Access

Suppose you have created modules that are only available for a specific period of time, but a student missed that availability window with a legitimate excuse and you want to allow that one student access to the expired content. To grant access:

1. Click the "Special Access" icon
2. Click Add
3. From the scrolling list of names, select the person/people you want to give access
4. Enter a start date and end date
   1. Click the calendar icon
   2. Set the time using the drop-down windows first
   3. Then click the date
5. Click Done