Lessons

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Contents 1 In this article: 2 Lessons Overview 2.1 Getting Started in Lessons 3 Create and Manage Modules 3.1 Add Content 3.2 Edit a Module 3.2.1 Right (Indent) and Left (Outdent) 3.2.2 Sort 3.2.3 Move Sections 3.2.4 Delete 3.2.5 Archive 3.2.5.1 Restore an archived module 3.3 View or Hide Modules by Dates 3.4 Print a Module 3.5 Export Modules 3.6 Import Modules 3.7 Change Module Preferences 4 Copyright Status Options 5 Bookmarking, Exporting Notes and Last Visited in Modules 6 Special Access 7 Next Steps 8 Considerations 8.1 Define Properties of a Module 8.2 Co-authoring Content 8.3 Upload Restrictions 9 FAQ – Lessons 9.1 Why would I use Lessons over Resources? 9.2 Add Links? 9.3 Expand or Contract the View of the Modules? 9.4 Add a Link in my Section 10 Related Articles

In this article:

• Lessons Overview
• Create and Manage Modules
• Add Content
• Edit a Module
• Right (Indent) and Left (Outdent)
• Sort
• Move Sections
• Delete
• Archive
• Print a Module
• Export, Import Modules
• Change Module Preferences
• Copyright Status Options
• Bookmarking, Exporting Notes, Last Visited
• Special Access
• Next Steps
• Considerations

Lessons Overview

The 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 Lessons tool allows you to publish learning sequences by using the built-in online editor, by linking to web pages, or by uploading learning objects or documents. 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

A module is the building block of your lessons. Often, a module is one lesson, one class, or one week’s worth of material but a module may be any unit of your course. For example, you may organize your modules in weeks, adding lecture notes, activities, links, and resources that relate to that week’s topic as ‘sections’ of the week’s module. This helps guide students through the sequence of content/tasks in an organized manner.

A module consists of one module page AND one or more content sections, depending on how you want to organize your information. Module pages are like the title page of a document – on a module page you assign a title, add a description and keywords, if desired, and set the open and close dates the module is available to your students. Content is published in section pages.

You may also use Lessons to post lecture or seminar content on an ad hoc basis.

Getting Started in Lessons

To get started, click Lessons in the left menu. If you don’t see it in the menu, you will need to add it to your site using the Site Editor tool. By default, when you open the Lessons tool, you will be in the Author (edit) mode.

The other three possible ‘views’ are View (student view), Manage, and Preferences views.

• "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 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" enables you to package modules into a Zip or SCORM 2004 format to export, or gives you the ability to import modules in IMS format.
  • "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.

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 see copyright options below
  • Click Add
  • Click Done, Save, View, Add Another Section, or Cancel

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.

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

View or Hide Modules by Dates

• To see the modules as a student would see them, click View in the Lessons menu bar. You will see the Lesson list as a student would see it. You can click on the various module and content titles and navigate through the material as a student would.

Note: If you have one or more modules not open to students, you will see at the bottom of the screen that is not accessible to students. Students can see the titles and the start but cannot open the module or sections. Notice that the Module title and the Content Sections titles will also be italicized for you. If you do not see the titles beside any of the modules in italics, the students can see all the modules and their contents.

Print a Module

Print a Module:

1. In the Lessons home page, while in the Authoring mode (if you are not in the Authoring mode, click Author in the Lessons menu bar) click the Print icon next to the module you want to print.
2. Click Print in the left top corner of the pop-up and continue as you would for any print job.

Note: If you choose to allow students to print modules (see Change Module Preferences), they will also be able to print out entire modules. Disabling this feature for students does not affect instructor’s ability to print.

Export Modules

One or more modules can be exported from one site and imported into any site using Import. At the beginning of a new term, you can import your modules from a previous site. You don’t have to re-do all that work again. You may want to share your files with a colleague. Or you may want to keep a backup copy of your modules. You can export them and save them on your desktop or even within Resources in your My Workspace.

NOTE: You can export/import modules through the Lessons tool or you can use the Site Editor tool.

Exporting modules does not affect the current site’s modules. This export functionality exports all of your modules and sections into an IMS Content Packaging (CP) zip file that you can import into your next term’s site or other system that support IMS CP.

1. In the Lessons home page (Author view mode), click [Manage] in the Lessons menu bar.
2. Click .
3. From the What to export list of modules, select which module(s) you want to export.
4. Click Export.
5. Save the zipped folder, which contains all your chosen modules, in a convenient location. You DO NOT need to open, unzip, or view inside the folder. However, if you want to see or edit the files, you will need to UNZIP the folder. (WinZIP on a PC or UnStuffIt on a Mac are two applications to unzip files) You can now import the zip file into another site’s Lessons tool.

Import Modules

1. In the Lessons home page (Author view mode), click [Manage] in the Lessons menu bar.
2. Click Import/Export.
3. Click Browse, find the zipped folder you want to import, and click Open.
4. Click Import. The files will be imported and placed are the bottom of the list under any existing modules.

Change Module Preferences

1. In the Lessons home page (Author view mode), click Preferences in the Lessons menu bar.
2. Change any of the preferences by selecting the appropriate radio button(s). The descriptions below explain your choices:

• Expanded: Sets the default view of the Table of Contents (list of modules) so that all the sections and subsections are visible along with the module titles.
• Collapsed: Sets the default view of the Table of Contents (list of modules) so that only the modules are visible. To be able to view the sections and subsections, you will need to expand the list using the little black arrows.
• Show Link to Publisher's Content option: This feature is not operational at this time.
• Set default license: Content authors can set their default license and terms of use for their content sections. When adding new content, the default license will be pre-populated, saving you time if you have a preference as to what license to assign to your content. Please remember to change the license for material of others that you have received permission to use.
• Select default license: This feature is not operational at this time.
• Allow student printing of Modules?: When Yes is selected, students will see a small print icon in the Modules list. When they click on the print icon, their modules can be easily printed or saved as a PDF. When printing, the entire module is printed; there is no way to limit printing to just particular sections.
  • When No is selected, students will not see the print icon and will not be able to print modules.
• Autonumbering of Modules and Sections?: When Yes is selected, modules and sections will automatically be numbered and will show the numbering in the Instructor’s student view and to the students.
  • When No is selected, modules and sections will not be numbered in the student view.

Regardless of the choice made here, when you look at the module list in Author view, the modules and sections will have numbers.

1. Click Set. You will see the Your preferences been set successfully confirmation on the preferences screen.
2. Click Author to return to the Authoring screen.

Copyright Status Options

Copyright Status options include:

1. Material is in public domain.
2. I hold copyright.
3. I have obtained permission to use this material.
4. Copyright status is not yet determined. (This option will no longer be available as an option but will be in the display until all previous resources are classified.)
5. Material is available as Open Access.
6. Material is licensed by the U of W library.
7. Material falls under a Creative Commons License.

More information on copyright is available at Campus Copyright Information website.

Bookmarking, Exporting Notes and Last Visited in Modules

Special Access

See the Lessons Special Access article for more information.

Next Steps

On the Modules List page (Author View), to the right of the module title, there is an action button that is used for setting "Next Steps".

You can set instructions at the end of every module to let students know what they should do after reading through that module. You may direct them to a quiz, assignment, or simply ask them to continue with the next module. See the Lessons Next Steps article for instructions.

Considerations

Define Properties of a Module

1. The module title needs to be at least 1 character long. When the title is too long, it makes the Modules List page too wide to view nicely in your window, so that should remind you to shorten it.
2. Titles can be a combination of letters and numbers. Most special characters are now allowed, but do NOT use the # sign -- it is not accepted.
3. The description of the module should be less than 500 characters.
4. Keywords for the module should be fewer than 250 characters. They should be words or phrases, separated by commas if necessary. They will be used for keyword searches when that feature is implemented.
5. Added by and term/year are fixed fields. The information for these fields is provided automatically by the system when you log into the course as an Instructor. You cannot alter the fixed field data. Later on, when you access the module to edit it, this information gets stored in the Modified by field. Modules can be revised by you, a colleague, or a teaching assistant who has the same access privileges as you do.
6. Set the Start and End Date for the module using the calendar widget. Set the time first, then click on the date. Clicking on the date closes the widget, so if you don't do it in the correct sequence, you'll have to open the widget again and do it right.
7. Leave the Start and End Date boxes empty if you want your modules to be open-ended and available throughout the entire term.
8. There can be ten levels of subsections within a single section. That's not ten subsections, that's ten levels of indents. You have to create sections before you can start sub-sectioning them by using the left and right indent buttons.

Co-authoring Content

Co-Authoring Tip: It is highly recommended that only one instructor make changes to a module at a time. If you will co-author content, establish regular authoring times with your partner or split modules to avoid conflicts when saving your work.

Upload Restrictions

1. In the manage screen you can upload up to 10 items at a time, with a 50 MB file size limit.
2. HTML files cannot be uploaded. You can upload image formats (.png, .gif, .jpg), word, excel, powerpoint, pdf, etc.

FAQ – Lessons

Why would I use Lessons over Resources?

1. You can have an INSTANT backup of all your content (lessons + uploaded media) on your desktop using the export feature.
2. It allows you to guide students' learning by unit - by providing all your lectures notes, ppt, links to external resources, etc. in a sequential way for students. You can use dates to help them with pacing.
3. Having all the material for a unit together (in sections) reduces the need for students to search around in other areas of the course, such as resources, to find it. The easier the path to finding information for students, the better.
4. Modules automatically creates nice navigation for students and allows you to add "descriptions" for the modules and "instructions" for your sections (web links and documents that you upload) so that students know what they are supposed to do with the material you have posted.

In sum, you can guide students. It's not just a place with a bunch of stuff.

How do I . . .?

Add Links?

In the Lessons tool, you can enter text and pictures and add active links to websites if you select "Compose content with editor" when adding content to a Lesson.

Here's how: While adding or editing Lesson content with the CLEW editor,

1. Place your cursor in the text where you want the link to appear.
2. Click the Insert/Edit Link icon.
3. Type or paste the URL into the URL text box. Notice that the “http://” is already entered for you in the box next to it.
4. Click the Target tab.
5. From the Target drop-down list, select the New Window (_blank) option.
6. Click OK.

Expand or Contract the View of the Modules?

• By default, the list of modules is expanded to show their included sections and subsections. To change your view to show modules only (no sections), click on the double-headed arrow at the top of the list, or on any of the down-pointed arrows to the left of each module.
• To expand the view, click on arrow again.
• Students can collapse and expand modules as well.

Add a Link in my Section

The best way to create links within your text is to use the Insert Link icon. The key here is to FIRST--Type in a name for your link. i.e. "Museum of Modern Art." Next, highlight the text, THEN--click on the Insert Hyperlink Button and enter the actual URL in the space provided. When you finish the process; the TEXT you entered and highlighted turns into a hyperlink! This is the way to have a "pretty" link name appear in your Section instead of a big 'ol ugly URL...

Important Tip: When inserting a hyperlink: Be sure to select Blank in the Target Frame drop-down menu. This tells the browser to open the URL in a NEW PAGE when the hyperlink is clicked. This is standard practice on the Internet and has the advantage of leaving the section page with the link alone so the student can come back to the section and not get lost on the web!

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