Difference between revisions of "Add a content module to a Brightspace course"

Revision as of 04:49, 14 January 2016

Fig 1. Enter a title for the new module

Fig 2. Enter a title for the new sub-module

Fig 3. Switch modes

Fig 4. Select to edit the module title

Fig 5. Select to add a module description

About this article

This article demonstrates how to add a content module to a table of contents (TOC) in a Desire2Learn (D2L) course. It is intended for instructors.

What's a module?

In D2L, instructors provide students with access to course materials by building a TOC composed of headings and links. The headings are called modules and the links are called topics. There are many ways to organize content and any TOC could include a combination of approaches. For example, instructors could organize content by:

Timeline. Modules represent some unit of time (e.g., Week 1, Week 2).
Subject. Modules represent chapters or subject areas in textbook fashion (e.g., Biological Bases of Behavior)
Type. Modules group content based on type (e.g., handouts, slides, videos, links).

Instructions

For all instructions below, first navigate to a D2L course and select Content from the Materials menu. This will take you to the D2L Content Tool.

Adding a module

At the bottom of the sidebar region, select Add a module... (Figure 1).
Enter a title for the new module and press Enter on your keyboard.

Adding a sub-module

From the sidebar region, select the module or sub-module under which you want to place a sub-module.
In the content region, select Add a sub-module... (Figure 2).
Enter a title for the new sub-module, and press Enter on your keyboard.

Switching between published and draft mode

From the sidebar region, select the module or sub-module that you want to switch.
Select the down arrow to the right of Published or Draft to open the pick list.
Select either Published or Draft (this will differ depending on the current mode) from the content region (Figure 3). This will close the list and switch to that mode.

Renaming a module or sub-module

From the sidebar region, select the module or sub-module that you want to rename.
Select the title of the module or sub-module at the top of the content region (Figure 4).
Change the title and select Enter on your keyboard to save it.

Adding a description to a module or sub-module

From the sidebar region, select the module or sub-module that you want to rename.
Select Add a description... on the content region (Figure 5).
Use the editor to create the description and select the Update button to save it.

Additional details

New modules and sub-modules are always appended to the end of the list. They can then be moved if needed.
It's good practice to keep module and sub-module titles short so they fit on the sidebar. Titles longer than 16 characters (including spaces) will wrap to a second line.
By default, new modules are set to published mode and access is unrestricted. You can control access by switching to Draft mode or by setting restrictions at the module-level (e.g., if you don't want students to see a module until after a certain point in the course). This will restrict access to all of the sub-modules and topics underneath it.
Module and sub-module descriptions can help orient students and give your TOC a polished look.
If you plan to import a publisher-provided course pack or cartridge, it is not uncommon for that process to result in the addition of several new modules and sub-modules. For example, the publisher may include links to PowerPoint slides under a "PowerPoint Presentations" module. This import can be done at any time, even if you have already added modules yourself. Any new modules created by the installation of a course pack are typically added at the bottom of your existing TOC. These modules can then be edited, moved, or deleted.
If you are going to merge course sections, do not create modules until after the merge is complete and the new merged course appears on your class list.
Be careful when deleting modules and sub-modules. Depending on how you delete the module, you may also delete child sub-modules and topics.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{TOC_Float_Right}}
-[[File:D2L10-1 content module add.jpg|right|frame|Fig 1. Enter a title for the new module]]
+[[File:D2L10-3 content module add.jpg|right|frame|Fig 1. Enter a title for the new module]]
-[[File:D2L10-1 content module addsub.jpg|right|frame|Fig 2. Enter a title for the new sub-module]]
+[[File:D2L10-3 content module addsub.jpg|right|frame|Fig 2. Enter a title for the new sub-module]]
-[[File:D2L10-1 content module rename.jpg|right|frame|Fig 3. Select to edit the module title]]
+[[File:D2L10-3 content module publish.jpg|right|frame|Fig 3. Switch modes]]
-[[File:D2L10-1 content module description.jpg|right|frame|Fig 4. Select to add a module description]]
+[[File:D2L10-3 content module rename.jpg|right|frame|Fig 4. Select to edit the module title]]
-[[File:D2L10-1 content module publish.jpg|right|frame|Fig 5. Switch between publish and draft modes]]
+[[File:D2L10-3 content module description.jpg|right|frame|Fig 5. Select to add a module description]]
 ==About this article==
 This article demonstrates how to add a content module to a table of contents (TOC) in a [[Desire2Learn]] (D2L) course. It is intended for '''instructors'''.
 ==What's a module?==
 In D2L, instructors provide students with access to course materials by building a TOC composed of headings and links. The headings are called ''modules'' and the links are called ''topics''. There are many ways to organize content and any TOC could include a combination of approaches. For example, instructors could organize content by:
@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 *'''Type'''. Modules group content based on type (e.g., handouts, slides, videos, links).
-==Adding a module==
+==Instructions==
-#Open a D2L course, select the '''Materials''' menu, and select '''Content'''. This will take you to the Content Tool.
+For all instructions below, first navigate to a D2L course and select '''Content''' from the '''Materials''' menu. This will take you to the D2L Content Tool.
+===Adding a module===
 #At the bottom of the sidebar region, select '''Add a module...''' (Figure 1).
 #Enter a title for the new module and press '''Enter''' on your keyboard.
-==Adding a sub-module==
+===Adding a sub-module===
-#Open a D2L course, select the '''Materials''' menu, and select '''Content'''. This will take you to the Content Tool.
 #From the sidebar region, select the module or sub-module under which you want to place a sub-module.
 #In the content region, select '''Add a sub-module...''' (Figure 2).
 #Enter a title for the new sub-module, and press '''Enter''' on your keyboard.
-==Additional Details==
+===Switching between published and draft mode===
-*Adding a module or sub-module always appends the new item to the end of the list. The new module can then be moved if needed.
+#From the sidebar region, select the module or sub-module that you want to switch.
+#Select the down arrow to the right of '''Published''' or '''Draft''' to open the pick list.
+#Select either '''Published''' or '''Draft''' (this will differ depending on the current mode) from the content region (Figure 3). This will close the list and switch to that mode.
+===Renaming a module or sub-module===
+#From the sidebar region, select the module or sub-module that you want to rename.
+#Select the title of the module or sub-module at the top of the content region (Figure 4).
+#Change the title and select '''Enter''' on your keyboard to save it.
+===Adding a description to a module or sub-module===
+#From the sidebar region, select the module or sub-module that you want to rename.
+#Select '''Add a description...''' on the content region (Figure 5).
+#Use the editor to create the description and select the '''Update''' button to save it.
+==Additional details==
+*New modules and sub-modules are always appended to the end of the list. They can then be [[Moving and reordering content in a D2L course|moved]] if needed.
 *It's good practice to keep module and sub-module titles short so they fit on the sidebar. Titles longer than 16 characters (including spaces) will wrap to a second line.
-*Rename a module or sub-module by selecting it from the sidebar region and then selecting its title at the top of content region (Figure 3). Adjust the title and press '''Enter''' on your keyboard to save it.
+*By default, new modules are set to published mode and access is unrestricted. You can control access by switching to Draft mode or by [[Restricting content access in D2L|setting restrictions]] at the module-level (e.g., if you don't want students to see a module until after a certain point in the course). This will restrict access to all of the sub-modules and topics underneath it.
-*Add a description to a module or sub-module by selecting it from the sidebar region and then selecting '''Add a description...''' on the content region (Figure 4). Use the editor to create the description and select the '''Update''' button to save it.
+*Module and sub-module descriptions can help orient students and give your TOC a polished look.
-*By default, modules are published and students have unrestricted access to them immediately. You can switch from Publish to Draft mode (Figure 5) if you do not want students to see items as you are working on them. You can also [[Restricting content access in D2L|restrict student access to content]] at the module-level (e.g., if you don't want students to see a module until after a certain point in the course). This will restrict access to all of the sub-modules and topics underneath it.
 *If you plan to [[Integrating publisher-provided content into D2L|import a publisher-provided course pack]] or cartridge, it is not uncommon for that process to result in the addition of several new modules and sub-modules. For example, the publisher may include links to PowerPoint slides under a "PowerPoint Presentations" module. This import can be done at any time, even if you have already added modules yourself. Any new modules created by the installation of a course pack are typically added at the bottom of your existing TOC. These modules can then be edited, moved, or deleted.
 *If you are going to [[Merging D2L courses|merge course sections]], do not create modules until after the merge is complete and the new merged course appears on your class list.
+*Be careful when [[Deleting D2L content modules and topics|deleting modules and sub-modules]]. Depending on how you delete the module, you may also delete child sub-modules and topics.
 ==Related Articles==
 *[[Content in D2L]]
-*[[Adding a course overview to a D2L course]]
+*[[Adding an overview to a D2L course]]
 *[[Adding a content topic to a D2L course]]
-*[[Short titles in D2L]]
+*[[Editing D2L content topics]]
-*[[Enumeration_in_D2L|Enumeration in a D2L table of contents]]
+*[[Deleting D2L content modules and topics]]
+*[[Copying D2L courses]]
 *[[Restricting_content_access_in_D2L|Restricting D2L content access]]
 *Learning objectives in D2L (coming soon)
-[[Category: Content]][[Category: D2L]][[Category: D2L Content Tool]][[Category:Faculty]]
+[[Category: Content]][[Category: D2L]][[Category: D2L Content Tool]][[Category:Faculty]][[Category: Content Organization]]
+[[Category:KG]]