Content Modules

Content Modules are a very powerful tool within WebCT. Content modules enable you to not only organize your course content but also provides extra power when using other tools such as key word searching and content compiling.

Content modules consist of a series of pages of content (lecture notes, multimedia presentations, assignments, quizzes) that are organized into a Table of Contents. The hierarchical structure makes it easier for students to find specific course content. See Add Page or Tool for instructions on how to add a content module to your course. If you are new to WebCT, you can also use the Content Module Wizard. The wizard guides you, step-by-step, through the adding files to the Table of Contents, deleting files and previewing the Table of Contents.

Below are the function you can perform in Content Modules

You create the Table of Contents by adding headings, subheadings and files of content. Content files appear as links in the Table of Contents, which provides students easy access. When a student clicks a link, WebCT displays the content pages that you have created.

A. Add a Heading

Headings help you organize the Table of Contents. For example, if several pages of content relate to a particular topic you can use a heading to indicate to your students the covered topic.

From the Content Module Table of Contents:

Select the Add heading button from the Options: Table of Contents

Note: If you select an item in the Table of Contents before adding a new heading, when the new heading is added it will be placed directly below the item that you selected.

The Add Heading page displays. Type desired heading in Title: field and click the Add button.

The new heading displays in the Table of Contents

Note: Any changes made to a content module will not be seen by the students until Update student view has been completed. See Update Student View for additional information.

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B. Add a Content File

Although your course files can be in any file format (.txt, .doc, .htm, .html, .xls, .ppt, .pdf, .jpg and .gif) you will want to keep in mind factors such as file size and format while choosing content for your course. For example, a student will not be able to view a PowerPoint document in your content module if they do not have the Microsoft PowerPoint software or a PowerPoint viewer. Also, a 14 MB pdf file can take a student 45 minutes to download over a 56K dial-up modem.

From the Content Module:

Select the Add files button from the Options: Table of Contents

Note: If you select an item in the Table of Contents before adding the content file, when the new content file is added it will be placed directly below the item that you selected.

The Add Files screen displays with only html files that have been uploaded to the My-Files folder. Note: To display all files, select Show all files in the My-Files folder in Manage Files.

If the file is displayed in the Filenames selection box, select the file(s) you want to add. Note: To select multiple files, hold the Ctrl key while selecting the files. For Mac users, hold the Apple key. Select the Add button.

The file(s) are added and the updated Table of Contents appears.

If the file is not displayed in the Filenames selection box, select the Browse button to upload the file to the My-Files folder and then add it to the Content Module.

The WebCT File Browser displays. Click the Browse button to locate the file on your local computer to upload to WebCT

Choose file dialog box displays. Locate and select the local file you would like to upload and click the Open button

The File Browser page displays with the selected file in the filename field. Note: If you would like to verify you have selected the correct file you can click within the Filename field and use your arrow keys to scroll through the field.

Select the desired folder from the Upload to: drop-down and click the Upload button

The uploaded file displays and is automatically selected. Click the Add selected button

Add Files page displays with uploaded file selected. Click the Add button.

The new file displays in the Table of Contents

Note: Any changes made to a content module will not be seen by the students until Update student view has been completed. See Update Student View for additional information.

Note: If the new page displays with a title of Untitled Document see Edit Page Titles for help.

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You may find that a page of content is no longer needed in the Table of Contents. You can use the delete function to delete a heading, subheading, or page from the Table of Contents. Note: You can only delete one item at a time.

Select the heading, subheading or page that you wish to delete. Select the Delete button.

Delete Confirmation displays. Verify this is the content you wish to remove from the Table of Contents and click Ok button.

Table of Contents displays without deleted content.

Note: Any changes made to a content module will not be seen by the students until Update student view has been completed. See Update Student View for additional information.

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Titles you have assigned to content pages and headings in the Table of Contents can be edited. For example, you realized that you have a typo in the title of your content page. This function will allow you to correct that error. Or, if you feel that the heading that originally put in the Table of Contents doesn't truly reflect the topic covered, this function will allow you to change it.

From the Content Module Table of Contents:

Select the Edit titles button from the Options: Table of Contents

Edit Content Page Titles page displays. Select the title(s) you wish to change and type the new title(s) in the field. Click the Update button.

The Table of Contents displays with the new title(s).

Note: Any changes made to a content module will not be seen by the students until Update student view has been completed. See Update Student View for additional information.

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Students access content pages through the Table of Contents, which is structured as a hierarchy of hyperlinked headings and subheadings. The Table of Contents below illustrates a hierarchy of content pages.

Note: A right-pointing triangle next to a heading indicates that there are subheadings which are not displayed. Click the right-pointing triangle to make the subheadings visible. A downward-pointing triangle next to a heading indicates that subheadings are displayed. Click the downward-pointing triangle to hide the subheadings.

You have the ability of customizing the Table of Contents. You can create subheadings by indenting headings, change the position of pages, displaying the Table of Contents on content pages, etc. See below the different ways to customize the Table of Contents.

A. Positioning Headings and Content Pages

You can change the hierarchy and sequence of your course content. For example, a page of content (What are Breadcrumbs) that is related to a topic heading that already exists in the Table of Contents (Navigating in the Course) is added without first selecting an item in the Table of Contents to position it. When the page is added it appears at the bottom of the Table of Contents.

The content page (What are Breadcrumbs) needs to be indented twice and moved up three slots in the Table of Contents so that it appears in the correct position in the Table of Contents

From the Content Module Table of Contents:

Select the content page or heading that you wish to move. Select the appropriate Organize actions and click the Go button.

The updated Table of Contents displays.

Note: Any changes made to a content module will not be seen by the students until Update student view has been completed. See Update Student View for additional information.

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B. Display Table of Contents on Content Pages

The Table of Contents is displayed on the Content Module screen, but you can also display it on every content page. For example, you may wish to hide the Action Menu navigation and have your students navigate through the content module using the Table of Contents displayed on the each content page as illustrated below.

From the Content Module Table of Contents:

Select the Edit Content Module settings button from the Options: Content Module actions

Content Module Settings page displays. Select desired Location of Table of Contents. Note: If you select To the left of each page. You also can select the width of the Table of Contents in pixels from the drop-down menu.

Scroll to the bottom of the page and click the Update button. The Table of Contents displays.

Note: In order to view the Table of Contents location on the content pages you will need to switch to the View option and select one of the content pages in the module.

Note: Any changes made to a content module will not be seen by the students until Update student view has been completed. See Update Student View for additional information.

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You can select what students see first when entering the Content Module: the first document listed in the Table of Contents, or the Table of Contents itself. Note: This setting only applies to the student view. As a designer, the Table of Contents is always presented to you as the start page in both View and Designer Options.

From the Content Module Table of Contents:

Select the Edit Content Module settings button from the Options: Content Module actions

Content Module Settings page displays. Select first document a student will see when accessing the Content Module.

Scroll to the bottom of the page and click the Update button. The Table of Contents displays.

Note: This setting only applies to the student view. As a designer, the Table of Contents is always presented to you as the start page in both View and Designer Options.

Note: Any changes made to a content module will not be seen by the students until Update student view has been completed. See Update Student View for additional information.

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D. Page Numbering

By default, each heading and content page is assigned a number by WebCT depending on where it lays in the structure of the Table of Contents. You can determine whether you would like these numbers to display or not and the initial starting value of these numbers.

From the Content Module Table of Contents:

Select the Edit Content Module settings button from the Options: Content Module actions

Content Module Settings page displays. Select desired Page numbering option. Note: If you select Number the items in the Table of Contents, you also can select the staring number by typing the desired value in the Initial value: field.

Scroll to the bottom of the page and click the Update button. The Table of Contents displays.

Note: In order to view the Table of Contents location on the content pages you will need to switch to the View option and select one of the content pages in the module.

Note: Any changes made to a content module will not be seen by the students until Update student view has been completed. See Update Student View for additional information.

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You can add a textblock as a page header on the Table of Contents. A header can act as a lead in to the content contained in the Table of Contents.

Note: The textblock is not displayed if you set the Table of Contents to display on the left of the page. See Display Table of Contents on Content Pages for additional information.

From the Content Module Table of Contents:

Select the Edit/Add upper textblock button from the Customize actions

The Edit / Add Upper Textblock page displays. Enter the text you would like to display in the upper textblock. Note: You can use HTML tags to format the text, or click HTML editor to format the text using the HTML Editor. Click the Update button when your textblock is complete.

Table of Contents displays with the new upper textblock.

Note: Any changes made to a content module will not be seen by the students until Update student view has been completed. See Update Student View for additional information.

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You can add a textblock as a page footer on the Table of Contents. A footer can direct the students where to go next after conquering the content in the table of contents.

Note: The textblock is not displayed if you set the Table of Contents to display on the left of the page. See Display Table of Contents on Content Pages for additional information.

From the Content Module Table of Contents:

Select the Edit/Add lower textblock button from the Customize actions

The Edit / Add Upper Textblock page displays. Enter the text you would like to display in the upper textblock. Note: You can use HTML tags to format the text, or click HTML editor to format the text using the HTML Editor. Click the Update button when your textblock is complete.

Table of Contents displays with the new lower textblock.

Note: Any changes made to a content module will not be seen by the students until Update student view has been completed. See Update Student View for additional information.

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The Action Menu contains buttons that help students navigate through the content in the module. By default, the action menu is located at the top of each page of content and contains five buttons. The buttons are used to navigate through the Content Module and cannot be edited.

	Takes the student to the Table of Contents.
	Takes the student to the previous page of content.
	Takes the student to the next page of content.
	Takes the student back along the path he or she has visited in the pages of content.
	Refreshes the screen.

The Action Menu is customizable. Links to tools can be added to the Action Menu and the location of the Action Menu can be changed. These changes can be made to all the pages in a content module or just to individual pages.

A. Changing the Location of the Action Menu

You have the ability to display the Action Menu at the top of each content page, at the left of each content page or not at all.

From the Content Module Table of Contents:

Select the Edit Content Module settings button from the Options: Content Module actions

Content Module Settings page displays. Select desired Location of Action Menu. Note: If you select To the left of each page. You also can select the width of the action menu in pixels from the drop-down menu.

Scroll to the bottom of the page and click the Update button. The Table of Contents displays.

Note: In order to view the Action Menu you will need to switch to the View option and select one of the content pages in the module.

Note: Any changes made to a content module will not be seen by the students until Update student view has been completed. See Update Student View for additional information.

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B. Adding Links to the Action Menu

You can add links to the following tools in the Action Menu of all content pages in a content module.

For example, if the students are going to be taking a quiz after completing each module. You don't want the students to have to leave the content module and find the link to the quiz. You can add a link to the quiz in the Action Menu.

From the Content Module Table of Contents:

Select the Edit Content Module settings button from the Options: Content Module actions

Content Module Settings page displays.

Select the tool(s) that you would like to have links to in the Action Menu in all the Content Pages of the Content Module. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click the Update button. The Table of Contents displays.

Note: In order to view the Action Menu you will need to switch to the View option and select one of the content pages in the module.

Note: Any changes made to a content module will not be seen by the students until Update student view has been completed. See Update Student View for additional information.

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C. Adding Links to Individual Pages

Just as you have the ability to add links to the Action Menu of all the content pages, you also have the ability to add links to the Action Menu of Individual Pages. For example, the students will be taking a quiz after completing each module. You would like the students to have access to the quiz link from the Action Menu but only on the last page of content to ensure they don't leave the content module in the middle to take the quiz. You can add the quiz link to the Action Menu only on the last page of content.

From the Content Module Table of Contents:

Select the page that you would like to add links to the Action Menu. Content Page Settings page displays. Select the Action Menu items you would like to add to this content page. Click the Update button.

A displays by the Action Menu item(s) added that are different than the Action Menu settings for the Content Module as a whole and a note indicating this displays below the Update button.

Note: In order to view the new Action Menu you will need to switch to the View option. You will be taken directly to the page that you edited to view the new Action Menu setting.

Note: Any changes made to a content module will not be seen by the students until Update student view has been completed. See Update Student View for additional information.

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WebCT gives you the ability to export a content module from one course and import it into another course. For example, you are offering several courses this semester. In each course you want a "Getting Started" content module that provides your students with the guidance they need to begin a successful online experienece (i.e. browser tuneup, navigating in WebCT, course structure, where to get help, etc.) Using the Export/Import feature, you only have to create this content module once. After successfully creating the content module in one course, you can export the whole content module and import into each course you would like to use it in.

Export

From the Homepage of your course:

Click the Control Panel button

The Basic Control Panel will display
Note: See Control Panel Display to learn how to make the expanded control panel the default view.

Click the Manage Course button

The Manage Course Options display

Select Export Content option

Export Content page displays. Select Content Module option. Select which Content Module you wish to export from Content Module: drop-down list. Select a destination folder from Destination folder: drop-down list. Click Continue button.

Export Confirmation page displays the filename created and reminding you which folder you saved the file in. Select Return to Manage Course link.

The Manage Course Options display

Download Exported File

The complete content module now exists as a zip file in the My-Files section of your course. If you plan on importing the content module into another course you will need to download this file to your local computer.

From the Homepage of your course:

Click the Control Panel button

The Basic Control Panel will display
Note: See Control Panel Display to learn how to make the expanded control panel the default view.

Click the Manage Files button

Folders and Files page displays. Select the file zip file that was created when the content module was exported. Click the Download button from the Options: Files actions.

Download File page displays. Verify that you are downloading the correct file and click the Download button.

You will receive a confirmation screen that you are downloading a file to your local computer. A dialog box will appear requesting the location you would like to save the file. (The look of this confirmation screen and dialog box will vary depending on the operating system and browser you are using.) Name the file, select the location and click the Save button.

File is saved to your local computer and the File and Folders page displays.

Import

From the Homepage of your course:

Click the Control Panel button

The Basic Control Panel will display
Note: See Control Panel Display to learn how to make the expanded control panel the default view.

Click the Manage Course button

The Manage Course Options display. Select Import Content.

Import Content page displays. Select Import a Content Package option. Click in the Enter a title for this item: field and type the title of the Content Module. Click the Browse button to locate the content module zip file to import.

The WebCT File Browser displays. Click the Browse button to locate the file on your local computer to upload to WebCT

Choose file dialog box displays. Locate and select the local file you would like to upload and click the Open button

The File Browser page displays with the selected file in the filename field. Note: If you would like to verify you have selected the correct file you can click within the Filename field and use your arrow keys to scroll through the field.

Select the desired folder from the Upload to: drop-down and click the Upload button

The uploaded file displays and is automatically selected. Click the Add selected button

Selected filename displays in the Filename: prompt. Leave the Select the package type: at the default (WebCT). Select where and how you would like the Content Module link display. Click the Import button.

Confirmation screen displays. Click Done button. Homepage displays with imported Content Module.

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Update Student View is used to the make changes you have made to your content pages available to your students. You must update the student view every time you make changes to your Content Module.

From the Content Module Table of Contents:

Select the Update student view button from the Options: Content Module actions

Update Student View of Content Pages page displays. Select the type of update you would like to perform. Click the Update button.

Update Student View Report displays and indicates when the process is done.

Note: While working in Content Modules, you will notice several places that Update Student View is available. The steps above are just one of the methods available to complete this function.

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