User Guide
CDU HE Learnline
Master Template
Office of Learning & Teaching
Contents 1. Purpose of the CDU HE Learnline MASTER Template ....................................................... 3 2. Glossary ............................................................................................................................................ 3 3. Guide For Using the HE Learnline MASTER Template ...................................................... 5 3.1. 3.2. 3.3. 3.4. 3.5. 3.6. 3.7. Home Page (Unit Landing Page) ..................................................................................................... 5 About This Unit .................................................................................................................................... 6 Assessment ............................................................................................................................................ 7 Learning Materials .............................................................................................................................. 8 Learning With Others ......................................................................................................................... 8 Resources ............................................................................................................................................... 9 Help and Support ............................................................................................................................... 10 4. Template Content Items ........................................................................................................... 12 4.1. 4.2. 4.3. 4.4. Compulsory Template Content Items ......................................................................................... 12 Optional Template Content Items ............................................................................................... 13 Removing template content items from your Learnline unit ............................................. 17 Adding template content items to your Learnline unit ........................................................ 17 User Guide: CDU HE Learnline Master Template / August 2014 / Version. 1.0
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1. PURPOSE OF THE CDU HE LEARNLINE MASTER
TEMPLATE
The purpose of the CDU HE Learnline Master Template is to provide a consistent online learning and
teaching environment for students within Learnline.
The template offers four key benefits:
•
Supports students to focus on unit content: Consistent navigation and layout allows students to
spend more time engaging with content rather than learning to navigate unit layout designs that
may vary from unit to unit.
•
Supports academics to develop high quality Learnline units: The templates are based on effective
design principles, which provide a framework to support a range of learning tools and approaches.
•
Saves academics time: Consistent design features allows academic staff to spend less time
developing and maintaining their sites and more time focusing on the learning and teaching within
those sites.
•
Central Management of the Learnline Environment: Parts of Learnline sites that are common
across all units can be updated and maintained centrally without academics having to spend
unnecessary time engaging in the management and administration of the unit. These are known
as “Template content items” and are referred to later in this document.
2. GLOSSARY
To aid interpretation of this guide, a brief glossary is provided to clarify the main terms used:
Content Area
A Content Area is a place within the Learnline site where a variety
of content items (see below) are organised around a particular
theme. Clicking on one of the Learnline unit menu headings takes
you to a content area (e.g. Module 1 or Unit Information)
Content Collection
The Content Collection is Learnline’s inbuilt storage space for all
unit and user materials. There are individual collections (e.g. unit
level, user level and others) within the main content collection.
Content Editor
The Content Editor is the window in which you edit the information
in a content item (see below). It provides a space to type
information and to attach documents, embed videos and other
media.
Content Item
A Content Item is a container to put information in a content area.
Most content areas will have somewhere between 3 and 10 content
items.
Control Panel
The Control Panel is a lecturer-only area which allows for tools to
be switched on/off, and to control and customise the Learnline site.
The grade centre is also a primary element of the control panel.
Grade Centre
The Grade Centre is a tool which allows lecturers to access and
grade student assessment items. It is accessed from the control
panel. This is different to ‘my grades’ which is the unit menu link for
students to view their own grades.
Mash Up Tool
In Learnline the Mash Up tool allows third party content to be
directly embedded within a content item. Examples include a
YouTube video, SlideShare presentation, Flickr photo or Voice
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recording.
Template Content Item
A Template content item is a content item that contains generic
information that is to be deployed across multiple units. Such
content items are useful because if a change is made centrally it is
automatically applied to all locations in Learnline where that
Template Content Item has been deployed. An example of this is
instructions for students on how to submit an assignment in
Learnline.
Unit Menu
The Unit Menu is the main menu on the left hand side of an
individual Learnline site. It provides single click access to content
areas such as unit information, learning modules, staff contacts,
collaboration tools, assessment items and support. Regardless of
which part of a Learnline site you are in you should be able to view
and click on the unit menu.
Unit Readiness Criteria
The Unit Readiness Criteria is a set of minimum criteria that a unit
must meet prior to being released to students each semester or
teaching period.
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3. GUIDE FOR USING THE HE LEARNLINE MASTER
TEMPLATE
3.1. Home Page (Unit Landing Page)
The home page is the entry point to the unit. The lecturer has the option to display Announcements (figure
1) or change it to the Module Page (figure 2).
The module format allows the lecturer to customise the information that is presented, modules contain
information and tools to help students keep up to date in the unit.
Figure 1: Example Announcements as Home Page
Figure 2: Example Module Page as Home Page
Minimum requirement:
•
Welcome announcement, required as per the Unit Readiness Criteria
Optional:
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•
Module page that can be customised, but as a minimum include Announcements, What’s New
and To Do modules
Other Available Modules:
•
Alerts: Display notifications of past due and early warnings for the units you instruct
•
Calculator: Perform calculations
•
Dictionary: Search for and display a dictionary for definitions
•
My Announcements: Displays announcements relevant to the user
•
My Tasks: Display your personal tasks
•
Needs Attention: Display notifications regarding items that need your attention in the units you
instruct
•
Textpad: Create HTML-formatted text, using the Manage Textpad Module Settings
•
Thesaurus: Search for and display a thesaurus for synonyms and antonyms of words
•
To Do: Keep on top of your unit work. Display all items due and past-due for your units
•
What’s New: Keep up to date with your units. Display notices of what is new in your enrolled units
3.2. About This Unit
This content area is for lecturers to add the unit outline or unit information. A staff contacts link with
contact details should be added here as well as information regarding copyright and work health and
safety. Additional content options include a unit tour (how to use this unit).
Example About This Unit Section
Minimum requirement:
•
Unit information document, required as per the Unit Readiness Criteria
•
Study plan (can be included in the unit information document), required as per the Unit
Readiness Criteria
•
Set text (can be included in the unit information document), required as per the Unit
Readiness Criteria
•
CDU Disclaimer, Privacy, and Copyright information, Template content item
•
Work Health and Safety information, Template content item
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•
Online Classroom Student Notification, Template content item
Optional:
•
Unit Tour
3.3. Assessment
This content area should include specific assessment related information, including what the students
have to do to complete the assessment, what the assessment items are (e.g. research paper/test/essay
2000 words, double spaced, due on X date), submission points, links to relevant instruction and
guidelines, and CDU assessment rules and related Governance policies. The assessment overview must
be in the Unit Information document.
We recommend that there is a rubric in this area, and that you show models of good work.
Example Assessment Section
Minimum requirement:
•
Assessment Information, required as per the Unit Readiness Criteria
•
Assessment Submission links / points, required as per the Unit Readiness Criteria
•
Relevant CDU Governance links, Template content item
Optional:
•
Assessment instructions and guidelines dependant on assessment type, Template content
items:
o
Standard Assessment Submission Instructions
o
SafeAssign Submission Instructions
o
Draft SafeAssign Submission Instructions
o
Tips for Taking Online Tests
o
Exam Information
•
Checking Your Grades, Template content item
•
Cover sheet and instructions
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3.4. Learning Materials
This content area should contain instructions, tasks, activities and materials that students are required to
read and undertake in the unit. It could be structured by weeks, subjects or activities, as a set of topics, or
simply as a folder where all activities can be accessed in one place. This should contain links to relevant
content items as well as tools – e.g. discussions, quizzes and assignments.
Example Learning Materials Section
Optional:
•
Contains links via unit navigation to tasks, activities and materials:
o
•
Structure is to be determined by theme / school and coordinator.
Possible options include: Weeks / Subjects/ Activities / Modules / Folders / Topics
Learning materials contain links to relevant tools, activities and resources in context with the
content item. (e.g. link directly to the Discussion Board to post a related post to the content
item)
3.5. Learning With Others
This content area should include opportunities for student interaction, collaboration and communication. It
would identify the nominated tools, provide instruction and contain links to the relevant tools using the Unit
Tool Link option.
Note: tools not being used should be hidden from student view.
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Example Learning With Others Section
Optional:
•
Links to communication and collaboration tools:
o
Blogs
o
Wikis
o
Journals
o
Online Classroom
o
Groups
o
Discussion Board
o
Any activity that enables student to student interaction
o
Unit Tools link (hide Tools not being used in the unit)
3.6. Resources
This content area is where information, links and documents that are additional to the content in ‘Learning
Materials’ can be located i.e. Library information, web links, glossary, reference documents, etc.
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Example Resources Section
Optional:
•
Group all resources relevant to the unit, such as:
o
Relevant links, external websites in context to the unit of study
o
Relevant Learnline Community sites
o
Relevant Legislation.
•
CDU Library Information, Template content item
•
Academic Study Skills support, Template content item
3.7. Help and Support
This content area provides information on how students can access a range of support services offered by
CDU.
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Example Help and Support Section
Minimum requirement:
•
24hr Student Support information, Template content item
•
ITMS Student Support information, Template content item
•
Student Central contact information, Template content item
Optional:
•
Student focused and related support services at CDU
•
Learnline Support resources and guides
•
Student counselling options and information
•
CDU Student Services
•
Relevant Policies and Procedures
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4. TEMPLATE CONTENT ITEMS
Template content items are used extensively throughout Learnline and enable common core content
items to be populated across all Learnline units. This enables rapid editing of elements that are common
across all units. The template content items are managed by the Office of Learning & Teaching. The
lecturer or unit builder cannot edit these items.
Note: Changes to content in a template content item will not just impact content in current units; a unit
from a previous teaching period with a template content item will also be affected.
4.1. Compulsory Template Content Items
The compulsory template content items are prepopulated into the HE Template and include:
Disclaimer, Privacy & Copyright (Disclaimer.html)
Informs students of CDU’s disclaimer, privacy and copyright information.
Online Classroom Student Notification (Collaborate_Notification.html)
Informs students their interactions may be recorded while participating in Online Classrooms.
Think About Your Work Health and Safety (WHS.html)
Advice to students about WHS issues associated with screen based work.
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CDU Governance Documents – Grading, Examination and Other Policies (Governance_Links.html)
Informs students of relevant CDU governance information surrounding assessment, examination and
grading.
4.2. Optional Template Content Items
The optional template content items include assessment submission instructions for all assessment types,
as well as other support information for students. These items are included in the HE Template, so if you
are not using a particular assessment type you will need to remove that information from your unit. The
optional template content items include:
Assessment Submission Instructions:
Assessment Submission Instructions (Standard_Assessment.html)
Provides students with instructions for submitting an assignment in Learnline and should be included in a
unit where a standard assignment is used.
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Exam Information (Exam_Information.html)
Provides students with information on external examination arrangements and should be included in a unit
that has external students.
SafeAssign Submission Instructions (SafeAssign_Standard.html)
Provides students with instructions for submitting an assignment in Learnline using SafeAssign and
should be included in a unit where SafeAssign is used.
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SafeAssign Submission Instructions, with draft information (SafeAssign_Draft.html)
Provides students with instructions for submitting an assignment in Learnline using SafeAssign and
should be included in a unit where SafeAssign is used and a draft submission option is provided to
students.
Tips for Taking Online Tests (Test_Tips.html)
Provides students with helpful information on successfully undertaking a test in Learnline and should be
included in a unit that contains an online test.
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Student Support Information:
Checking Your Grades (Your_Grades.html)
Provides students with information on how to view their grades in Learnline. While not compulsory, it is
information that can assist students in monitoring and managing their learning.
Graduate Attributes (Graduate_Attributes.html)
Provides students with information about CDU graduate attributes. While not compulsory, it is information
that can assist students.
Library Services (Library_Info.html)
Provides students with information about services available from CDU library. While not compulsory, it is
information that can assist students.
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Study Skills Online (Study_Skills.html)
This gives students information about the Academic Language and Learning Success Program. While not
compulsory, it is information that can assist students.
4.3. Removing template content items from your Learnline unit
Some template content items may not be relevant to your unit and will need to be removed. For example
your unit may not have a centrally managed exam, therefore students do not need to know this
information. To remove template content items follow these steps:
1. Within your Learnline unit, navigate to the content item you wish to remove, then ensure that Edit
Mode is ON.
2. Hover over the content item title, then click on the down arrow that appears next to it.
3. From the menu that appears, select Delete. You will be prompted to confirm the content you want
to delete, at the prompt select OK. The content item has now been removed.
If you have any difficulties with removing template content items in your Learnline unit, please call
Learnline Staff Support on (08) 8946 6198 or send an email to learnlinestaff@cdu.edu.au.
4.4. Adding template content items to your Learnline unit
If a template content item is not contained in your unit, and you wish to display that information to students
you can add the template content item by following the steps below, or contact Learnline Staff Support on
(08) 8946 6198 or by email to learnlinestaff@cdu.edu.au.
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1. Within your Learnline unit, navigate to the area you would like to place the information, then
ensure that Edit Mode is ON
2. Hover over the Build Content menu item
3. From the Create options, select Item
4. Give the content item a meaningful name , e.g. Assignment Submission Instructions
5. In the content editor, click on the paperclip icon to attach a file
6. A pop up box will appear, from here click Browse Content Collection
7. The Browse Content Collection pop up box will appear. Hover over the Browse menu item
8. From the options listed choose Institution Content
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9. From the folders listed, click on the Learnline Template folder
10. Locate the file name of the content item you require (files names are listed against each item in
section 4.2 of this document), for example Standard_Assessment.html, and select the check box
next to the file name
11. Click Submit to confirm the file selection
12. The name of the file will now be listed it insert into the content item
13. Click Submit to add the file
14. In the content editor you will have the file name listed, similar to the screenshot below. You can
now click Submit to create the template content item
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15. The template content item will be the last content item on your page. You can move the content to
your desired location by hovering over the content item and clicking the yellow bar that appears
and dragging the item upwards
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