Blackboard 9: Build Content:Create: Learning Module

From TeachToolsWiki

1 Learning Module
2 Learning Module Information
3 Default Content View
4 Availability
5 View
6 Table of Contents
7 Where can I get help?

Learning Module

A Learning Module is a collection of Content Items focused on a specific subject that students can navigate at their own pace. For example, a Learning Module about the solar system can include lecture notes, links to websites with pictrues of all the planets, and assignments. Instructors can create a structured path for progressing through the items. The path can be set so that students must view content sequentially, or set to permit users to view the content in any order. The path is displayed in the Table of Contents which can be used to navigate through the Learning Module. Content within a Learning Module is added and managed just like content in a Content Folder. The Learning Module is a shell into which other content, such as files, tools, and assessments are added.

Learning Module Information

Enter a Name for the Learning Module. The name is the title text that appears in the Content Area. Use a descriptive name to help users identify the Learning Module. Choose a color for the title text of the Learning Module. Be sure to select a color that will provide enough contrast with the background of the Content Area so users can easily read the text. Use the Text box to enter a description and any instructions for using the Learning Module. This information is optional, but can assist users understand expectations and any associated goals and tasks.

Default Content View

Select a method for displaying Content Items within the Learning Module: Icon Only, Text Only, or Icon and Text. Mark the Apply Changes to All New and Existing Sub-folders and Items checkbox to enforce this view throughout the Learning Module.

Availability

Select No to restrict users from seeing the Learning Module. This will make the Learning Module unavailable, but will not affect the availability of any content if it can be accessed another way such as through the Content Collection, or on a Tool page or in another Content Area. Learning Modules can be set to display on a specific date and time and to stop displaying on a specific date and time. Display restrictions do not affect content availability, only the appearance of the Learning Module.

View

Select Yes to force students to progress through the content in the order that is set . This order can be changed by using drag and drop to rearrange the content. Students will be unable to advance to a page within the Learning Unit without viewing the previous page. If Sequential Viewing is not enforced, then items listed on the Table of Contents may be viewed in any order. Items in the Table of Contents can be expanded and collapsed. These items can be listed using letters or numbers. Learning Modules can be set to open in a new browser window or open within the Content frame. To keep students within the frame while viewing the Learning Module, select No. To allow students to view the Learning Module in a separate window, select Yes. Opening a Learning Module in a new window allows students to view the Course and its contents at the same time as the Learning Module. They will be able to navigate to other areas and keep the Learning Module open in the separate window. Opening the Learning Module within the Content frame keeps students within the Course while they are viewing the content. Students can follow links within the Learning Module and still remain in the Content frame. Once students navigate away from the Learning Module by selecting an item on the Menu, the link will close and they will be returned to the Content Area page. To turn on Tracking Statistics for the Learning Module, select Yes for Track Number of Views. Tracking Statistics will record the number of times the Learning Module is viewed, when it is viewed and by whom.

Instructors can customize the hierarchical view of the Learning Module by editing the display of the lettering/numbering of the items and to show or hide items which are displayed in the Table of Contents that appears at the bottom of the page. Another method of creating a hierarchy is by creating folders and placing content within these folders. Folders can be nested within other folders.