Folders, tools & content

The three main ways to add and organise your content in UTSOnline are by creating:

1. Content folders
2. Lesson plans
3. Learning modules

1. Content folders

To help students access materials, you can group related or frequently used items in content folders. Typical folders might be titled: Subject Documents, Readings and Assessments. See an example.

Adding a content folder to the course menu

1. Select the + button at the top of the course menu. (If you don't see the button, check that the Edit Mode button is switched to On)
2. Select Create Content Area
3. Enter a name for the folder and click Submit
4. The folder will appear at the end of the course menu
5. To move the folder - click, hold, and drag it up or down the course menu.
6. To check that students will see this change as you see it, slide the Edit Mode button to Off or login to UTSOnline using your Student view account.

Adding a page, tool or folder to an existing content folder

Start by selecting the folder and choosing the type of materials you want to add from the four drop down lists (If you don't see the four drop down menus, check that the Edit Mode button is switched to On).

1. Build Content contains all the types of content you can create within your course - including files, pages, audio, images, videos and weblinks.
2. Create Assessment includes tests (quizzes), surveys, assignments, and self and peer assessments. All of these items will automatically generate a column in the gradebook in UTSOnline
3. Add Interactive Tool includes spaces for more collaborative student activities such as discussion boards, blogs, journals, wikis, chat and the virtual classroom (online whiteboard).
4. Assign Textbook adds information about required or recommended textbooks in your subject.

To add a content item:

1. Choose the item you wish to add
2. Review the options on the screen and click Submit
3. To move the item you have just added  - click, hold, and drag it up or down the page
4. To check that students will see this change as you see it, slide the Edit Mode button to Off or login to UTSOnline using your Student view account.

For more information on how to add and use learning modules see the following step-by-by step videos from Blackboard:

• Creating a tool link (video 3min:09sec)
• Attaching course files to a content item (video 2min:03sec)
• Tour the course files feature (video 7min:12sec)

2. Lesson plans

Lesson plans in UTSOnline are a way to organise and document the instructional methods, stages and resources used in a class (e.g. a tutorial). Sections within the lesson plan can be selectively hidden so that it is visible only to tutors and other instructors. Lesson plans contain many customisable sections (see below) and also contain a curriculum resources tab where you can add the same content, assessment and interactive tools you can add to any folder in UTSOnline.

Help with creating a lesson plan

For further information see the following step-by-by step video from Blackboard:

• How to create a lesson plan - a step-by-step video from Blackboard (4min:51s) 

3. Learning modules

Learning modules allow you to design an area in your subject which has a sequential progression of activities, pages and resources for students. Learning modules contain a sequence of pages arranged as a table of contents. See an example.

A module arranged around an independent learning activity might have a sequence of pages like this:

Introduction/overview > Blog activity > Assignment > Conclusion/summary

A module arranged around a group assessment activity might have a sequence of pages like this:

Introduction/overview > Online group sign-up sheet > Group charter and guidelines > Groups Area > Peer Assessment > Conclusion/Summary

This sequencing is especially useful in blended or online subjects with independent or structured learning activities. In addition to learning activities, modules can be designed around major concepts or themes in your subject, or by weeks or teaching blocks.

Help with creating learning modules

For more information on how to add and use learning modules see:

• Building learning modules - instructions from the University of New South Wales
• Adding pages and content to a learning module - a step-by-step video from Blackboard (3min)

This video is a short comparison of learning module and folders (from the University of La Verne, California).

Related topics

• Modifying the course menu and homepage
• Student view account
• Good practice
• Copyright

Contact: Simon Housego or Jenny Pizzica in IML to discuss ideas relating to the use of UTSOnline for learning (including the design of learning tasks).