CREATING GOOD LOOKING, FUNCTIONAL AND ACCESSIBLE

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What is iLearn?

iLearn is Swinburne’s Learning Management System that is powered by Blackboard. iLearn has a range of tools, such as chat, blogs, wikis and discussion boards that provide and online area where students can collaborate and participate in a range of activities that you create as part of their learning in your unit. It is also a place where resources such as presentations, lecture notes and readings can be provided.

Glossary

Unit Menu – The left hand navigation of the iLearn page.

Content Collection – All items that are uploaded to iLearn are kept in the unit’s content collection. Material in the content collection can be liked to from an iLearn unit, and permissions can be set per document. There are a number of different content collections – personal which is your individual area to keep items, unit, where all the documents for your unit should be housed; Institution which can house documents that are generic for a range of units or are institutional guidelines, etc.

Content page – a page that you can add a range of content to.

Module - Modules are items that include content, links or tools that can be added to personalise the My Units Page, the Notifications Dashboard or the Unit Module Page.

Contextual Menus - are menus within the body of iLearn that relate to an item – either a menu item, a page or an item on a content page.

Edit Mode - the small button at the top right corner. If Edit Mode is ON, you can edit your unit with the contextual menus. If Edit Mode if OFF, you can see what a page will look like to students (although it does not remove the control panel which students never see).

Need help?

• Learning & Teaching Technologies Portal: Find training sessions, inspiration and self-help guides www.swinburne.edu.au/lt

• Please report any issues with this guide to: [email protected] • To report problems with iLearn: [email protected]

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Select or Change Unit Entry Point

The Unit entry point is the first page students will see in your unit. Any page that is available to students and has content on it can be selected as the entry point. It is recommended that you select a page that keeps student up-to-date with what is happening in the unit, e.g. the announcements page, unit module page, etc.

Recommendation

We recommend creating a unit module page and setting that as your unit entry point. This page gives students one place to find out about all the latest activity in the unit, e.g. blog posts, comments, announcements, assignments, recommended readings.

1. From Control Panel >>Customisation select Style.

2. Under Select Unit Entry Point, use the drop down menu to select or change which page you wish to be the unit entry point.

3. Click on Submit at the top or bottom of the page.

Create and add Banners to iLearn units

A Banner can be places on the top of your entry page to customise your unit. Recommendation

It is recommended that a banner have the unit name and id. For the best look, it is important to ceate a banner that is the correct sixe, 425(w) x 60(h) pixels.

The image should be saved as a .jpeg image

There are some banner creation tools as well on the web:

• Teeside: http://eat.scm.tees.ac.uk/ImageLibrary/bannerCreator.html • FSU: https://java.apps.fsu.edu/FsuBbBannerCreator/site/index.html

• RMIT: http://emedia.rmit.edu.au/bannercreator/set/

Add or change the banner to you iLearn Unit

1. Go to Control Panel >> Customization>> Style

2. Scroll to section 5: Select Banner.

3. Browse your computer to find you banner file. 4. Click Select.

5. Click Submit.

Selecting Your Unit Style.

Selecting the unit look and the right colour scheme is not just about making your unit menu look nice. The right colour choices can make your unit easy to read and accessible for students with a disability. Recommendation

Select sets of colours that have high contrast for optimal accessibility and readability, e.g. black & white, yellow & blue, etc.. Use this tool to check you colour choices:

http://www.hgrebdes.com/colour/spectrum/colourvisibility.html

Select Unit Style

1. Ensure Edit Mode is ON.

2. Click on the colour wheel at the top right hand corner of your iLearn unit. 3. Select a unit theme.

Select a Menu Style

1. Go to Control Panel >> Customization>> Style.

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3. If you select text, select the Background colour and the text colour. OR

If you select buttons (not recommended), select Button Type, Shape, then select the button you wish to have.

Note: Select buttons carefully. There are a range of buttons that look nice but are very difficult to read – particularly any of the patterned buttons.

4. Click Submit.

Create items on the unit menu

2. Click on the blue plus sign on the top left of the unit menu.

3. Name the link you are creating.

4. If you are creating a Tool link, select the tool from the drop down list.

5. If you wish to make the link available to students immediately, select the checkbox to make it

Available.

6. The menu item will be added to the bottom of the subject menu.

Providing information – unit outlines & staff details.

It is important to provide your students with unit details such as an outline and contact details for

teaching staff. These are considered a basic, minimum presence on iLearn and are recommended for all units.

Providing a Unit Outline

You can attach a copy of a unit outline by using the File function, by adding the text to a Blank Page or by creating a Link to is on a content page.

Providing Staff Contact details

3. Select Create Tool Link

4. Name your link, e.g. Contacts, Staff Profiles, etc.

5. Select Contacts from the drop down list.

6. Check the Available to Users checkbox.

8. Click on the menu item you have just created. OR

Go to Control Panel>>Unit Tools>>Contacts

9. Click on Create Contact.

10. Enter Profile Information.

11. You may attach a profile picture and a personal link.

Sending Announcements

Announcements are a quick and easy way to send important information to you students quickly. Announcements are seen on the Announcements page or in the Announcements Module on the Unit Module Page.

14. Navigate to the Announcements page.

15. Click Create Announcement.

16. Type in the Title.

17. Type in your Message.

18. Set Duration and Availability options.

19. Check the checkbox for Email Announcement if you want your announcement to be sent as a .

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Creating Material on Content Pages

Content Pages are the most common page to build on in an iLearn subject. They are a basic blank page which can be populated with many different types of content.

Creating Content Pages

3. Select Content Area.

4. Enter a Name.

There are three types of material you can create on a content page:

Content

Creates items, files, links, folders, modules, embedded YouTube, Flickr and SlideShare presentations; and other material that builds the bulk of your unit.

To create content:

2. Navigate to the Content page you wish to add content to.

3. Click Build Content.

4. Select the content you want to build:

Create – items, text based sections or attached files, folders, learning modules, etc.

New Pages – Blank versions of pages which you can add content to.

Mashups – Using Flickr, YouTube and SlideShare presentations.

5. Enter the information necessary.

Assessment

Creates tests, surveys, SafeAssign Assignments, and standard assignments for electronic submission. To create Assessments:

Note: if you are using tests you will need to create the questions first. For instructions on how to do this, see Creating A Test.

3. Click Create Assessment.

4. Select the assessment you wish to create.

Interactive Tools

Creates collaboration tools such as blogs, wikis, and discussion boards.

Note: if you are creating an interactive tool, ensure you set it up correctly and in full. For instructions on using these tools, see our guides under Communication on the Learning Technologies Portal.

3. Click Tools.

4. Select the tool you wish to add.

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Setting up groups in iLearn.

Groups may be set up for a range of reasons such as for group activities, tutorial groups, or just for administrative purposes.

Groups can be set up manually or as sets. A group set will create a number of groups that are all the same. They can be populated manually, automatically depending on criteria, randomly or by sign-up sheets.

When you set up groups you can also provide each group with a set of tools that cannot be accessed by any other student (teaching staff still have access) so that they can collaborate together in a safe and private environment.

Students are alerted to which groups they are in and which group tools are available for them by an additional menu under the subject menu.

Creating a Groups Listing Page

A groups listing page is a tool and can be added to any content page or, more commonly, on the unit menu so that students can see a list of groups. It is generally only necessary if you are asking students to sign up to a group. .

3. Select Create Tool Link

4. Name your link, e.g. Group Sign-up sheets..

5. Select Groups from the drop down list.

Creating a single group for self-‐enrol

In this option, students be supplied with a sign-up sheet to sign up to the group.

Note: This will only create one group. If you wish to create a suite of groups, see Creating a group Set for self-enrolment below.

1. From Control Panel>>Users and Groups>>Groups

2. Select Create Single Group.

3. Select Self Enrol.

4. Enter detail of the group.

5. If you wish for the students to be able to see the group (as in the picture above), select the group to be available. You may also choose to only show the sign-up sheet.

6. Select which tools you wish the group to have (if any) and the grades if they are graded activities.

7. You may allow students to personalise the group space by adding and removing modules and changing the colour scheme selecting the Allow personalisation button.

8. Enter details of the sign-up sheet.

9. Select the Maximum Number of Members.

10. Select if you wish to allow students to see who has already signed up to a group in the sign-up sheet.

Note: The sign-up sheet can appear on the Groups listing page or can be added as a link from other areas, such as a Content Area, folder, Learning Module or Lesson Plan. Adaptive release rules can be applied to the content page link, which provides the ability to limit the availability of the sign-up sheet.

Creating a group-‐set for self-‐enrol

2. Select Create Group Set.

3. Select Self Enrol.

4. Enter the group set Name and a Description if necessary.

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6. Select the required Tools for each group to have access to.

9. Select the Maximum Number of Members.

10. Select if you wish to allow students to see who has already signed up to a group in the sign-up sheet.

11. Select the Number of groups to be created.

Note: The sign-up sheet can appear on the Groups listing page or can be added as a link from other areas, such as a Content Area, folder, Learning Module or Lesson Plan. Adaptive release rules can be applied to the content page link, which provides the ability to limit the availability of the sign-up sheet.

12.

Creating a single group with manual enrol

14. Select Create Single Group.

15. Select Manual Enrol.

17. Select if you wish to make the Group Available.

20. Select the participants for the group by clicking on a participant’s name in the left-hand box and clicking the arrow to move it to the right hand box.

Creating a group set with manual enrol.

24. Select Manual Enrol.

26. Select if you wish to make the Group Available

30. Select the Number of groups to be created.

32. Select Filter Options.

33. You may choose to Randomise Enrolments OR

Select the participants for each group by clicking on a participant’s name in the left-hand box and clicking the arrow to move it to the right hand box.

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34. Click Add Group if more groups are required.

Creating a group set with random enrol.

38. Select Random Enrol.

40. Select if you wish to make the Group Available

43. Select the Number of groups to be created by Students per group OR Numbers of Groups.

44. Determine How to Enrol any Remaining Members by distributing the remaining members, creating another group for them or manually adding them to groups.

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Using the Content Collection.

To enter your Unit Content Collection, go to the Control

Panel

and

click

on the right pointing double arrow to the right of Content Collection.

To enter Other Content Collections, go to Control Panel>>Content Collection and select, or search for, the Content Collection you wish to open.

Navigating the Content Collection

.

Options menu for actions related to a particular item, i.e. Copy, Move Delete, Edit, Open, etc.

Create an empty folder in the Content Collection.

Upload items in bulk.

Actions buttons for multiple items.

Control the number of items viewed on a page.

Control the view of items in the Content Collection – excellent if you have a large number of images.

Control the permissions to view, edit and manage an item.

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Creating Good Looking, functional and accessible iLearn units v.1.1 11.01.12 by BW

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Copy Items from the Content Collection

46. Check the checkbox to the right of all items you wish to copy. 47. Click on Copy at the top of the list of content.

48. Click Browse to select the destination you wish to copy the material to. 49. Select the folder you wish to add the material to or create a new folder. 50. Click Submit.

Move Items from the Content Collection

51. Check the checkbox to the right of all items you wish to move. 52. Click on Move at the top of the list of content.

53. Click Browse to select the destination you wish to move the material to. 54. Select the folder you wish to move the material to or create a new folder. 55. Click Submit.

Delete Items from the Content Collection

56. Check the checkbox to the right of all items you wish to delete. 57. Click on Delete at the top of the list of content.

58. A warning box will appear. 59. Click OK.

Bulk upload to the Content Collection

If you have a number of items, such as all of your lecture presentations and notes, you can save yourself some time by uploading all of them at once by using the bulk upload function. It is really quick and the folder hierarchy you create on your computer will remain in the content collection. Uploading material in this way also allows you to control when students can see material.

60. From Control Panel, select the right pointing double arrows next to Content Collection. 61. The Unit Content Collection will appear in the right hand frame.

62. Click on Upload. 63. Select Upload Files.

64. Drag and drop multiple files or whole folders from anywhere on your computer, e.g. desktop, My Documents, etc. into the box.

OR

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Note: If you copy a folder, the structure will be kept in the Content Collection 65. Click Submit.

Linking to Content in the Content Collection

66. Ensure Edit Mode is ON.

67. Navigate to the Content Page you wish to link from. 68. Click Build Content,

69. Select Item. 70. Type the Name. 71. Type any Text.

72. Under Attachments, click Browse Content Collection. 73. Check the Checkbox next to the folder you wish to link to. 74. Click Submit.

75. Set other options as necessary. 76. Click Submit.

Share Content with Others

The Unit Content Collection’s default permissions only allows material in it to be seen by participants in the unit. However, you can reset the permissions on items or folder to allow participants in other units to see it. Linked subjects, other instructors or for peer review activities may require access to the same content and this is a really simple and quick way to share content across units without having to reproduce the content in every unit (taking up valuable memory).

77. From Control Panel, select the right pointing double arrows next to Content Collection. 78. Click on the Permissions icon for the item you wish to share.

79. Click Select Specific Users By place. 80. Select Unit.

81. Select the Unit you wish to link to. OR

Click Browse and search for the unit you wish to link to. . 82. Select who in the unit can see the content.

83. Set what the roles will be able to do with the content. Note: It is recommended that you restrict this to Read Only. 84. Click Submit.

Services to help you use, populate and learn more about iLearn

• Learning & Teaching Technologies Portal – http://www.swinburne.edu.au/lt One stop for all your learning technology questions.

o Training

o Self-help guides o Inspiration

o News and information on research, pilots, projects and evaluations. • Swinburne Commons - http://commons.swinburne.edu.au/

• Swinburne Commons hosts digital media that you can link to from iLearn, such as: o Public lectures, seminar series

o Instructional course material o Historical video and audio

o TV and radio broadcasts copied underPart VA of the Copyright Act(Access restricted to Swinburne only)

• Subject Materials Service -

http://www.swinburne.edu.au/lib/subjectmaterials/brochure_staff.htm

The Library provides this service to help teaching staff make readings and other resources available directly to their students. Contact your Liaison Librarian for assistance.

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 Business and Enterprise: Jane O'Donnell ph: 9214 8983

 Engineering and Industrial Sciences: Madeleine Bruwer ph: 9214 8337

 Information and Communication Technologies: Kim Hodgman ph: 9214 8407  Life and Social Sciences: Annette Steere ph: 9214 8177

 TAFE Liaison: Heather Coutts ph: 9214 8719  TAFE Liaison: Nick Pavlovski ph: 9214 4671  Reference: Sue Foster ph: 9214 5197

o Croydon

 Liaison Librarian: Leanne Meere ph: 9726 1555 o Lillydale

 Social Sciences, Writing, Media Studies, Public Relations: Colleen Skinner ph: 9215 7006

 Accounting and Finance, Business Management, Technology, Law: Julie Badger ph:9215 7008

 OUA, Distance and Disability: Susan Roberts ph: 9215 7009 o Prahran

 Business, Library/Information Services, Integrated Communications and Retail Management, Hospitality, Tourism and Events Community Services, TAFE Arts, Circus (NICA): Cleve Carvalho ph: 9214 6553

 Community Services, Child and Family Services, Cultural and Linguistic Diversity, Lifelong learning, VET Practice: David Bradley ph; 9214 6940  Higher Education, Design: Gordon Turnbull ph: 9214 6936

o Wantirna

 Liaison Librarian: Maha Abed ph: 9210 1296

 Liaison Librarian (Computing & IT): Nancy Seeger ph: 9210 1940

Need help?

• Learning & Teaching Technologies Portal: Find training sessions, inspiration and self-help guides

www.swinburne.edu.au/lt

• Please report any issues with this guide to: [email protected] • To report problems with iLearn: [email protected]

i_{Copyright in this publication is owned by Swinburne University of technology. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons}

Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/. We

have endeavoured to ensure that all information in this guide is correct at the time of creation. If information is incorrect, please let us know:

CREATING GOOD LOOKING, FUNCTIONAL AND ACCESSIBLE

C

REATING

G

OOD

L

OOKING

,

F

UNCTIONAL AND

A

CCESSIBLE

I

L

EARN

U

NITS

Contents

What is iLearn?

Glossary

Need help?

Select or Change Unit Entry Point

Recommendation

Create and add Banners to iLearn units

Add or change the banner to you iLearn Unit

Selecting Your Unit Style.

Select Unit Style

Select a Menu Style

Create items on the unit menu

Providing information – unit outlines & staff details.

Providing a Unit Outline

Providing Staff Contact details

Sending Announcements

Creating Material on Content Pages

Creating Content Pages

Content

Assessment

Interactive Tools

Setting up groups in iLearn.

Creating a Groups Listing Page

Creating a single group for self-­‐enrol

Creating a group-­‐set for self-­‐enrol

Creating a single group with manual enrol

Creating a group set with manual enrol.

Creating a group set with random enrol.

Using the Content Collection.

Panel

and

click

Navigating the Content Collection

Copy Items from the Content Collection

Move Items from the Content Collection

Delete Items from the Content Collection

Bulk upload to the Content Collection

Linking to Content in the Content Collection

Share Content with Others

Services to help you use, populate and learn more about iLearn

Need help?

Creating a single group for self-‐enrol

Creating a group-‐set for self-‐enrol