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Working with the Content Module
The content module allows you to take web pages of instruction and include them in WebCT. One of the advantages of putting materials in the Content Module is the student tracking feature available. The teacher can track the students and see which pages they have viewed.
Create the Pages
Pages in the content module need to be in HTML format. The best way to create the files is to use a web editor. Or you can use your favorite wordprocessor, create the files, and use Save as HTML to get them into HTML format. However, you'll probably be happier with the result if the files are created in an HTML editor. The links below can help you with this task.
- Janine's (admittedly biased and slightly outdated) comparison of the web editors
- web page instructions for Adobe PageMill
- web page instructions for Netscape Composer
- web page instructions for Filemaker (used to be Claris) HomePage
- web page instructions for Microsoft FrontPage (need a volunteer to do this!)
- web page instructions for Adobe GoLive! (need a volunteer to do this!)
- web page instructions for Macromedia Dreamweaver (need a volunteer to do this!)
Graphics
Reading a lot of text onscreen, (or even if printed) can be tiresome. Try to include at least one graphic per page. You can find clip art online at many sites. These are a few.Uploading the Files
Uploading a file involves transferring it from your personal computer to the remote server hosting your WebCT course. Note: if you want to upload multiple files, zip them with a file compression program and then upload the .zip file.
- Choose a destination folder by selecting the checkbox next to the folder's name. Folders are listed under
Folder and Files in the bottom half of the Manage Files screen. Note: you cannot upload files to the
WebCT-Files folder.- Select Upload File in the list box next to File Options.
- Click Browse to locate the file to upload. Note: the file name cannot contain any of the following
characters:
spaces, tabs, line feeds, carriage returns
: ~ [ ] ! @ # $ % ^ & * ( ) + ` } } | \ < > , ? / ; ' "- Click Upload.
- Click Continue to return to the Manage Files screen.
- Repeat these steps for each page.
Adding the Pages to the Content Module
As you can see in the image to the left, pages are organized by a Table of Contents. you can add headings, quizzes, and web pages to the Table of Contents.
Adding a heading
Use Add heading to create a new heading or subheading in your course table of contents. You specify where you want the heading to be added.
- Under Table of Contents, select the heading after which you want the new heading appear.
- Under Add or Delete Items, select Add heading and click Go. The Add Heading screen appears.
- In the Title text box, type the new heading, and click Add. The revised table of contents appears. Note: you can now add content under your heading with Add file or Create and add HTML File.
Deleting a heading
Use Delete to delete a heading or subheading from your course table of contents.
- Under Table of Contents, select the heading which you want to delete.
- Under Add or Delete Items, select Delete and click Go. A warning message appears.
- Click OK. The revised table of contents appears.
Adding a file
Use Add file to add course content to a heading or subheading in the table of contents. You specify where you want the file to be added.
- Under Add or Delete Items, select Add File and click Go. The Add File screen displays the files which are available in your course. Note: you should see the files you have already uploaded. See above.
- From the list of files, select the file that you want to add to your course, and click Add. The revised course table of contents appears.
Adding a quiz
If you have quizzes already created, you can list them in the Table of Contents. This is helpful because students can see all the work they need to do in the order it should be done. In the picture below, notice that some lines are in italics. These are quizzes.
- Under Add or Delete Items, select Add Quiz, and click Go. The Add Quiz screen displays the quizzes which are available in your course.
- Under Add Quiz, from the Quiz name drop-down list, select a quiz.
- In the Quiz title text box, type the quiz title that will appear in the course table of contents.
- Select the Replace the file selected in the Table of Contents, if you want to to replace an existing heading with the quiz.
- Click Preview if you want to view the quiz before you add it to the course.
- Click Add. The revised course table of contents appears.
Instructional Tips for the Course Content
- The Content Module can be viewed as a combination of course outline and textbook, depending on how you use it. The advantage of using the Course Content tool in WebCT is that you have a record of how many times and when students access the pages within Course Content. Depending on how much information you have "written down" for your course, you may decide to just use the course syllabus or one page to tell students what to do week by week. Or you could use the Course Content tool in various ways. It could be what you do in daily in a face-to-face class that you may not have written down. You may decide to write down what you usually say in the course when guiding students through their learning. You could also look at it as the equivalent to course handouts, with extra information that you would say orally added to the handouts.
- Here is a sample course paths from a course arranged by module. This course did not have a textbook. All the instruction for the course was organized by modules. Notice the italics - those are quizzes that go with each module. Also notice the deadlines!
- These modules are organized so that all the links for one module are on one page. When the instructor taught the class previously, sometimes 6-10 pages were listed for each modules. This arrangements make the course look "doable" to the student, yet hidden underneath each module are hefty instructions and learning activities.
- Try to have a graphic for every screen of text. Students can get tired of reading plain text online. Many people rarely read long, text-intensive information online. Graphics and short pages can make it easier to read.
- Optional modules could be listed in the Course Content tool as well.
- The U of Missouri has a helpful page on Course Content/Paths (written for versions 1.x and 2.x). It is helpful even if you're using version 3.x or higher because it helps to explain the rationale for putting materials in Course Content.
