LEARN course templates

In this article:

How to access the templates

From your LEARN course:

1. Go to Content.

2. Under Table of Contents on the left, select one of your modules or create a new module by selecting Add a module.

3. Select Upload/Create then Create a File.

4. Choose Select a Document Template.

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5. Select a template from the drop-down list.

6. Provide a title for your page e.g., 1a: Introduction to Business Processes.

7. Do not delete the entire contents of any template page as this will remove the template styling. If you lose the styling, reload the template to start again with the original template.

8. See the Editing instructions below to add text, videos, and/or links to your page.

9. Save and close.

How to use the templates

This 4-minute video includes how to organize a weekly course structure, how to use the weekly introduction page template, and the basic page template.

Available templates

There are ten templates:

• The basic page can be turned into any type of page.

• You may want to consider segmenting your course content into weekly modules. The weekly introduction page is a great way to organize your course materials for the week.

• The course outline provides essential information about you, your TA(s), course materials, policies, and more.

• You can include all relevant dates in the course schedule, and then link to this schedule instead of repeating the dates throughout the course. This provides a consistent location for due dates that is easier to update term to term.

• There are a series of assignment pages, which provide helpful instructions for completing specific assessments such as a discussion, dropbox, or quiz.

• For those with blended courses, you can use the blended versions of the weekly introduction page and course schedule templates.

• The territorial acknowledgement template provides guidance on how to write and include a territorial acknowledgement in your course.

Template specific tips

The following links provide further tips and best practices for using these specific templates.

• 02 weekly introduction tips

• 03 course schedule tips

• 04 course outline tips

• 05 discussion tips

• 06 dropbox tips

• 07 quiz tips

Access tracking

Student access of and activity with any files embedded within the template pages will not be tracked in LEARN. If you require tracking and wish to use the templates contact your CTE Faculty Liaison or the CEL Agile Development Team.

Adding text

Text is an excellent way to relay information in an accessible, searchable, and useful way. You can write new text or paste in existing notes to your page.

1. You can add text directly by typing in the HTML Editor.

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2. When you paste text, select Remove Formatting. Alternatively, you can paste copied text without formatting by using these shortcuts:

   1. Ctrl+Shift+V on PC

   2. Cmd+Shift+V on Mac

3. Add headings and subheadings to your document.

4. Format headings by selecting the text and using the Paragraph dropdown menu.

5. Start your document with H1-Heading1 for your title. Include only one H1 or main heading per page.

6. Use headings and subheadings to chunk your content. Use them in order (H1, H2, H3).

7. Save your page.

Removing formatting ensures that any styles from your Word documents do not clash with the template styles. Headings make your document easier to read for all students and also improve accessibility by providing important information for screen readers.

HTML Editor

The HTML Editor is WYSWIG (what you see is what you get) editor. We will explore how to add images and insert videos.

Adding images

Images can be an impactful addition to your content. Fully describe your image in the text above or below the image. This improves accessibility and supports students’ understanding.

1. To add an image, go to the camera icon.

2. Select MyComputer, Upload and then choose the image from your files.

3. Select Add.

4. A prompt for Alternative Text will appear. Provide a brief description of the image. Only select “This image is decorative” if it does not contain required course content. If your image requires a longer description, add this description in the text above or below the image.

5. Select the image and another menu bar will appear. Hover over the icons to see their label. The edit icon shown below is useful if you would like to crop your image.

6. Save your page.

Adding video

Videos are a great way to share worked examples, dynamic processes, demonstrations, and more. It is best to share short videos. Consider existing videos before creating new videos.

Add an MP4 Video File

1. Select the Insert Stuff icon in the menu bar.

2. Select MyComputer and Choose File.

3. Select Upload. This may take a moment.

4. Add in a relevant title for your video under Link Text.

5. For the Size, leave the default as is. Students can expand the video to full screen.

6. Make sure that “Start playing automatically” is not checked.

7. Select Insert. You will now see and can play your video.

8. Save your page.

Add a YouTube Video or Embed Code

If you have an embed code already, start at step 5.

1. Go to your video on YouTube.

2. Select Share underneath the video.

3. Select the < > icon titled Embed.

4. Select Show player controls. You can also set the starting time if needed. If it is unchecked, it will begin at 0:00. Copy the embed code.

5. Return to your page in LEARN and select the Insert Stuff icon in the menu bar.

6. Select Enter Embed Code and paste your embed code.

7. Select Next and Review the Preview.

8. Select Insert. You can now see and play your video.

9. Save your page.

To add only a video (not a template page), go to your content module. Select Upload/Create and Video or Audio. Add the link or embed code. This creates a page for your video.

Inserting links

Use the Insert Quicklink icon to add external links to the websites or link to items within LEARN, such as the course schedule, a dropbox, a discussion, or a quiz. It is a recommended practice to link to the Course Schedule for all due dates.

Links to External Online Resource

You can use links to share external online resources. Be sure that students can access these links directly (i.e., no additional logins or paywalls).

1. Copy the URL of the online resource you would like to share.

2. Go back to your page and select the link icon.

3. Select URL and paste your URL.

4. Add a meaningful Title. Note, the title of your link should closely match the title of the webpage. For example, an article title rather than “click here”.

5. Ensure New Window is selected.

6. Select Insert. You will now see your external link.

7. Save your page.

Links to LEARN Tools

1. Select the link icon.

2. Navigate to the appropriate tool: Discussions, Dropbox, Quizzes.

3. Find and select the relevant item. We used Dropbox in this example.

4. Select the small edit icon (pen icon on the right-hand side).

5. Provide a relevant Title.

6. Ensure New Window is selected.

7. Select Insert. You will now see your link to the tool.

8. Save your page.
   
   

Interactives with Automatic Feedback (H5P)

You can use the H5P Studio, hosted by eCampusOntario to create a variety of interactives with automatic feedback including multiple-choice questions, drag and drops, timelines, flashcards, etc. While students receive automatic feedback, their responses are not recorded or connected to the LEARN grade book. Please be aware that these interactions can be used for ungraded activities only. Note: eCampus Ontario is a non-profit organization that aims to strengthen Ontario's post-secondary education system by increasing access to online learning.

These interactives can be added to your page using an embed code (see < > Embed below the H5P interaction) and the LEARN Insert Stuff icon. This process is similar to embedding videos. H5P provides fillable forms that you can use to create these interactives. No HTML coding is required.

Review eCampusOntario’s Getting Started page and this 2-minute video introducing the H5P Studio. You can register for your own account to start creating interactives. For accessibility information, see the content types recommendations.

Please note that H5P Studio is a third-party tool and instructors are responsible for their own H5P interactives. CEL’s Agile Development Team (ADT) provides limited support with the use of H5P in these template pages. This includes support for using existing content types and embedding them in pages. ADT cannot provide product support such as fixing bugs, building feature requests, and affecting built-in features.

For support, submit a request to CEL’s Agile Development Team.

Keep Copyright in Mind

For information for about copyright at the University of Waterloo, see Copyright for Teaching and the Guide for Instructors.

You may link to legal/legitimate copies of material. See FAQ 0.7 and FAQ 1.15.

You may upload legal/legitimate copies of material, such as images, to LEARN if the material falls into one of the categories listed in Keep Copyright in Mind.