Organizing Content by Module (Hybrid, Remote, or Online Delivery)

ID&D KB How-to Guide

Working together to enhance teaching & learning. If you need additional assistance, please reach out to the ID&D team.

When delivering instruction in either a hybrid, remote, or online format, MyClasses can be used to organize content working within the framework of the learning units. While the content may vary based on the delivery modality, the organizational structure can apply to all three.

Because students can access the course environment without you present, it is essential in this design provides students adequate instruction for where to start and how to proceed through your course. For this reason, ID&D has made available templates that follow Quality Matters guidelines and are strongly recommended for use when teaching in these modalities.

Sample Homepage Template

In this approach to organization, students have a variety of resources beyond just content including learning activities and engagement opportunities that support them when you are not actively present.

You can click on the images in this article to see them larger and with more detail.

Announcements: Allows you to remind students of upcoming assignments and keep them engaged when not in the classroom. This only appears when an announcement has been posted.
Modules: This is a feature in MyClasses that allows for accessing information in a list format, organized by week. List items within a week can be pages, assignments, files, quizzes, external links, etc.
Assignments: Allows you to set due dates, collect assignments and complete grading in an electronic manner.
People: Allows students to know who is in the course and interact with each other outside of class.
Grades: Allows you to post grades for students to keep them informed of progress and performance.

Open your MyClasses Course
Scroll down and select the Settings link at the bottom of the Navigation Menu
Select Navigation from the tabs at the top of the page

Remove items from the Navigation Bar
Disable any items that will not be used by either:
1. Selecting the disable option from the options (three-dot kebab icon)
2. Drag the item down the page and drop it into the disabled list
  
  Disable via Option or Drag and Drop
When you have disabled all items you do not want students to access, scroll to the bottom of the page and Save the changes

Save Changes

Two additional links in the navigation menu are required for all courses: SU Course Policies and Procedures and VitalSource Course Materials. Do not disable these when setting up your navigation settings!

Home Page:

The home page for your course should also be simplified but purposeful in its design.

The essential information and navigation a home page supports, as depicted above, should include:

Getting Started/Start Here module that introduces the student to you, the course, the expectations of participation, and each other!
Navigation buttons to the Start Here section, the course schedule (Modules), and support resources available to them.
Vital instructor information (Name, contact information)
Essential course information: Course ID/Title in banner and link to syllabus (downloadable document)

Using a template design helps establish a continuity within a program, department or school, and is highly recommended. These templates are available through Canvas Commons or can be designed by you or your ID&D Instructional Designer.

ID&D has several examples of home pages available for your use. Contact your ID&D liaison for help in determining which one fits your needs!

Content Organization:

Learning modules (sometimes referred to as unit, topics, focus, etc.) refers to units of learning rather than units of time. A module is generally focused on specific learning objectives and includes the materials, activities, and assessments that allow the students to master the objectives. Students are directed to the learning modules as the primary approach to organization (accessed via the Modules page from Navigation Menu or homepage button).

In this approach the Module can contain a variety of pages and resources such as:

Module Overview identifying the topic, learning objectives, readings, activities, assessments, etc
Specific content pages, such as readings, video links, or website links
Assignments, Discussion, or other learning activities
Module Wrap-up page summarizing key take-aways from the lesson

Module Overview Page

In this approach, you are providing students with a greater level of information about what is expected of them and how they will demonstrate their mastery of the objectives. To do this you will create a page in your MyClasses course for each module that provides an overview of the content. It is recommended that this page includes the following information:

An overview of the topic (1-2 sentences)
The learning objectives for the lesson
Readings and links to associated materials
A list of activities that give students opportunities to practice what they’re learning
Assessments that give students opportunities to demonstrate their success

Other pages within the module are optional and dependent on the particular topic and delivery mode.

A template is available for this page from your ID&D liaison, as depicted below:

Sample template page for organizing by module

You can choose to use a template or create your own page layout for your lecture pages. If you choose to create your own pages, refer to the KB article Creating Content Pages with DesignPLUS.

Modules

Once your overview pages are created, you can start to assemble the Modules that will organize the course activities for the students. It is suggested that you have all materials, pages, activities and assignments created before you construct the Weekly Modules to make the process more efficient.

Click on Modules in the navigation menu to open the Module Page.
Click the +Module button in the upper right corner to add a new module

Create a Module
In the pop-up window
1. Enter the name for the module (Week # and Topic is suggested; if this is a hybrid course, it is recommended that you also designate it as Synchronous or Asynchronous in the title)
2. Click the Add Module button in the lower right corner
  
  Create Module
The module will be added to the Module Page. To add links to the module llsting, click the + on the right side of the module heading

Module added to Page
From the pull-down list in the pop-up window, select Page

Add Pages to Module
From the list of pages
1. select the page(s) you want to add and
2. click the Add Item button in the lower right corner
  
  Select Pages for Module Listing
The pages you selected will be added to the module. You can reorder the pages by dragging them into the sequence you want.

Pages added to Listing
Repeat steps 5-7 for other types of content links you want such as assignments, discussions, quizzes or handouts for that week’s module.
When you have finalized your module page, publish it so that it will be displayed for students.

Publish the Module
Repeat 2-9 to create the module for each week of your course.