Creating Modules and adding items

Modules are used to organise learning materials according to a structure such as units, topics or weeks, thus presenting a well-organised, linear learning pathway for students.

Index

  1. Introduction to Modules
  2. Typical items you can add to a module
  3. Adding a module and items within it
  4. Publishing and unpublishing items and modules

1. Introduction to Modules

Modules are essentially a flow of course items, which can be used to organise content in a simple and intuitive way. The image below shows a sample Module structure, using Units to separate learning materials. 

 

example module structure

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Each module can contain content items and learning activities such as files, discussions and quizzes. Module items can be added to the course from existing content or, alternatively, new content can be created and inserted 'on-the-fly'.

Warning: Please note that although Modules are a good way to display your content to students, the content is stored elsewhere (e.g. in Files or Pages).

 

2. Typical items you can add to a module

Each module can contain the following learning and assessment activities :

  • Page
  • Assignment
  • Quiz
  • File
  • Discussion
  • Text header
  • External URL
  • External tool 

 

3. Adding a module and items within it

  1. Click Modules from the left-hand Course Navigation menu.
  2. Click on the + Module button on the top right-hand side of the screen to add a new module.
  3. Give your module a title and complete the task by clicking the Add Module button.
  4. Your newly-added module will appear at the very end of the Modules page.
  5. The next step is to add content to the module. 

add module

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To add content to the module, simply select the + icon on the top right-hand corner of the module.

add module content

Then select the type of content you would like to add (either existing or new content). Select what type of content you would like to add from the drop-down menu, and click Add item. 

add module content next 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Modules can be easily organised using the drag and drop handle which can be found on their left-hand side. Items within a module can be re-organised in the same way by dragging and dropping.

 

 

 

 

 

4. Publishing and unpublishing items and modules

Students will not be able to see items within a module, or modules themselves, unless they are published. You can publish items and modules individually, or in bulk.

Individual module: Publish (or unpublish) the module itself, with or without publishing all its items: Click on the down arrow alongside the publish icon for the module, then select your required option:

 

Overall Modules level: Publish (or unpublish) all modules, with or without publishing all their items:  Click on the down arrow alongside the Publish All icon at the top of the entire Modules tool, then select your required option:

  • Where possible, use a standardised, consistent module structure by starting with Oxford's templates
  • Also use consistent and meaningful naming conventions for images, documents and other resources.
  • Use the module item indent and text header features to make it easier for students to locate particular items.
  • Provide an introductory page to each module that includes learning targets, essential questions and foundational vocabulary.
  • Create a Teacher's Notes page for each module – this may be a useful device to help you keep track of course information and module progress.  Leave this page unpublished so that your students cannot see it.

Note: You may wonder what is the point of being able to unpublish a module, while keeping its items published (which means they are not visible to students anyway).
Here is an example: If there are assignments in the module that have submission settings set to "No Submission" or "On Paper", even if they have points associated with them in the gradebook, you wouldn't want those assignments to be unpublished, since they would be removed from the gradebook view. Therefore, one would want individual items to remain published, even if the entire module is unpublished.