Procedure

Video Demonstration

1. Add a new button to your menu

·    Go to the Control Panel by clicking on Control Panel on the Announcements screen.

·    From the Control Panel, go to Manage Course Menu on the Course Options menu.

·    Add a Content Area menu button, that is, a folder in which you can add additional items, by clicking on the icon at the top of the screen.

·    Give the button a name by choosing one from the drop down list or typing your own. For this practice, name the button Unit 1.

·    Click Submit.

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2. Hide a button on your menu

·    It’s good practice to hide any menu picks you aren’t using. It is very annoying to click on a menu pick and see “Folder empty”.

·    From the Control Panel, go to Manage Course Menu on the Course Options menu.

·   Click Modify next to External Links .

·   Click the checkmark next to Make available for Student/Participant users So that the box is not checked.

·    Click Submit.

·    Note: If you don’t want a menu option, it’s better to make it invisible than to delete it. You may want it later.

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3. Add a folder to a content area 

·    Go to the Control Panel by clicking on Control Panel on the Announcements screen.

·    Click on the Content area in which you want to add the folder. In this case we will add a folder to the area we just created, Unit 1. Click Unit 1.

·    Add a folder to it by clicking the Add Folder icon.

·    Give the folder a name by typing a word or by choosing one from the drop down list. Call the folder Readings.

·    Type a description of what will be in the folder in the Text box.

·    If you do not want to make the folder visible right now, click No next to that question.

·    At the bottom of the page click Submit. On the next page click OK.

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4. Add a word document, a powerpoint presentation or excel spreadsheet to a folder in your course

·    Go to the Control Panel by clicking on Control Panel on the Announcements screen.

·    Click on the Content area in which you want to add the item. In this case we will put the item in the folder we just created, Readings.

·    Type a name for the item or choose one from the dropdown list.

·    Type a description of the item in the Text box.

·    To add the word doc as an attachment, browse for it. When you have found the file, click on its name. Then click Open.

·    At the bottom of the page click Submit. On the next page click OK.

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5. Add a link to a website to the folder

·    Go to the Control Panel by clicking on Control Panel on the Announcements screen.

·    Click on the Content area in which you want to add the item. In this case we will put the item in the folder we just created, Readings.

·    To add a link to a website, click Add External Link

·    Enter a name for the URL, for example, National Geographic.

·    Type or paste the url, for example, http://www.nationalgeographic.com/

·    Type a description or directions in the Description box.

·    Click Submit. Then click OK.

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6. Make Your Own Course Available to students

When you first access your course template it will say unavailable next to its title.
This is because when a course is set up for you, the administrator turns the course "off".  When you have the content ready and are ready to go, you turn it on. That way you control when the students see the course.

To make your course available, or to check its availability:

·    Go to the Control Panel by clicking on Control Panel on the Announcements screen.

·    On the Course Options menu, click on Settings.

·    On the Settings screen, click Course Availability

·    On the Course Availability screen shown below, click Yes in answer to the question Do you want this course available to users? Then click Submit

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(no audio required)