1.7.1. Working With Course Elements

In the following you will get a list containing the most important course elements you can use for your course. Perhaps you want to use several course elements of the same type or you want to use other terms for that elements. For your orientation please refer to the icons to recognize the element's type.

Enrolment

In many courses you have to enroll first. There are one or more groups to choose from. Select the link «Enrolment» to become a member of a group. Per registration element only one group enrolment is allowed. Such an enrolment is followed by the appearance of the box «My learning group» on your right.

Perhaps the number of members is limited per group. If there are no more vacancies you can have the possibility to put your name on a waiting list depending on the course configuration. You will automatically move up as soon as a group member leaves that group for good.

Most of the time you can delist from a group you have registered before. If this is not the case the course author has not permitted to delist oneself; you will have to contact that author if you do not plan to participate any longer.

Forum

The forum is used most of the time for exchanging information among course participants or for contacting the course author.

Upload a photo in your Home, section «Settings» in the tab «Profile.» Instead of a standardized image your personal photo will then appear next to your forum entries.

Opening a Topic

If you want to write a new message in your forum just select «Open new topic.» Title and contribution are mandatory. You can also attach a file. It is possible to edit or even delete your message later on--provided that no one has already sent a reply to your message.

Answering Forum Contributions

If you want to reply to an existing message in a forum just open its topics by clicking on its title. Then select «Reply with quotation» if you want the original message to appear underneath your contribution. Select «Reply without quotation» if you only want your message to appear. You can attach a file as well. It is possible to edit or even delete your contribution later on.

Moderating a Forum

When having the permission to moderate a forum you will learn more about additional options in the chapter «Course Elements and Course Editor,» section «Forum».

Archiving a Forum

When archiving a forum any contributions will be zipped along with their attachments before storing them in your personal folder.

Subscribing to Forum Notifications

In order to be kept informed on new forum entries it is best to select «Subscribe to notifications» in the overview of threads. Modifications will be announced via e-mail or can be seen in your Home, section «My notifications».

File Dialog

In the file dialog course participants can discuss a certain document, e.g. the draft of a seminar paper, a picture or a concept. There is a forum to each uploaded document.

Uploading Files

Select «Upload file» to transfer your own file. In order to have a look at that file just click on the file's name. It will open in a new window. If it is not possible to upload files it may be that your course author has not provided you with the right to do so.

Files uploaded by mistake can only be deleted by the course author.

Opening Topics and Answering Forum Contributions

In order to take part in discussions just click on the link «Show» next to the file name. Now it is possible to open new topics or to reply to contributions as stated in the section «Forum».

Subscribing to File Dialog Notifications

To be kept informed on new documents in file dialogs you can either click on «Subscribe to notifications» on the overview page or you can subscribe to each notification regarding dialogs and new entries. You will receive an e-mail relating to any modifications or just find those in your Home, section «Notifications.»

Test

A test is meant for efficiency controls within a course. Its result will be stored and the course author is able to assign it to the corresponding person.

Click on «Start» to begin with the test. According to its configuration you may pause and continue later on. It depends on the test's settings if you can cancel it without storing any results achieved so far. Finally click «Finish test» to save your results. All these options are available in the form of buttons on your top right.

The course author decides how often you may take that test and how often you may try each single question. According to the configuration of the test it is allowed to use the navigation or not. If not, you will have to respond to one question after the other.

It is also the course author who determines when and how detailed you will get your test results.

When finishing or cancelling your test you should click on the button «Close» on the upper right to get back to that test's homepage.

Self-test

Contrary to tests, results of self-tests will be stored anonymously. Self-tests are suitable for practicing and can be taken as often as you like.

Click «Start» to begin with your self-test. Similar to tests it is the course author who determines the self-test's configuration.

When finishing or cancelling your self-test you should click on the button «Close» on the upper right to get back to that test's homepage.

Questionnaire

Questionnaires are used for evaluations or opinion polls. Each questionnaire can only be filled in once. Its results will be stored anonymously.

Click on «Start» to begin with your questionnaire. Similar to tests it is the course author who determines the questionnaire's configuration.

When cancelling your questionnaire you should click on the button «Close» on your upper right to get back to that questionnaire's homepage.

Wiki

Wikis are suitable for easily creating joint content. Each Wiki has a homepage, the so-called index, a Wiki navigation, as well as the tabs «Open discussion,» «Edit page,» «Show page,» and «Show versions» on top of its content.

Wiki Navigation

In the Wiki navigation on your left you can start searching for a specific term in the section «Search.» If there are no hits you can extend your search to your course or to OLAT as well. In the section «Navigation» you will find pre-set links. Owners of Wikis (most of the time these are course authors) are able to adapt the section «Wiki menu» and add their own links. In the section «Progress» you will see those five Wiki pages you have visited last. So you can easily get back to a previously visited page.

By means of the link «From A-Z» you will get to the table of contents of all Wiki pages. At a glance you will know what already exists.

Modifying the Content of a Wiki Page

In order to add content you have to navigate to the relevant page and activate the editing mode via the button «Edit page.» In the tool bar of your Wiki there are various formatting options at your disposal. It is also possible to include pictures, media links, mathematical formulas, internal or external links. These options as well as the Wiki syntax will be further explained in the context-sensitive Help.

In order to add a file you have to upload it first via the drop-down menu «Upload file» at the bottom of your page. Navigate to the relevant position on the Wiki page. Then select your file via «Insert file» and click «Save.» Links to other Wiki pages will be set by means of the button «Insert link.»

Creating and Deleting Wiki Pages

The easiest way to create a new page is to search for a page title in the navigation via the search mask; click «Search» and open the red link. Another possibility is to create a link to your new page directly from an existing page. For that purpose please use the following Wiki syntax: Two opening squared brackets, page title, two closing squared brackets. Example: [[link name]].

Articles written on your own can be deleted in the tab «Edit page.»

When deleting a page all its versions will be deleted as well. It is therefore not possible to restore deleted pages.

Viewing Versions

By means of the button «Show versions» you can retrace who has modified a page in OLAT, how and when exactly. Contact the Wiki owner (often the course owner) if content has been deleted. Only he will be able to restore an earlier version of that Wiki page.

Subscribing to Wiki Notifications

Subscribe to notifications to be kept informed on Wiki modifications. You will be notified by e-mail or in your Home, section «Notifications.» A list with the latest amendments can also be found in the Wiki navigation.

Exporting Wikis

In the section «Tools» you can export your Wiki by means of the link «Export as CP» in order to archive a snap-shot of the entire Wiki content in your personal folder.

Your Wiki will be exported as IMS Content Packaging. It is only possible to import it as CP learning resource (authors) or to take a look at it offline. Importing it as Wiki is not an option. If you want to import a file as Wiki you have to export it first from learning resources (detailed view).

Podcast

A podcast provides information in the form of audio or video files. These so-called episodes can either be accessed directly in OLAT or you can upload such episodes to local portals such as iTunes. After that you can copy them to your mobile device.

In order to create new episodes you have to be authorized by a course author. Each OLAT user has the right to comment on episodes and to assess them by means of 1 - 5 stars. In order to write a comment or read other comments you should click on the link «Comments.»

Subscribe to notifications of your podcast if you do not want to miss any new episodes. You will be notified of new ones via e-mail or find those in your Home, section «Notifications.»

Blog

Similar to a podcast a blog serves to provide new content. You can include text as well as pictures or movies in your contributions.

Each OLAT user has the right to assess or comment on blog entries. Such entries can be assessed by means of 1 - 5 stars. It is also possible to see assessments of other blog readers. In order to write a comment or read other entries you should click on the link «Comments.»

Blog entries can only be created if a course author has provided his authorization. Just click on «Create new entries» to write a new blog entry. You can either publish this entry directly, determine a date for its publication or save your entry as a draft.

Subscribe to notifications of your blog if you do not want to miss any new entries. You will be notified of new ones via e-mail or find those in your Home, section «Notifications.»

Folder

In folders courseware is stored. In general only course authors are allowed to upload files; course participants can only read files stored in folders. Subscribe to notifications of a folder to be notified in case there are new documents. Modifications are sent to you by e-mail or can be found in your Home, section «Notifications.»

If course participants are also allowed to upload files they will find a corresponding button on their top right. In order to store those files in a structured way it is possible to create subfolders. If you are allowed to upload files you will also be able to delete files in folders. If you want to prevent others from deleting your files you should click on the icon «Meta data» in the tab containing all files in folders before locking your file.

If you want to upload many files at once, you can zip your files on your computer, then upload those ZIP files before unzipping them in the OLAT folder. ZIP files can also be used to download several files at once. Just create a ZIP file in the OLAT folder before uploading it to your computer.

Assessment

The assessment is meant for evaluating achievements not handed in electronically. Course authors or tutors can assess e.g. a presentation by means of passed/failed, by means of a score or an individual comment. You will receive an e-mail whenever there is a new assessment.

Tasks

By means of the course element «Task» you can create exercises to be handed in electronically before being assessed by a tutor. You will receive an e-mail whenever there is a new assessment. It may be that you aren’t able to see all of the sections mentioned below since there are unused features regarding your task.

Downloading an Assigned Task

According to your configuration there are one or more tasks of your choice at your disposal in the section «Assignment» or a task will be assigned to you automatically. If the title of a task file is linked along with several tasks it is possible to first have a look at a task before selecting it. If there is only the link «Select» it is not possible to have a look at it first. If a task has been selected or assigned automatically click on «View task» to see it on display.

Uploading Solutions to the Drop Box

If you have performed a task and saved it on your computer or in your personal folder you can transfer it to the drop box. In the section «Drop box» you can see how many files you have already handed in. You can hand in as many files as you want but it is not possible to delete those files later on.

Downloading Solutions and Comments from the Return Box

In the return box you will find those files your tutor has returned. Any comments can be seen either in the section «Assessment» at the bottom or directly within your file.

Viewing Sample Solutions

It is possible to add a sample solution to your task; the course author can determine when that sample solution will be visible. Just click on the file name to download a sample solution.

Reading Tutor Assessments

You will get an e-mail as soon as your tutor has made an assessment. Assessments can vary. You can be assessed by means of passed/failed, by means of a score or an individual comment.

Portfolio Task

By means of the course element «Portfolio task» you can collect tasks allocated by course authors before documenting and reflecting on your learning progress.

Just click on «Collect portfolio task» to have a look at that task before embedding required artefacts into predefined folders. If a course author does not set any limitations you will be able to configure your folder as you like. It may be that the author has defined a certain deadline that should be kept in mind.

After collecting your portfolio tasks you will find them in your Home, section «ePortfolio,» «My portfolio tasks.»

In order to submit your solutions just click on «Submit task.» After handing in your task a course author or tutor will be able to assess you.

Topic Assignment

In the topic assignment topic authors provide others with topics e.g. for writing term papers. Depending on your configuration you can either select one or more topics, upload files and look at files returned to you by the topic authors. Perhaps you will not be able to see all the sections mentioned below since in your topic assignment not all features are active.

If you are authorized by the course author to act as topic author you can announce a topic. For further information on accepting and supervising participants please go to the chapter «Course Elements and Course Editor,» section «Topic author».

Selecting Topics

As course participant you will see any announced topics in a table. When clicking on that topic's title you will get further details regarding dates or links to files attached. Depending on your configuration you can choose between one or more topics. The course author is the first to determine if your selection should be accepted or if the person in charge has to accept your application as a start. As soon as your selection is definite you will see a corresponding entry in the table. On your top right you will find a link to your learning group with the title of your topic. If the person in charge has accepted your application it will no longer be possible for you to sign out; in that case you have to ask the person in charge to do that for you.

Uploading Files to the Drop Box

Click on the topic's title. In the tab «Folder» you will find the drop box. Depending on your configuration you will only be able to upload files within a certain period of time since there is a deadline to meet. For further information on deadlines please go to the tab «Description.»

Downloading Files from the Return Box

In the tab «Folder» you will find files in the section «Return box» the topic author has returned to you.

E-mail

By means of an e-mail you can get in touch with your course author. Just fill in the field «Subject» and «Message» before sending your e-mail via OLAT.

Calendar

The course element «Calendar» offers an alternative view on the course calendar that can be selected on your right in the box «General.» A course author can predefine a date for your calendar view, e.g. a particular week, and appoint a time for certain events during that week.