Course Builder

Course Builder is a course design area that allows instructors to create course content and assessments, or link existing materials into modules. Course Builder is distinctive for it easy-to-see course outline and its drag-and-drop tool that allows instructors to move materials easily.

The Course Builder area has three sections:

On the left, there are three boxes of tools - more information about these below.
In the middle is a course outline.
On the right (not shown in the images below) is an information panel that shows information about the selected item.

Navigate to the Course Builder by going into the course shell, then:

1. Click “Instructor Resources.”
2. Select “Edit Course.”
3. Click “Course Builder.”

Course Outline

The course outline (in the middle section) shows boxes for each module and sub-module.

Click on the plus icon on the left of the module's title to expand it, and click on it again to collapse. (The image on the right shows an expanded "Course Information" module.)

Click on the down-arrow on the right to see a list of action items in the drop-down menu, including Cut, Copy, Move, and Delete.

All items can be moved easily with drag-and-drop.

Three Sections of Course Builder Tools

(on the left side)

Section 1: Build Outline (Create Placeholders)

The tools in the "Build Outline" section on the top left allow you to create placeholders for modules, links, content pages, discussions, assignments, and quizzes.

These are blank items you can create and assign to a module to help you build a course outline quickly.

Later on, you can go into the specific content item or assessment to add the specific material.

Click on an item and select the module it should go into, or drag and drop. (See illustration below.)

Placeholder items created through the "Build Outline" tool (such as the discussion on the right) do not have all of the options of a typical assessment.

For example, the discussion on the right has only a space for a title and a description. It is missing the Restrictions and Assessment tab where you can assign due dates and the number of points and connect it to a grade item.

The placeholder is a temporary item used to indicate that a content item, an assignment, discussion, or quiz should go into that module. Eventually, you will need to replace the placeholder with the actual content item or assessment.

Section 2: Add Content (Create New Items)

Tools in the "Add Content" section in the middle left allow you to create new links, content pages, discussions, assignments, and quizzes.

These are actual materials, not only placeholders. You can create new items and add content from this section.

The goal in using the Course Builder is to create an outline, so this area may not be the best place to add information into a content page or assessment. Nevertheless, these tools can be used to create real items and place them into the correct module.

Click on an item and select the module it should go into, or drag and drop. (See illustration below.)

Content items and assessments created through the "Add Content" tool (such as the discussion on the right) are real items (not only placeholders), and they include sections for due dates, the number of points, connection to a grade item, and more.

In many ways, the "Add Content" tool is like the "New" button inside a module in the Course Content area.

Tools in this section can be useful for both creating items and adding information to them.

For the "Build Outline" and "Add Content" sections, select one of the tools (on the left) to create a placeholder or a new item.

Then, select the module it should go into (on the right).

Or, use drag and drop (illustrated below).

Section 3: Browse Tools (Link Existing Content)

Tools in the "Browse Tools" section in the bottom left allow you to place existing items (such as content pages, discussions, assignments, and quizzes) into modules.

This section is useful if you have already created items in the Discussion, Assignment, or Quizzes area, and you now want to place them into the correct modules.

In many ways, this section is like the "Add Existing Activities" button within a module in the Course Content area.

Click on an item and select the module it should go into, or drag and drop.

Course Builder can be a useful course design tool that allows instructors to create placeholders, build materials, and move items into modules. Course Builder's easy-to-see course outline and its drag-and-drop tool are especially useful, time-saving devices.

For more information and support, contact Online Learning.

Page updated

Report abuse