eClass is the University of Alberta's centrally supported learning management system (LMS). With eClass, you can deliver course content, communicate with students, create assessments such as quizzes and assignments, and review reports such as course logs and activity reports.
eClass includes a range of activities that you can add to your course. While not exhaustive, this list does contain a description of some of the more commonly used activities.
This article reviews the process of adding activities and resources to eClass: Preparing and Adding Content to eClass
The Anonymous forum allows participants to have anonymous discussions. The forum types are identical to the forum types offered in the Forum module. Grading activities are unusable in an Anonymous Forum.
Resource:
The Assignment module allows instructors to communicate tasks, collect work and provide grades and feedback.
Assignments can be submitted as documents, spreadsheets, images, audio or video. Students can also enter their responses in a text editor. Students can submit work individually or as a member of a group.
Instructors can leave feedback as comments or upload files such as a marked-up student submission or a spoken audio feedback. Assignments can be graded using a numerical or custom scale or instructors can use a rubric.
Resources:
The Chat module allows participants to have text-based real-time discussions in eClass.
Resource:
The Choice module allows an instructor to ask a single question and offer a selection of possible responses. Choice results may be published after students have answered, after a certain date or not at all.
Resource:
The database module allows participants to create, maintain and search a collection of entries. The structure of entries is determined by the instructor. If the database auto-linking filter is enabled, any entries in a database will be automatically linked where the words or phrases appear within the course. Comments can be enabled on entries. Entries can also be rated by instructors or students.
Resource:
The Feedback module allows an instructor to create a custom survey for collecting feedback from participants. The available question types include multiple choice, yes/no or text input. Feedback responses may be anonymous and responses may be shown to all participants or restricted to only the instructor.
Resource:
The Forum module allows participants to have asynchronous discussions. There are several forum types to choose from including:
a standard forum where anyone can start a new discussion at any time
a forum where each student can post exactly one discussion
a question and answer forum where students must first post before being able to view other students’ posts
Files can be attached to forum posts. Participants can subscribe to a forum to receive notifications of new forum posts. An instructor can set the subscription mode to optional, forced or auto, or can prevent subscription completely.
Posts can be rated by instructors or students.
Resources:
The glossary module allows participants to create and maintain a list of definitions or to collect and organize resources or information.
Files can be added to glossary entries. Entries can be searched or browsed alphabetically or by category, date or author. Instructors can set entries to be approved by default or require approval prior to being viewable by all participants. If the glossary auto-linking filter is enabled, entries will be automatically linked to where the concept word and/or phrases appear within the course.
Comments can be allowed on entries and they can also be rated by instructors or students.
Resources:
The Google File Embed module allows instructors to select a file from their Google Drive and embed directly into their eClass course.
Resource:
The Lesson activity module offers a flexible way for instructors to present content. An instructor can use the lesson to create a linear set of content pages or instructional activities that offer a variety of paths or options for the student. Instructors can include a variety of questions including multiple choice, matching and short answer. Depending on the students’ response they may be led to different paths within the lesson. A lesson may be graded.
Resource:
The Quiz activity allows an instructor to create quizzes comprising a variety of question types. Question types include multiple choice, matching, short answer and numerical.
The instructor can allow the quiz to be attempted multiple times, with the questions shuffled or randomly selected from the question bank. A time limit may be set. The instructor can choose when and if hints, feedback and correct answers are shown to students.
Each attempt is marked automatically with the exception of essay questions.
Resources:
Courses created in eLearning authoring tools such as Storyline and Captivate are added to eClass using a SCORM package. eClass can store information from eLearning courses including completion status and quiz results for quizzes included in the eLearning course.
Resource:
The Simple Certificate module allows the instructor to create a custom certificate that can be issued to participants once specific conditions are met.
Resource:
The Wiki module allows participants to add and edit a collection of web pages. A wiki can be collaborative or individual.
Resource:
The Workshop activity module enables the collection, review and peer assessment of student’s work. Students receive two grades, a grade for their submission and a grade for their assessment of their peers’ submissions.
Resources:
The Zoom module allows you to easily add Zoom meetings directly in eClass. The Zoom module includes a dashboard that allows the instructor to schedule meetings with students and share recordings of previous meetings. Students can easily attend scheduled meetings by clicking the join button next to the meeting in the Zoom dashboard.
Resources:
Similar to activities, eClass includes a range of resources that you can add to your course. While not exhaustive, this list does contain a description of some of the more commonly used resources.
This article reviews the process of adding activities and resources to eClass: Preparing and Adding Content to eClass
The Book resource allows instructors to create a multi-page resource in a book-like format with chapters and sub-chapters. Books can contain media files in addition to text.
Resource:
The File module allows an instructor to provide a file as a course resource. Examples of files include documents, pdfs, videos and so on.
Resource:
The Folder resource allows an instructor to display a number of files inside a single folder. Files within a folder can only be sorted alphabetically and cannot be viewed online within eClass.
Resource:
The versatile Label resource allows text and multimedia to be inserted into the course page. A common use for the Label resource is as a title or subtitle.
Resource:
The Library Reading List activity allows you to create your own reading lists for your students and link directly to University of Alberta Library Resources when needed.
Resources:
The Page resource allows an instructor to create a web page resource using a text editor. A page can display text, images, sound, video, web links and embedded code.
Resource:
The Tab display resource enables an instructor to create a single resource page with a set of tabs across the top. Clicking the tabs switches to the corresponding content.
Resource:
The URL resource allows an instructor to provide a web link as a course resource. Note that URLs can also be added to any other resource or activity type through the text editor.
Resource:
This section reviews important functionality that you will find useful as an instructor using eClass.
The Syllabus Creation and Mapping Tool allows you to generate your course syllabi. It also generates an editable, downloadable file that you can share with students.
Resources:
The Gradebook allows you to manage and organize a collection of grades in eClass. Activities such as Assignment that have assessment built-in will automatically be added to the gradebook. You can also manually add activities such as participation or class presentations to the Gradebook.
Resource:
The following information describes how to manage the participants in your course.
Resources:
In eClass you can assign students to groups. Groupings are a set of groups and can only be set up after you have created groups. The following links provide more information.
Resources:
As an instructor you can set up a course to track the completion of activities and resources in eClass. Activities can be marked complete manually by students or the instructor can set up completion criteria based on certain conditions.
Resources:
A Block contain a feature that loads in the right-hand side of eClass. There are a variety of blocks available to instructors that include gamification features, calendars, completion progress and more. In this section we will review a selection of the blocks that are available in eClass.
This article describes the process of adding a block to your course: Adding Blocks
A calendar block will help you communicate due dates, online quiz availability, meeting session times and any other important event to students.
The Completion Progress block gives students and instructors a visual indication of progress through a course. You must have completion tracking enabled in your course settings and have set up completion settings on at least one activity or resource to display completion progress.
Resources:
The Group Sign-Up block is an extension of the Groups/Groupings functionality. The Group Sign-Up block allows students to create groups or join pre-existing groups for collaborating in eClass.
Resources:
The Level Up! block allows you to add gamification elements to your course. The block will allow you to capture and attribute "experience points" to students . Once students gain a certain number of "experience points" they progress to a higher level. You will specify which actions in the course will allow students to gain "experience points."
Resource:
The Library Resources Block makes it easy for students to access library resources.
Resource:
The U of A Policies block is a standard right-side block that offers quick links to general U of A policies.
Resources: