YORKSHARE GETTING-STARTED
GUIDE FOR STAFF
Table of Contents
1.
Using Edit Mode ...........................................................................................................................1
2.
Creating a Structure .....................................................................................................................2
The Default Yorkshare Course ......................................................................................................2
Adding and Renaming Content Areas ..........................................................................................2
Adding a Content Area .............................................................................................................2
Renaming a Content Area ........................................................................................................2
Making a Content Area Unavailable.........................................................................................3
Deleting a Content Area ...........................................................................................................3
Rearranging the Course Menu .................................................................................................3
3.
Creating Content ..........................................................................................................................4
Creating a Basic Content Item ......................................................................................................4
Downloads ....................................................................................................................................4
Attaching a File to a Content Item ...........................................................................................4
Uploading Multiple Files...........................................................................................................5
4.
Communicating with Your Students.............................................................................................6
Adding an Announcement ............................................................................................................6
Re-Ordering Announcements .......................................................................................................6
Making Announcements Permanent .......................................................................................6
Getting start with the VLE for Staff: Using Edit Mode
1. Using Edit Mode
Most of the instructions in this guide assume that Edit Mode has been activated.
You can activate and de-activate Edit Mode using the switch in the top toolbar of your
VLE module site:
The switch shows whether Edit Mode is turned on
or off
. When
using a screen reader, this information appears before the main navigation.
TIP
If Edit Mode is set to on, you will also see switch to display contextual help for course
tools. This help is visible only to instructors when in Edit Mode.
by default in any
The button state indicates whether help is on
or off
(help is on by default).
When using a screen reader, this information appears before the main page navigation.
are enrolled as an
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Edit mode is enabled
course on which you
instructor.
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Getting start with the VLE for Staff: Creating a Structure
2. Creating a Structure
The Default Yorkshare Course
All Yorkshare sites are set up with a default template which includes two blank
containers for course content, known as Content Areas: Announcements and Course
Documents. These content areas are accessible through the left-hand course menu:
Students will use this menu to navigate around the areas of your site.
You will probably want to edit your course menu to new content areas and delete or
rename the existing content areas.
Adding and Renaming Content Areas
Adding a Content Area
Click on the plus sign button in the top left of the course menu:
.
Select [Create Content Area]. The following form will appear:
TIP
New courses in
Yorkshare are
unavailable at a
Enter the name of your new Content Area (e.g. Week 1 ). This text will appear
in the course menu to all students.
course level. The
Tick the [Available to Users] button – this will make your content area
immediately visible to everyone enrolled on the course.
hidden from enrolled
entire course will be
students. For
simplicity, always
Click [Submit]. Your Content area will be created.
make new content
Newly-created content areas will display an icon to indicate that the item is empty:
and one to show that it is unavailable: . (The “unavailable” icon will display on all
content areas if the module itself is set to unavailable.)
areas available
Renaming a Content Area
being taught.
Click on the drop-down menu to the right of each item in the course menu:
then select [Rename Link].
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unless developing on
a module is already
,
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Getting start with the VLE for Staff: Creating a Structure
The menu item will change to a text box, allowing you to edit the name. Once
your edits are complete, either click the tick: to accept, or the cross: to
cancel.
Making a Content Area Unavailable
Click on the item’s drop-down menu item:
.
Select [Hide Link].
The Content Area will be hidden from all student users on the module. Instructors in
Edit Mode will still be able to view the Content Area.
Deleting a Content Area
This action cannot be undone, so be sure you want to delete the area before you do it.
Click on the item’s drop-down menu item:
.
Select [Delete].
A message will appear asking you to confirm. Once you click [OK], your Content
Area will be deleted.
Rearranging the Course Menu
Click on the drag icon to the left of the right of each item in the course menu:
.
Whilst holding down the mouse button drag the item to a new position on the
menu. As you drag, a dashed rectangle will show the new position of the
selected content item:
Release the mouse button when the item is positioned in the desired location. Your
menu will be re-ordered.
Course Menu items can also be re-arranged by using an alternative tool, which can be
accessed by clicking on the double arrow at the top of the course menu:
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Getting start with the VLE for Staff: Creating Content
3. Creating Content
All new Content Areas are initially blank. You can fill these empty containers with a
range of content, including files, quizzes, collaboration tools and content from other
services like YouTube and Flickr. This guide describes the creation of text content and
attaching files.
Creating a Basic Content Item
First, open a Content Area from the course menu:
Click the [Build Content] button from the top bar of the Content Area:
Select [Item] from the menu that appears.
Type a title for your item in the Title text box.
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Checking the [Save
as Reusable Object]
Type your item’s text into the large Text Editor area. The text editor allows you
to use a wide variety of formatting, including bold italics, and lists.
box below the text
In the Options section, you can select whether you want to make your content
item available immediately. If you select [No], you will have to edit the content
area later to make it available.
save your text as an
You can choose to release the item only after a particular date (after a particular
lecture or seminar, for example).
editor allows you to
HTML file in the
Content System for
late re-use.
You can also turn on tracking, which will enable you to monitor the number of
people who have visited your Content Item.
Click [Submit]. Your item will be created.
Downloads
TIP
You can attach one or more files to your Content Item. (e.g. lecture notes, slides,
images etc). Students enrolled on your course will be able to download this material.
You can also re-use
Files in Yorkshare are made stored in a central file store (the Content Collection). Each
department has a folder within this system, with sub-folders for groups of students and
modules. Your module will have been created with a specific folder in this hierarchy
within which your files can be stored.
material from other
modules in your
department by
browsing the Content
System
Attaching a File to a Content Item
Uploading files to your course is an integrated part of the Content Item creation process,
and is done in the Content Item creation page.
Under 2. Attachments, click [Browse My Computer].
Select the file you wish to upload from the file picker dialog. You can attach as
many files as you like in this way.
If you selected the wrong file to upload, or have changed your mind, click the
[Do not attach] button to cancel the upload of that file.
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Getting start with the VLE for Staff: Creating Content
Your files will be uploaded when you click [Submit].
Uploading Multiple Files
If you have a collection of files to upload, you may find it easier to upload them using the
Content Collection browser’s more sophisticated upload tool.
This tool is accessed from within the Create Item screen:
Click [Browse Content Collection] in the Attachments section. This launches a
Content Collection browser, putting you in your module’s folder.
Click the [Upload] button
.
Select [Upload Files]. You will be taken to an Upload Multiple Files and Folders
screen.
Select [Browse], then select files from the file picker. (You can select more than
one file at a time by holding down the Shift key.) Files you have selected will be
added to the upload area:
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You can also dragand-drop files
from your desktop
or file explorer
into the upload
area.
You can cancel the upload of files by clicking the remove item graphic in the
Remove column: .
Click [Submit]. Your files will be uploaded.
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Getting start with the VLE for Staff: Communicating with Your Students
4. Communicating with Your Students
Your module site contains an area for making announcements to your students. This is
normally the first page students visit on your site, and it is the natural place to
communicate with them.
Adding an Announcement
Go the Announcements content area of your course:
Click the [Create Announcement] menu at the top of the page
Enter a title and some text for your announcement.
You can choose to publish the Announcement only after a particular date (after
a particular lecture or seminar, for example).
Finally, you can also include with your announcement a link directing students
to a particular course area.
Click [Submit].
Re-Ordering Announcements
Announcements usually appear in descending date order, with the newest
announcement at the top. It is possible to re-arrange announcements. This action is not
normally recommended for use on a live site, as students may find it confusing.
Click on the drag handle to the left of any announcement
.
Whilst holding down the mouse button, move your announcement to a new
location.
Once the item reaches the correct position, release the mouse button.
An alternative interface for re-arranging items is available by clicking on the
double arrow icon at the top of the announcements page:
Making Announcements Permanent
At the top of your course’s announcements list is a grey bar, reading New
announcements appear below this line
Any announcement which is re-positioned above this line will always remain at the top
of the announcements list when new announcements are made.
The line is invisible to students and to instructors who have turned off Edit View.
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