Generate Modules in Module Builder

DesignPLUS Workflow Generate Modules in Module Builder

Once you've created all the templates you plan to use in your module pattern, you can use the Multi-Tool Module Builder to generate a complete set of modules for your course. First, you will create the module pattern. Your module pattern will be used to create the Module List, an editable list of the items to be included in each module. You can add, remove, or modify any item in the Module List before generating the actual modules and their content.

Module Builder Tips

  • If you left the default values in the Prefix 1 and Prefix 2 fields in the banner title block in your templates, these values will be replaced with the selected prefix (module, week, lesson, etc.) and number for each module.
  • Module Builder is an extremely flexible tool. Even if your modules follow more than one pattern or no pattern at all, you can still save time by generating modules one at a time or in smaller sets.

Instructions

Tip: Watch the Video

 Watching the Cidi Labs video introduction to the Multi-Tool will make it much easier to get acquainted with this utility.  The video covers all of the features of the Multi-Tool, but the link below will take you directly to the Module Builder section of the video.

  The DesignPLUS Multi-Tool: Module Builder Links to an external site.

 

Create the module pattern

  1. Launch the Multi-Tool and open Module Builder.
  2. In the New Module Pattern panel:
    Module Builder: New Module Pattern
    1. Use the Module Prefix dropdown to choose the prefix to be used in the module and content item names.
    2. Enter the  Number of Modules to Create .
    3. Enter the Starting Number for the modules. The default is 1, but if you need to generate one module at a time, you can use this feature to increment the number for each module as you create it.
    4. Use the buttons under Add Items to build the content pattern for your modules.
    5. Provide the requested information for each item in the pattern:
      1. Set the indent level. The default is no indent.
      2. Leave the box checked if you want the item name to begin with the module prefix and number.
      3. For Headers only, enter the header text.
      4. For all item types except Headers, enter an optional descriptive name for the item. If you left the module information box checked, the items created by Module Builder will be named using the pattern Prefix #: Name (e.g., Module 1: Overview, Module 1: Homework, Module 1: Group Discussion, etc.)
      5. For all item types except Headers, select the template that will be used to generate the item.
      6. For assignment and discussion items in the pattern, enter a default point value. You will be given a chance to review and modify the point values of individual items before the modules are generated.
      7. For assignment and discussion items with an assigned point value, use the dropdown menu to indicate how you would like the grade to be displayed.
      8. For assignment items in the pattern, use the dropdown menu to select the default submission type. You will be given a chance to review and modify the submission type for each assignment before the modules are generated.
    6. Review the module pattern to make sure all of your selections are correct and the items are in the right order. If necessary, use the handles (   ) to reorder items and the delete icons (  ) to remove items.

Generate and customize the module list

  1. After you are satisfied with the module pattern, at the lower left of the New Module Pattern panel, click Generate Module List. A preliminary, editable list of the modules and their content items is generated beneath the heading Customize Modules. 
  2. The modules are contained in panels almost identical to the New Module Pattern panel. If changes are needed, use the available controls to:
    1. Change the prefix or number for the module.
    2. Add, remove, or reorder the items in the module.
    3. Rename items in the module.
    4. Choose a different template for specific items.
    5. Change the point value and grade display format for individual assignments or discussions.
    6. Change the submission type for specific assignments.
  3. Use the following buttons as needed:
    1. Regenerate Module List: this button, located at the bottom of the New Module Pattern panel, will delete the current version of the module list (including any changes you have made) with a new version based on the current selections in the New Module Pattern panel.
    2. Add to Module List: this button, located at the bottom of the New Module Pattern panel, will add modules to the current list based on the current selections in the New Module Pattern panel.
    3. Save Progress: this button, located at the bottom of the page, will save your changes to the module list so you can continue editing at another time. Note that progress is deleted after two weeks of activity.

Add modules to course

  1. When you are ready to create the module content according to your specifications in the module list, click the Add Modules to Course button located at the bottom of the New Module Pattern panel as well as at the bottom of the page beneath the last module in the list. It can take several minutes to generate the complete set of modules. 
  2. Once the job is complete, in addition to the modules and their content displaying in the Modules tool, Module Muilder will display the list of Existing Modules. You can use this list to make quick edits to specific module items, as well as to delete entire modules with or without also deleting the module's content.

Something not right?

You can return to Module Builder at any time to add, delete, or modify modules and individual module items.

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