Understanding the organization of Course Builder
The Course Builder user interface consists of three sections: the Toolbox, Canvas, and Selected Node Panel.
Course Builder user interface
Toolbox
You can add modules, placeholders, and objects to the canvas from three areas within the toolbox: Build Outline, Add Content, and Browse Tools.
Build Outline provides you with module and placeholder elements that you can add to your canvas to create your course outline.
Add Content provides you with a selection of objects you can create and add to the canvas or drag onto placeholders on the canvas. Direct access to object types within Course Builder enables you to bypass the complexity of setting up objects in their individual tool areas. You can create and add the following objects to the canvas:
- links
- HTML files
- discussion topics
- dropboxes
- quizzes
- grade items
- learning objectives
- existing learning objects from Learning Repository
Browse Tools displays a library of pre-existing objects in your course tools. From Browse Tools, you can locate and add these pre-existing objects to the canvas or drag them onto placeholders on the canvas. If you want, click on pre-existing objects in Browse Tools to view their details and associated grade items or learning objectives before you decide to add them to your course structure. This section of the toolbox features a drill-down menu with breadcrumb links that appear at the top of the toolbox as you navigate deeper into the menu. You can click on breadcrumb links to return to a previous section.
Canvas
The canvas is a visual representation of your course structure. It displays the hierarchy of your course content as a series of nested nodes.
Node Each structure element on the canvas is called a node. Node is a general term that can represent a module, placeholder, or object.
Each non-module node on the canvas includes an icon indicating its type. This can help you to see what's in your course at a glance.
A dropbox object node
The canvas simplifies the process of rearranging, copying, and deleting your course structure. See Managing nodes on the canvas for more detail about these actions.
Tip Once you're satisfied with the arrangement of your course, you can click View Content to see how your course content displays for students.
Selected Node Panel
When you select a node on the canvas, the selected node panel displays its details and enables you to perform actions on that node. From the selected node panel, you can:
- View general properties for an object.
- Edit placeholder properties to change the display name or add planning notes.
- Edit object properties.
- Launch an object's associated system tool.
- Perform node-related actions.
See also
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