Sakai Help

Lesson Builder

1. Introduction

Lesson Builder is a tool that allows an instructor to organize resources, quizzes, tests, and media on a single page. You can have as many Lesson Builder pages in your site as you see fit. Each Lesson Builder page can be customized to suit the needs of the lesson by taking some of the tools available in Sakai and putting them onto a single page. You can add assignments, tests, resources, text, links, images, discussion forums and other pieces of media to a Lesson Builder page.

Use the action buttons at the top of the page to add content.

2. Add Text

Click Add Text at the top of the page to add text to the page. Enter your text in the rich text editor provided and click Save at the bottom of the page.

You can use text to introduce other pieces of content on the page, this can help orient the student.

2.1 Edit Text

If you want to edit a piece of text that you have already added to the page, click Edit to the left of the text item. When you are satisfied with your changes, click Save at the bottom of the page. You can also click Cancel to return to your page without applying any changes.

2.2 Remove Text

If you want to remove a piece of text, click Edit to the left of the text item. Click the Delete button below the text editor.

Warning: There is no confirmation step; clicking the delete button will permanently remove the text item from your Lesson Builder page. There is no way to retrieve it once it has been deleted.

3. Add Resources

Click Add Resource at the top of the page.

You can add a file to your page by:

3.1 Edit a Resource

Click the Edit button to the left of the resource you would like to modify.

This will open up an Edit Item box on your screen. The options available for modification are as follows:

To save your changes, click Update Item.

3.2 Delete a Resource

Click Edit to the left of the resource you would like to remove, then click Delete.

If you would like to completely delete an uploaded file from your worksite, the file will also need to be removed from the Resources tool. To do this, click Resources on the left menu and click on the folder that has the same title as the Lesson Builder from which the file was removed. Click Actions --> Remove to the right of the file. Click Remove to complete the process.

4. Add Assignments

Click the Add Assignment button at the top of the page. This will give you a list of all assignments already created in the Assignments tool. Select the one you wish to add and use selected item.

Note that you cannot create assignments in the Lesson Builder tool; you must go to the Assignments tool and create them there.

4.1 Edit an Assignment

Click Edit to the left of the assignment you would like to modify.

This will open up an Edit Item box on your screen. The options available for modification are as follows:

To save your changes, click Edit Item. To remove the Assignment from your Lesson Builder page, click Delete.

5. Add Tests & Quizzes

Click the Add Quiz button at the top of the page. This will give you a list of assessments already created in the Tests & Quizzes tool. Click the one you wish to add and then click Add This Assessment.

Note that you cannot create quizzes in the Lesson Builder tool; you must go to the Tests & Quizzes tool on the left menu and create them there.

5.1 Edit a Quiz

Click Edit to the left of the quiz you would like to modify.

This will open up an Edit Item box on your screen. The options available for modification are as follows:

To save your changes, click Update Item. To remove the Quiz from your Lesson Builder page, click Delete.

6. Add Multimedia

The multimedia option allows you to upload media files (such as videos and songs), and present them directly on the page. The Multimedia option can also double as a Web Content tool, allowing you to link to and display websites on your Lesson Builder page.

Click the Add Multimedia button at the top of the page.

You can add a multimedia file to your page by:

6.1 Edit Multimedia

To edit your multimedia content, first click Edit to the left of the item you would like to modify.

This will open up an Edit Item box on your screen. The options available for modification are as follows:

To save your changes, click Update Item. To remove the multimedia item from your Lesson Builder page, click Delete.

7. Add Subpages

Each Lesson Builder tool that you add to your worksite can have multiple pages associated with it. These pages are referred to as subpages.

Click the Add Subpage button at the top of the page. Fill in the text field labeled Page title with the title of your new subpage and click Create.

This will take you to a blank Lesson Builder page, where you can add new content pieces as you see fit.

7.1 Edit a Subpage

To edit information about a subpage, click Edit to the left of the subpage you would like to modify.

The options available for modification are as follows:

To save your changes, click Update Item. To remove the subpage from your page, click Delete.

8. Reorganize Content

By default, new content items are added to the bottom of a Lesson Builder page. You can use the Reorder tool to arrange the content in any order. You can also copy items from other pages into the current one, and delete items.

To start, click the Reorder button at the top of the page. Drag and drop content items into your preferred order. Click Save to complete the process.