As of August 1st, 2008, the Edutech web site will no longer be updated. Edutech was funded by the Swiss Virtual Campus programme, which ended on July 31st, 2008. Some activities will be taken over by the e-Learning Services group at the SWITCH foundation.
Creating a repository
Introduction
WebCTs Help for: Managing Templates, German Version, French Version.
WebCTs Help for: Creating Templates, in German, in French.
WebCTs Help for: Subscribing to Files, German Version, French Version.
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This page explains the advantages of linked learning material, their creation and use in form of a repository as well as to provide you with a step by step instruction of how to go about it.
Imagine you could place all your material, pages, images,
simulations, etc. in one central repository and each time that you link
one of these files (the parent) into a course ('section' in vista
speak), this child-file would keep a link to it's parent-file in the
reservoir. And when ever you correct or otherwise edit one of the two,
the other is upgraded and presents the same aspect as the other.
Thus you could have hundreds of courses derived from one repository but
would only need to correct one instance - for example the parent - when
editing is
needed. In Vista this can be done by linking a file in the File Manager
to the course you create.
Note: If you can not see a specific file, button or menu that you are convinced you should be able to see, than you probably do not possess the appropriate permission or role. Further information can be found in Part 4, Chapter 36, Sect: "Template Manager" in the Designers and Instructors Reference, Vista 4 p. 141 (pdf, 2.3 MB).. Get UN & PW at edutech Vista Support.
Using the repository
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- Identify the level (domain, institution, division, group, or course) on which to place the files, so that all concerned future user will find access.
- Chose the "Content Manager" tab on top of the page.
- Chose the "Repository" menu.
- Select the corresponding level.
- Click on the "Create folder"-button on the bottom of the page
- Indicate the name of the folder
- Upload your files into this folder
- Decide the access rights by changing the permission settings in the ActionLinks of the Files.
- set permission to either 'private' or 'public' (Note: once set to 'public' you can not return to 'private'!). Only public files can be seen and used by other designers. With the "settings"-button one can also indicate who has the rights to edit the file.
- give editor rights to potential editors.
Note:
The repository can only be used by designers having the rights corresponding to the level where the repository is placed. Make sure that everybody in question has the corresponding rights.
Displaying repository files in your course
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- In your section go to the File Manager.
- Click Get Files.
- Select Repository, the Repository File Manager opens.
- Navigate to the target Repository folder.
- Chose the checkboxes of the files you want to be able to display in your course or template (max. 10 files per linking).
- Selection the radio button next to the files you want to subscribe to and than OK.
Note: You can only link files (max. 10 each time), not folders. If you need to link a lot of files you should use the template assignment procedure instead, that is explained in Template and sections linked to it. Make sure that all elements that are needed are linked to the target section. If you forget to link the file of an image needed in a HTML page, this image will not show in the target section.
Warning:
The good news is, that your corrections will
be passed on. But, any new document or file that you add later on, will
not automatically appear anywhere else. Each newly added file needs to
be linked with a new linking procedure to any place where it should
appear.