Getting Started with Minerva modules - Staff Guide

Building your module structure

For staff familiar with Original modules (used for 21/22 modules and earlier) there is no longer an editable left-hand menu. Instead, content can be organised within the Module Content area using:

• Folders 
• Learning Modules 

Both are collapsible containers for content but it is only possible to add learning modules at the top level. The key difference is Learning Modules allow you to force students to access content in a sequence.

All Ultra Course View modules are created using the institutional module template. The template has been designed to assist staff with structuring their new modules and to provide a consistent method of navigation for students across the institution. The template should be followed wherever possible, although staff can refine to suit their teaching if necessary.

Two levels

When you build your content, you can create two levels of structure. This means that you can have:

• Module Content >
  • Learning Module/Folder [1] >
  • Folder [2] then any content added to Folder [2] (but you cannot add another folder within Folder 2).

Diagram highlighting 2 levels of structure.

Creating your content

You will add your content to the Module Content area.

Copying content

For technical reasons, and to ensure that module areas are uncluttered, content will not be automatically copied from the previous instance of a module. Once staff have reviewed their teaching content, they can use straightforward copy functionality to copy individual items or folders from previous modules at the click of a button.

You should only copy individual files, folders, Learning Modules, or other content (such as tests) - do not copy an entire module as not all content types will copy well, and any structure deeper than the 2 levels will not be copied across which will result in more time being spent reviewing, moving, and removing content e.g. Turnitin assignments. Copy content in Ultra Course View covers the process in detail and includes key recommendations.

Adding content

When you click on the + icon, content options will be displayed underneath for you to select the type of content you want to add:

• Create
• Copy Content
• Upload
• Cloud Storage
• Content Market
• Content Collection

You may see the content options presented differently within a folder.

Let's look at each one of the content options in a little more detail:

1. Create - Clicking on Create will present you with options to add:

• • Content items:
    • Folder/Learning module (both containers for content).
    • Document (this is a blank page you can add different types of content to e.g. text/file uploads/html).
    • Link (link to an external website, content, Learning Module, or folder in the same module).
    • SCORM package. (Please ignore Teaching tools with LTI connection option). See Create Content for more information.

• • Assessment: Blackboard Test and Assignment. See Assess and evaluate for more information on these tools.
  • Participant and Engagement: Discussion Board and Journal (online diary). See Engage and interact for more information on these tools.

2. Copy Content - options to copy content from other modules and within the module. See Copy content in Ultra Course View.

3. Upload - A way to quickly upload files from your computer/mapped drive.

4. Cloud Storage - Map your computer to OneDrive so you can easily upload files from there. See Add files from cloud storage for more information.

5. Content Market - This is the route to our integrated tools e.g. Mediasite, Turnitin, Gradescope, Top Hat, Mobius, Pebblepad etc. Click on the name of the tool you want or the + icon (when it's displayed on screen) to add the tool to your module.

N.B. A link to your Mediasite module catalogue and your module reading list is already added to your module as part of the module template.

6. Content Collection - The Content Collection is the file store of Minerva and automatically stores the files that you add to the module. You can add files to the Content Collection and then link to them here. This is usually done where you have a file in multiple locations which will require frequent updating – it means you only have to update it in one place.

7. Conversations - A content item not listed in the menu is ‘Conversations’. This is an option you can enable for the following Blackboard content types: Documents, Blackboard Assignments, Tests. Conversations give students the option to discuss the content with staff and students on the module. See Enable Minerva Conversations for more information.

Making content available to Students

As you create content, you’ll notice that it is always unavailable to students by default as you create it. You can change the availability of content either:

• individually as you work, or
• by using the Batch Edit function after you've finished adding multiple items of content.

Changing the availability of individual items/content

You can change the availability of items/content by clicking Hidden from students, which is usually displayed directly under the item/content name, and selecting either:

• Visible to students or
• Conditional availability - where you will be asked to provide the conditions you want to apply.

Batch Edit to change availability of multiple items

You can use the Batch Edit function to change availability of multiple pieces of content/items more quickly (particularly useful if you copy content from last year’s module).

To use Batch Edit, click on the three dots icon … from the top right of the Module Content area and select Batch Edit. You will then be able to select multiple items at once and use the option to Edit Visibility to make all items available to students. N.B. You will need to enter folders and learning modules in this view to make items within a folder and learning module available. For step-by-step guidance see, Batch Edit to change availability of multiple items.

Student Preview

Once you’ve built your content, use the Student Preview function to review it. This is useful to:

• Check the content you want students to see is available to them;
• Check any content you don’t want students to see yet is hidden;
• Try out Blackboard Tests and Assignments to understand the student experience and how these attempts and any feedback appear to students.

Enter Student Preview by clicking the Student Preview icon in the top right. When you exit the Student Preview either:

• Select Exit Preview to keep your activity e.g. if you want to review their activity on a test or
• Select Reset Preview to delete any student preview activity.

Not sure how to use Student Preview? Review your content with Student Preview for more detailed guidance.

Navigation bar

You have access to frequently used tools for your module from the Navigation bar at the top of the screen. This can be found just below the module code and name. Let's look at each one in turn:

Content

This is the landing page, and where staff build content and students access content.

Calendar

This is a calendar for your module activities. You and your students will see Blackboard assessment and Turnitin deadlines for the module here. You can also add other items like regular office hours, and if you add a module schedule this will also be displayed here. It isn’t connected to the University online module timetable - this is flagged to students when they access the calendar. The Global Navigation menu on the left contains the global calendar which displays deadlines and events for all your modules in one place.

Announcements

Create announcements from here. You can choose to send an email copy of the Announcement to everyone enrolled on the module. Students see announcements in the activity stream and also when they enter the module – new announcements appear as a pop-up when they enter the module.

The workflow for creating announcements is:

1. Create an announcement
2. This is saved as a draft
3. Post the announcement

Watch - How to create an announcement

Discussions

This gives quick access to the Discussion Tool. See Create Minerva Discussions for more information.

Gradebook

This is where you can manage and grade Blackboard assessments, post grades and student feedback for your module. Gradebook replaces the Grade Centre which existed in Original modules. For staff familiar with the Grade Centre there are several differences which are covered in more detail in Gradebook vs Grade Centre, What are the differences. Some key changes are the ways you can view information. The default view shows gradeable items, click the Grid View icon located below the Gradebook tab for something that looks more like the Grade Centre we are used to.

Workflow differences for releasing grades

There is also a different workflow for releasing grades – grades are added, and then separately posted to students (students only see them when you Post them). However, most integrated tools e.g. Top Hat and Gradescope Post the grades automatically when they return them to the Gradebook, so for any grading outside of Minerva, make sure those grades are ready to be posted when you return them. Turnitin posts grades on the feedback release date.

Messages

You can send messages to those enrolled on your module (and select the email option as relevant). There is a message notification which appears in the left-hand side black Global Navigation menu on the home page. Staff and students can access messages from there as well. At this time, students cannot reply to messages. Messages are similar to announcements; the key differences are listed in the table below:

Reports

In this section you can find test question/SCORM analytics.

Groups

Create groupings of students here – groups could be used to help with dividing up student assessment or if you need to release content to certain students, you can create a group with those students in it, and release content to just that group. See Create and manage groups for more information.