Preparing Your Minerva Modules for 2024/25
In this article:
Introduction
Curriculum Redefined and 2024/25 Module Areas
Benefits of the revised module template
How can I access my modules?
Top Tips and Reminders for Content Copying
Your Feedback and Minerva Key Updates
Keep in Touch
Introduction
All modules due to run in 2024/25 have been created in Minerva and are now ready for population.
Minerva module areas are created with the institutional module template. This template is designed to assist staff when structuring module areas and to provide a consistent method of navigation to students across the University. As part of the build phase of Curriculum Redefined, all new modules (including those which have been developed through Curriculum Redefined and those which have not) will now contain a revised version of the standard institutional template. The use of some template items is now compulsory.
Curriculum Redefined and 2024/25 Module Areas
As part of Curriculum Redefined, the following aspects of the template are required to be used and/or completed, providing a baseline standard for Minerva module areas:
- Module teaching staff contact details
- School support information, including contact details
- Module accessibility statement
- Information about how to provide module feedback
- Module reading list created using the Leeds Reading List tool (where appropriate)
- All summative assessment added to the default ‘Assessment and Feedback’ folder
- Assessment overview
It's also strongly recommended that staff upload a profile picture in Minerva, which will appear throughout the system next to your user activity.
In addition, staff are required to:
- Make teaching content available at least 48 hours before lectures/tutorials
- Follow Curriculum Redefined guidance when designing and delivering assessment including use of a standard Assessment Brief
What benefits does the revised Minerva module template provide?
Many years of feedback exercises told us that students value consistency within their module areas, so core information, including assessment submission points, can be assessed quickly and easily. Staff told us they would value clarity about what information was expected to be presented in their module areas, and that the administrative burden of creating modules can be high.
Working with staff and students, the revised institutional template was designed to ensure essential information is presented in a consistent manner, with default text added where possible, to aid staff when creating their modules.
An example of the 2024/25 Minerva module template
How can I access my modules?
You can find 2024/25 modules from the Modules link on the left of the page. Select the 'Current Modules' dropdown from the top of the page, then 202425.
The Modules view will default to 2024/25 after resit examinations have taken place.
Merged modules and programme organisations
As merged modules aren’t automatically created, you can use the merged module request form to provide the names/codes of the modules you would like to merge.
Programme organisations that existed in 2023/24 have been recreated in 2024/25. Staff requiring leader and assistant access can request this through their Faculty Learning Technologists or via the request staff editing rights form available on the IT Services website. Student enrolments will be added automatically once the data is available in Banner.
Top Tips and Reminders for Content Copying
To support you in this process, we’ve provided guides on building your modules, along with information on the module template. We'd also recommend that you follow the guidance below when copying content:
- You'll need to copy content for modules that have run in previous years
- Copying module content from one module to the next is a simple and easy process
- The structure in the institutional template should be used, as detailed above
- Individual files, folders and content can be easily copied. Although it is possible to copy an entire module in one click, this should not be done as it will cause cluttered module areas and not all content types will copy well
- Integrated assessment tools (Turnitin, Gradescope, Top Hat, Pebblepad) will maintain the original assessment dates and may not work correctly, and therefore any such copied items will need to be deleted and then replaced. Blackboard assignments and tests can be copied successfully, but assessment dates will need to be updated in 2024/25 modules following copy.
Your local Digital Education Enhancement Teams are also available to provide help and advice.
Your Feedback and Minerva Key Updates
We use your feedback on Minerva to work with Anthology to identify areas in which key updates can be made to assist both staff and students. We’re really pleased to say that a range of updates have been made since last summer, including:
- Discussions - anonymous contributions now possible
- Gradebook Statistics - this means staff can review key statistics regarding assessments in Minerva. Including information about completion progress and grade distribution
- The Recording tool can be used to create an audio and video, or audio-only recording, directly in Minerva. It is available in Announcements and Overall Feedback (within Gradebook)
- Blackboard Tests - the option for staff to provide contextual feedback by students on all question types
- Blackboard Tests - attempt logs showing the time a student started, submitted and the time an individual answer was saved per assessment
- An overview of key updates made within Minerva is now available.
Keep in Touch
You can keep in touch with news, updates and developments in digital education systems on Twitter at @DESystemsUoL or by signing up to our mailing list.
You can also contact your local Digital Education Enhancement Teams who are available to provide advice to support you with the copying process.