Overview of Vista template contents

Homepage link	Contains	Purpose	You need to
Start here		Provide initial support and orientation to students.	Decide what elements students will need to begin the course.
	Course outline template	This is the MS Word template developed by the LTU for use across UNSW.	You will need to download the document, add your course information, then upload it again.
	Course intro	Brief overview of course approach and requirements.	Edit or replace the 'dummy' file with your course introduction.
	Orientation activity	It is useful for students to do an orientation activity to accustom them to using Vista, and to the structure of the course. This has been set up as a learning module that may contain instructions, discussion and quiz.	For instance, you may use this to get students to introduce themselves using the discussion forum, or to do an activity related to awareness of plagiarism.
	Intro to online learning	A link to a web page about online learning, providing an introduction for students who are unfamiliar with learning online.	You may be able to identify other useful resources to add.
	HELP forum	A HELP forum can be useful to provide a general discussion forum where students can post queries. It can avoid an avalanche of personal emails, and provides an opportunity for students to answer each others' queries.	Instruct students to post queries to the HELP forum rather than emailing the teacher. If this is provided, it MUST be regularly monitored. In the future, queries posted here can form the basis of an FAQ page.
	Technical support	Where the student can go if they are experiencing technical difficulties with Vista: IT Service desk, Vista support site and direction to find the Vista Orientation Course online.	Inform students that these resources are available, and that they should look for help here before posting queries or emailing the teacher.
Assessment	Assessment requirements.	Brings together information about assessment requirements and schedule for the course.	Develop assessment requirements and schedule.
	Links to assessment tasks.	Assessment tasks may be linked in the Learning activities section, but it may still be useful to provide links to all items in one location.	Create assessment items (quizzes, assignments) and add links.
Learning activities	Learning activities (learning modules). These can include content files, evaluations (quizzes), discussions, links to URLs or media libraries, etc. More about learning modules	The learning activities and course material, links to resources etc. The activities have been set up as learning modules. This format allows: • placement of a variety of content in a single learning path • students to compile and print content • modules to be exported for use in other courses	Design the learning activities, then define the structure that your learning activities will need. One of the structures defined in these templates may provide a useful basis for this. Add content to 'placeholder' elements, or replace them.
Course resources	Resource list Lecture notes folder Web links folder Media library Glossary (These are placeholders and need to be populated)	Links to any resource material that is not included in the 'Learning activities' area, eg presentations, lecture notes, case studies, website links, glossaries. Content may be linked from, rather than incorporated into, a learning activity, focusing the learning on activity rather than content. Allows students to access resources outside of the learning material.	Identify and build, upload or link to appropriate resources. Linking to resources on the web, rather than uploading them, will make management and maintenance of resources easier.
Feedback	Evaluation (survey) - currently empty. (NOTE: EDTeC is currently preparing sample surveys to be included in the templates)	Student are able to provide feedback on the course.	Identify which of the provided surveys or questions are appropriate for your course. Create and add any additional questions. You may wish to include formative surveys here, to assist you in identifying any progressive issues.
Course administration	Course documents.	Files or links relating to the course, but not specific to the online components, can be placed here, eg Lab or tutorial schedules. Prevents cluttering of the interface with peripheral information.	You may not need this folder, but it may be useful to keep it hidden rather than deleting it, in case of any requests from students to provide material online. The hidden teachers' folder also contains some useful links.
	For teachers - hidden folder.	Provides information about using the Vista templates and the course outline template.	Other course specific information for the benefit of teachers or teaching assistants can be placed here.
Toolbar		Access to tools from all pages	Check if you will need to use the tools that are currently active, if not - remove. Other tools are available to add if you need them.
	Announcements	Send course announcements to students	Course announcements can be set using this tool, instead of cluttering up the homepage. Announcements can also be set to 'pop up'.
	Discussions	Access to all course discussions	Discussions you create will automatically be listed here. If you don't want students to access a discussion, you will need to hide it.
	Assignments	Access to all course assignments	You may decide that you do not need to create links in 'Assessment' if you use this tool. However, it will not include Evaluations (quizzes).
	My Grades	Students can check their grades for assessments.	You need to release the grades to students from the 'Grade Book'.
	Calendar	Assignment due dates will automatically be entered here. Other important dates can be added manually.	This tool needs to be populated, otherwise - remove it.