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This overview looks how to use the UNSW Institutonal templates, and their contents. For general information about Vista templates, see:
There are currently four basic templates, which have similar design but vary in the structure of learning activities. All templates contain some student support and learning activity structures, and include branding banners, technical support links and links to institutional resources such as the Course outline template.
Click on the template name to see interactive maps of the template elements, and specific guidelines for each template.
• Institutional template basic
This template contains only the basic elements.
• Institutional template plus
This template contains the basic elements plus additional support and learning activity structure.
• Institutional Problem-based learning template
This template has all the elements included in the 'plus' template, and includes learning activity structures appropriate for a course based on problem-based learning.
• Institutional Collaborative learning template
This template has all the elements included in the 'plus' template, and includes learning activity structures appropriate for a course based on collaborative learning.
See Managing Templates and Files.pdf for more information about using templates in Vista.
To create, copy or edit templates you must have a Group or Course designer role in Vista. To start using the templates:
• Go to Vista's template manager from your Group or Course, and click on UNSW in the Learning Context Hierarchy on the left.
• You will see the available templates listed. Copy the one you want by clicking on the 'Copy' icon under 'Actions'. Select 'unlinked' copy (see 'Linked files' for rationale).
• You can save it to your Group or Course, and will be the new template owner, so that you can enter it (by clicking on the title) and edit it.
See Managing Templates and Files.pdf for more information about copying templates in Vista.
All template elements are fully customisable. Designers are able to delete or replace any unwanted elements, including graphics, icons, tools links and files.
The template includes basic branding images: banner for the homepage (banner_school.gif), banner for organiser pages (banner_school_sm.gif) and a background graphic (bg_faculty.jpg). These are located in the 'graphics' folder in the file manager of each template. The banners can be updated to include your faculty/school name, or redesigned to fit other branding designs (eg, school web page). The background image can be removed or replaced.
The template banners can be edited by downloading the Photoshop files from 'UNSW_shared_resources > graphics > branding' folder in Vista's File Manager, customising the banners, and uploading them. EDTeC can do this for you free of charge - just let us know what text/colour you require. Customised banners can also be designed for a fee. Contact us with your requirements.
Alternatively, the banner can be replaced with a customised school banner prepared by you or by EDTeC. Go to Template Services to find out how EDTeC can help you with this, and with developing your template.
Some links to institutional files are included.
However, it is recommended that users should always create ‘unlinked’ copies of templates at group and course levels. While the benefits of file linking/management will be lost, this limits the possible damage caused by inadvertent template or file deletion. If you wish to update the files, they may be found in the 'UNSW_shared_resources' folder in Vista's File Manager.
In some cases, links to information or documents are provided via URL. This is a more foolproof way of ensuring that the information that you are linking to is the most up to date.
See Managing Templates and Files.pdf for more information about file linking in Vista.
See Recommendations for managing shared files and templates.pdf for EDTeC's recommendations on file linking in Vista.
Most of the templates include 'dummy' content that you can use as the basis for your course files, or replace with files of your own. For more information on how to edit or replace template files, go to 'Editing course files in Vista'.
See Creating and Editing Templates.pdf for more information about creating and editing content files.
Each template contains a basic structure of course introduction, resources and learning activities. The resources include links to useful support sites for students and teachers. For learning activities the use of Learning modules is recommended - these provide a structured pathway where students can access learning material, activities such as evaluations (quizzes), discussions and assignments, and links to resources. For a full description of the template elements, and how to use them, go to the Interactive template maps (Basic, Plus, Collaborative learning, PBL) or the Overview of template contents (printable table).
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