Science Interactive's Custom Lesson Authoring tool allows instructors to build their own lessons from scratch or to include additional content in their SI lessons. Custom Lesson Authoring enables instructors to
- Build learning objectives, content, and questions (Test Your Knowledge question types and Question Time question types) in the Exploration section.
- Build learning objectives, exercise content, data tables, photo panels, and essay questions in the Experimentation section.
- Build multiple choice (Competency Review) and essay questions (Extension) in the Evaluation section.
- Publish and reorder lessons within the lesson list after the prerequisites (Getting Started, Lab Safety, and Using the V-scope).
1. In the Navigation Dropdown of your course, select Custom Lesson Authoring.
2. Select "Create a Custom Lesson."
3. Name the lesson, then select "Save."
After following these steps, the Custom Lesson screen will appear. The format follows SI's labs: an Exploration tab, and Experimentation tab, and an Evaluation tab. These are all accessible at the top of the page.
To publish a lesson, content must be added to the Exploration and Experimentation sections. The Evaluation section is optional.
Selecting the “BACK” button at the top left, at any time, will take you back to the Course Management page and exit the lesson. Use the section tabs along the top (Exploration, Experimentation, Evaluation) and the pages on the left side to go forward and backward throughout your lesson.
4. Write your lesson.
Exploration pages contain the instructional content of the lesson.
Exploration Overview
- Time allocation is a mandatory field.
- Learning Objectives are optional, but empty boxes must be deleted by selecting the "x" next to each in order for the page to save.
- Test Your Knowledge (TYK) interactive questions can be added.
- You can select the pencil icon in the top right to edit the lesson information.
- When you are done adding content, don't forget to select "Save."
Exploration Pages
- Add the Exploration Name.
- Click inside the box under "Exploration Page Content" to begin adding content.
- The toolbar will pop up to format text, add questions embedded in the content, or add hyperlinks.
- The left side toolbar is used to add images, videos, and equations that are separate from content. By hovering the cursor over the toolbar icons, a four-way arrow will appear that allows items to be dragged into the content page. Hovering the cursor over the bottom right of an icon displays a "+" sign that, when clicked, will automatically add that item to the content page. Refer to these instructions on adding images, videos, and equations.
- Question Time (QT) multiple choice questions can be added. Detailed instructions can be found here.
- Once content is added, don't forget to select "Save."
- Select the "Add a page" button along the left sidebar to continue adding pages and content.
- Once the Exploration tab is complete, click on the Experimentation tab at the top.
Experimentation Overview
- Time allocation is a mandatory field.
- Learning Objectives are optional, but empty boxes must be deleted by selecting the "x" next to each in order for the page to save.
- You can select the pencil icon in the top right to edit the lesson information.
- When you are done adding content, don't forget to select "Save."
Experimentation Pages
- Select "Exercise 1" on the far left bar. If needed, Materials can be added here.
- If using Exercise 1 as the Materials Page, select "Add Exercise" to move on to adding exercise content.
- Add the Exercise Name and an Introduction.
- There is an option to "Add Data Collection," with which the following can be added:
- Data Table: Customized table with fill-in blank cells.
- Data Table - Math: Customized table with fill in the blank math-input cells.
- Image Annotation: Students can draw on a provided image.
- Image Labeling: Fill in the blank style labeling over a provided image.
- Image Upload: Students can upload and annotate an image.
- Essay Question: Long essay questions which may include text formatting controls.
Exercise Pages
- Click in "Exercise Page Content" to begin adding content for the exercise.
- Questions can be added at the bottom of the exercise. See instructions on Data Collection and End of Exercise Questions.
- Select "Save."
- Continue adding exercises to the new lesson by selecting "Add Exercise."
- To easily see the titles for each page, hove the mouse over the left bar.
- Once the Experimentation tab is complete, select the Evaluation tab at the top.
This section is optional.
Use this section to add Competency Review multiple choice questions and Extension essay questions.
Instructions for adding Competency Review multiple choice questions can be found here.
Instructions for adding Extension essay questions can be found here.
5. Publish the custom lesson.
- Select "Publish Lesson" at the top of the page. If any required information is missing, a pop-up will appear detailing what is missing.
- Once published, the Custom Lessons will appear at the bottom of the Lesson List in your course Lesson page.
- To re-order the lesson placement, close the Custom Lesson tab in your browser and navigate back to the Lessons page. Select and hold on the equal sign next to the custom lesson to drag it into the location of your choice. It must follow the course prerequisites.
- After publishing, the custom lesson can still be edited by returning to Custom Lesson Authoring and selecting "Edit" to the right of the lesson. When any changes are saved, a pop-up warning will appear saying that all edits will permanently overwrite previous versions.