Overview

This guide explains how to set up your module on the Learning Space, including instructions on importing content from a previous year's iteration of the same module.

Contents

Building from scratch vs importing last year's content

Important: Each module area for 2023/24 has been left blank, in the assumption that most teaching staff will want to import their 2022/23 content.

  1. Building from scratch

If you wish to build your module from scratch, contact dlsupport@falmouth.ac.uk and ask us to set your module up with time-released weekly sections (released at 5pm on Fridays).


Important notes to remember when building from scratch:

  • Every module must have the following sections in this order:
    • Overview
    • Assessment
    • Week 1 (time-released)
    • Week 2 (time-released)
    • etc.
  • Check your course has the mandatory content as listed in the 'Mandatory Content' section further down this page.
  • Do NOT create Assignment activities for summative assessments; SPA will create these in the Assessment section, using specific settings and naming conventions.
  • Because the weekly sections are time-released, you do not need to hide them while the content is incomplete; they are not visible to students until the release date.
  • If your subject area has agreed a different time for weekly release of content (for example, Wednesdays at 5pm), then this needs changing for each section.

  1. Importing last year's content

If you wish to import from last year's course, you can do so by following the guidance below. Make sure you read each step carefully as this will help to ensure the process goes smoothly.

Before you start: access to areas and content release dates

Access to module areas

Module leads should automatically have a staff role on all their module areas. If you do not, then contact dlsupport@falmouth.ac.uk, listing:

  • the modules
  • which academic years

If you want to copy content from last year's area, you must have a staff role on that area.

Content release dates

Most courses release content at 5pm on the Friday before a teaching week. Here is a list of content release dates and times for 2023/24. Some courses have agreed to release content at a different time (e.g. Wednesdays at 5pm) so please check with the course lead.

How to import last year's content

Important: You must deselect any submission links.  All submission links for 2023/24 need to be created afresh by SPA.


The following steps are also explained in the video below.

  1. Make sure you have a copy of the content release times.
  2. Go to the 23/24 module area.
  3. This area should be completely empty. However, for SB2 and SB3 modules, SPA may have already created submission links in a Section called 'Assessment'. If so:
    1. Go to LAST YEAR's (2022/23) module and check the position of the section called 'Assessment'
    2. If it is not the 2nd section, immediately after the Overview section, then move it to be there.
    3. Before you perform the copy, double-check that you have the 'Assessment' section in the same place, immediately after the 'Overview', in both module areas
    4. Also note, that you must NOT copy across last year's submission links (see step 9).
  4. Now make sure you are in THIS YEAR's (2023/24) area for the following steps.
  5. Select More... icon at the top on the right. From the drop-down menu, select Course reuse.
  6. On the next screen you should see a button that has "Import" selected. Now you'll  have to SEARCH for the 22/23 area. Do that, then select the 22/23 area and click Continue.
  7. You are then taken through a number of steps.
  8. Do NOT click Jump to the final step. Instead, click Next.
  9. When presented with a list of the items to import, deselect any you do not want. deselect the summative submission links. SPA will create new ones for 2023/24 if they have not done so already.
  10. Finally, you will have the option to Perform Import. Your job is done when you see a green message telling you the import is complete.

Video showing the course copy where THIS YEAR's area already has submission links

Video showing the course copy assuming THIS YEAR's area is completely empty

How to check and correct release times for sections

Resource:

Default times for content release in 2023/24 modules (Excel).


Mandatory content

  • Module introduction

    The introductory overview section within your module should include an outline of what the students can expect from the module and what you expect from them throughout it. 

  • Picture in Overview area

    Add an image to this area to give a visual representation of the module; the Falmouth Smug Mug image library can be used for this. Choose a low resolution version - your image should be no more than about 100KB. See How to reduce image sizes.

  • Link to curriculum management system

    Add a link to the curriculum management system. Copy and paste this text (including the link):
    View this module's Module Descriptor by searching for its code in the curriculum management system.

  • Staff contact details

    This can be in the overview section, in its own section, or an a separate page.

  • Assessment information

    This should be the first section after the overview. It should include explicit guidance on what is required for each assessment and how the work will be judged. Links for submission of work and provision of feedback will be added to this section by SPA.

Where to store video files

We are working on implementing a new solution called Panopto for video content for 2023/24. Information on this will be coming soon. If in doubt about what to do meanwhile, contact dlsupport@falmouth.ac.uk.

Tips for organising your content

  • Use consistent, descriptive naming conventions for your files and always include the module code and academic year (e.g. 'MNHP101 underwater photography 23-24.pdf').
  • Use folders to organise multiple files uploaded within a section.
  • Use the Assessment section for all information, briefs, and submission points related to summative assessment.
  • Use images where appropriate to support what you're saying, and break up text to make it more readable. Do reduce the file size of images to a size of 100KB or less.
  • When adding resources, we advise on uploading the 'original' formats such as Word (.docx) and PowerPoint (.pptx) as these formats offer increasingly rich, built-in accessibility features to ensure that documents are accessible to the widest range of users. Ally, the accessibility checker tool available on Learning Space also offers PDF as an alternative download format, allowing all file formats can be downloaded as PDF's if students prefer.

Question mark iconFurther Support

For further support on Learning Space, or to report any issues with this guide, please get in touch with the Digital Learning Team via dlsupport@falmouth.ac.uk. Alternatively, please refer to the numerous help guides found on our Knowledge Base. 


View the Accessibility Statement for all of our support guides.