CREATING LINKS USING THE ADD LINK TOOL

Transcription

1 CREATING LINKS USING THE ADD LINK TOOL In every Design window in your course, one of the options available to you is to create a link. When the student clicks the link, they will be taken to the item you have specified. This link tool enables you to easily create a link to a file or document, insert an image, link to a website, or link to another area in the course. For all links you wish to add, complete Steps 1 and 2 below. We will then explore the different types of links available to you through the Add Link tool. STEP 1: Position your cursor at the place where you wish to insert a hyperlink and then click the link icon on the toolbar: Click on the link icon on the toolbar. Place the cursor in the location you would like the link. The Add Link wizard will open. STEP 2: You will need to select the type of link you wish to add and then click the Go button: Select the Link Type Click the Go button. Link Type Link to a File or Document Insert an Image Link to a Website Explanation This will allow you to create a link to a file you upload to the ecollege File Manager. This option allows you to add an image to the Text area you are working in. This option allows you to create a hyperlink to any page on the Web

2 Link to Area in Course This option allows you to link to another section of your course to a threaded discussion or a quiz, for example Creating a hyperlink to a file STEP 3: After you select the Link to a File or Document option by clicking on it and then clicking the Go button, you will be presented with a new screen where you need to indicate whether you have already uploaded the file: Click Go. Click the correct button In this example, let s assume that you need to upload the file. STEP 4: You will now specify the Link Text, the location where you wish to upload the file, and the File Name.

3 The Link Text includes the words that will act as a link. In your course, they will appear in blue and underlined, like a typical Internet link, like this: Click here is a hyperlink. You can use any words you would like for your Link Text, as many or as few as you choose. The Folder for the File is the area in the ecollege File Manager where the file will be uploaded. You may create a new folder or you may just put all of your linked files in the main folder for your course. In the example above, the file will be placed in the main file folder for the course. Let s look a bit more closely at the Select File section. Click the Browse button. You will see the files on your hard drive. Normally, the wizard will open to you re my Documents folder, but you may need to navigate to the correct folder where the file you wish to upload is stored. Select the file by clicking on it:

4 Click the Open button to return to the Add Link wizard and then click the Add Link button at the bottom of the wizard. You may need to wait a few minutes, depending on the size of the file. When the file is processed, you will return to your original page and you will see the hyperlink. Make sure you Save Changes before proceeding! Switch to Course View and click the link: Your document will spawn in a new window. Note that students can also download this file by right-clicking the link and selecting Save target as from the menu provided.

5 Inserting an Image. Complete Steps 1 and 2 as above, but select the Insert an Image option. In Step 3, again, we will choose I need to upload the file. STEP 4: Select an Image file (gif or jpg) to insert: The link text will appear if the student s browser does not display images. Select a gif or jpg file to upload. The procedure is the same, but now you will be uploading an image file that will display in your content area. Remember to save your changes and then switch to course view to see the results: The image will be aligned with the bottom of your text so you may want to put it before or after all of the text in your text box.

6 Linking to a Website Follow Steps 1 and 2, but select the Link to a Website option: STEP 3: Provide the Link Text and the Website Address, as above. This is usually the text name of the website. One hint on web addresses. Open the page in a browser window, highlight the URL from the address line in your browser, and type ctrl-c to copy it. Switch to the Add Link screen and type Ctrl-V to paste the exact address. STEP 4: Click the Add Link button. The Link Text will appear in your content area. Remember to Save your Changes and then switch to Course View. When the student clicks on the hyperlink, the website spawns in a new window:

7 Linking to an Area in the Course Complete Steps 1 and 2, selecting Link to Area in Course during Step 2. STEP 3: You will see the Add Link wizard. You may link to either Course Content or Course Tools. STEP 4: If you select Course Content, a new option appears and you may select any Course Content area (any of the Main Items on the right Navigation Bar). Note that even if you changed the descriptive text on the Navigation bar, the Units will still appear as Unit 1, Unit 2, etc.: STEP 5: If you have sub-text in this area, the next screen will allow you to select the sub-area you wish to link to and to provide Link Text:

8 STEP 6: Click the Add Link button and the link will be added to your content area. Remember to save your changes. Switch to Course View and test your link. Unlike the other links, this link will not spawn a new window. It will open the content area that you have specified so that the student may view a lecture or take a quiz or whatever you have specified in the link. If you select Course Tools in Step 4, you may provide a link to any of the following Course Tools: Gradebook Chat DocSharing Dropbox Journal Webliography You may not link to a specific item in these areas. When the student clicks the link, they will see the standard page they would see if they clicked on the Toolbars at the top of the Course.