The Template Tab

The Template tab is used to create, edit, and view templates associated with a tier. Templates can be created for Activities, ePortfolios, or Section Homepages.

Activity Templates

An activity template is a customizable, interactive document that defines the requirements of a submission. A template acts as a container, providing a single document in which a student can enter text and images, respond to questions and tasks, attach files, and create links to their Timeline or ePortfolio. It also includes any rubrics that will be used for assessment or grading. To be submitted and/or assessed, templates are included in activities. Every template has a specific type of workflow. The workflow type defines how and by whom the template will be submitted and assessed.

Activity Workflow types include:

Standard Workflow – Students complete and submit a template and the template is assessed by an instructor.

Peer Review Workflow – Students complete and submit a template. The template is then randomly assigned for assessment to another student or peer. After peer assessment, the template is assessed by an instructor.

Assisted Assessment Workflow – Students complete and submit a template. The template is then assessed by a third party assessor or coordinator. After coordinator assessment, the template is assessed by an instructor.

Form Submission Workflow – Students complete and submit a template. The assessment step is skipped, and the data from the student submission is available for reporting. (forms, surveys, etc.)

Observational Assessment Workflow – The submission step is skipped, and the template is assessed by an instructor.. (oral presentations, dispositions, etc.)

Internship Workflow – Students complete and submit a template and the template is assessed by a supervisor and/or mentor.

Internship Observational Workflow – The submission step is skipped, and the template is assessed by a supervisor and/or mentor.

Internship Form Workflow – Students complete and submit a template. The assessment step is skipped, and the data from the student submission is available for reporting.

ePortfolio Templates

Click here for more information creating and managing ePortfolio Templates

Section Homepage Templates

Section Homepage – This special template type is not used for submission or assessment. Rather, it is intended to provide information and resources about a section to all of the students. Unlike the other types of templates, the Homepage template is tied directly to a section.

Click here for more information on Section Homepage templates

To Create a Template:

     1. Click the Hierarchy button located at the top of the page.
     2. On the right side of the page, click the Template tab.
     3. Highlight the tier in which the template will be added. To highlight the tier, click on it.
     4. Click the Create Template button.



5. Choose the type of template you want to create.

6. In the Title text field, type in a title for the template.

7. Choose a template workflow or add a description if applicable.

8. Click the Create button.


The Template Page

The process of building a template takes place on the template page. The template page is divided into four main sections: the banner menu area, the component area, the page layout area, and the assessment panel.




The Banner Menu

The banner menu has four tabs, each of which effects the template as a whole.

• The Content tab: This tab provides tools for the construction of a template.
• The Choose Theme tab: This tab allows the template’s look to be changed.
• The Settings tab: This tab provides settings for changing visibility to students, and converting the template to an ePortfolio.
• The Preview tab: This tab displays the template as it will appear to students.

The Component Area

The component area provides several different tools, or components, that can be added to the content area of a template. Each component has different capabilities.

Resource Components:

Resource components are tools for giving or displaying resources to student of the template. Students cannot edit or delete these components.

• Title: Text box with large type
• Text: Text box with small type
• Multimedia: Include an image or embedded YouTube video
• Attachment: Include external files for download

Input Components:

Input components are tools provided to students for putting their own content into the template.

• Text Area: Text box in which students can type
• File Upload: Provides the ability to attach external files
• Rich: Text box in which students can type, insert images or web links, and use formatting tools such as text alignment and color
• YouTube: URL (web address) text field for students to include a video from YouTube into an embedded player

Question Components:

Question components allow the template to ask questions of the student, and provide various
methods for selecting answers.

• Radio Button: Students answer a multiple choice question by selecting a circular button next to the answer. Students must choose only one answer.

• Checkbox: Students answer a multiple choice question by selecting a checkbox next to an answer. Students can choose more than one answer.
• Dropdown: Students answer a multiple choice question by selecting the answer from a dropdown menu. Students must choose only one answer.


Reference Components:

Reference components allow students to include information contained within their SL&L accounts.

• Portfolio Reference: Inserts an event from from the student’s portfolio
• Gallery: Inserts an entry from the student’s Timeline, and presents the entry as a “card.”
• Timeline: Inserts an entry from the student’s Timeline, and presents the entry with a date stamp.
• My Info: Inserts a pre-made widget containing the student’s information, such as name, gender, and email address, as well as the student’s avatar picture.

Assessment Components:

Assessment components provide tools for completing an assessment. Although assessment is typically performed ON a student or BY an instructor, these components can optionally be assigned to any role in a section.

• Scoring: Provides a scoring box, with a max number of points assigned.
• Rubric: Adds a rubric from the rubric list (rubrics are listed on the Rubrics tab of the instructors' landing page)

The Content Area

The content area of the template page consists of page sections, which can be added and deleted to control the look of the template. Then, components are added to the sections. Sections can be added in several pre-made layouts.

To add template sections:

     1. Click on a section below which new sections will be added. A selected section will have a purple outline around it.
     2. Click on the purple add sections button.



     3. Click on a new section layout to add sections.



To delete template sections:

     1. Click on a section to be deleted.
     2. Click the delete section button (trash can icon).



To add components to a template section:

     1. Click a section to which a component will be added.
     2. Click on the component to be added.
     3. If necessary, complete the component details popup, such as giving the component a label or whether or not it is optional, and click the popup’s Save button.

To delete a component from a template section:

     1. Hover over the component to be deleted.
     2. Click the delete button (trash can icon).
     3. In the Are you sure? popup, click Delete.



To move a component to a different location:

     1. Hover over the component to be moved.
     2. Click and hold on the move button (crosshair icon).
     3. While holding, drag the component to the new location.



The Assessment Panel

The assessment panel area of the template page provides space for adding a rubric, scoring box, and feedback text box to a template. Like the Scoring and Rubric components, placing these items in the assessment panel area establishes a visual separation between submitted work and assessment tools during the assessment process.

To add rubrics, a scoring box, or feedback box to the assessment panel:

     1. In the assessment panel area, click the add assessment component button (3 vertical dots).
     2. Click Rubric, Scoring, or Feedback from the menu.



3. Complete the item details popup, and click the popup’s Save button.

Saving a Completed Template

While building a template, SL&L automatically saves progress once every minute. However, the template can be saved at any time by clicking the SAVE button on the template page.



To edit an existing template:

     1. Click the “Hierarchy” button located at the top of the page.
     2. On the right side of the page, click the Template tab.
     3. Highlight the tier in which the template is located. To highlight the tier, click on it.
     4. In the template list, click the title of the template that will be edited.
     5. Edit the template.
     6. Click the Save button.


Adding Templates to Course
When templates are added to a Course, those templates become available for use by any Instructor that owns a section in the Course.

To add templates to a course:

     1. Click the Hierarchy button located at the top of the page.
     2. On the right side of the page, click the Course tab.
     3. Highlight the tier in which the course is located. To highlight the tier, click on it.
     4. In the course list, click the title of the course to which sections will be added.



     5. At the top of the page, click the Templates tab.



     6. Click the Insert Template button.
     7. Click the checkbox for each template that will be added to the course.
     8. When finished adding, click the Save button.