Creating Activity Templates

Building a Reusable Activity Template

A template is not tied to a single workflow. Build a template once, choosing the same components you use today—such as text fields, file uploads, rubrics, and reference material—and reuse it across any workflow when you create an activity.

To Create a Template

1. Go to the “Activities” side menu, open the “Activity Templates” tab, and select “Create Template” to open the Create Activity Template dialog.
2. Enter a name for your template in the “Template Name” field (up to 90 characters).
3. Check “This is a GoReact Template” if you are building a GoReact template to start with standard GoReact fields.
4. Select “Create Template” in the dialog to continue to the component selection page.

5. Select the components you want to include. The Assessment Panel on the right starts empty until you add scoring or rubric components. See below for more information on editing templates.

6. Select “Save” to store your template as a draft (visible only to you until assigned to an organization), or select the dropdown arrow next to “Save” and choose “Save to organization” to assign it directly to an organization.

Note: The standalone “My Templates” side menu is no longer available. Saving a template without assigning it to an organization keeps it private to you, appearing in your Activity Templates list with options to transfer it to any node.

Managing Your Templates

From the Activity Templates list, each template’s action menu offers the following options:

• Edit – Update the template’s components.
• Save to organization – Assign a draft template to an organization.
• Copy – Create an independent duplicate to use as a starting point.
• Move to Hierarchy Node – Relocate a template to a different organization or node you manage.
• Archive – Retire a template you no longer use.
• Transfer – Send an unaffiliated template to another organization for an administrator to accept or reject.
• Preview – View the template’s components in a read-only layout.

The Template Page

The Banner Menu

• The Content tab: This tab provides tools for constructing a template.
• The Choose Theme tab: This tab allows you to change the template’s look.
• 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 students. Students cannot edit or delete these components.

• Title: Text box with large type.
• Text: Text box with small type.
• Multimedia: Allows you to include an image or embedded YouTube video.
• Attachment: Allows you to include external files for download.

Input Components

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

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

Question Components

Question components allow the template to ask questions 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 drop-down menu. Students must choose only one answer.

Reference Components

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

• ePortfolio Reference: Allows the student to insert a link to an ePortfolio they have created.
• Gallery: Allows the student to insert an entry from their Timeline (such as a past activity they submitted) and presents the entry as a “card.”
• Timeline: Allows the student to insert an entry from their 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

• Scoring: Provides a scoring box with a max number of points assigned.
• Rubric: Adds a rubric from your My Rubrics tab.

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.

   

Delete Template Sections

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

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 pop-up, such as giving the component a label or making it optional, and click the pop-up’s Save button.

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? pop-up, click Delete.

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 provides space for adding a rubric, scoring box, and feedback text box to a template. Placing these items in the assessment panel area establishes a visual separation between submitted work and assessment tools during the assessment process.

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 pop-up and click the pop-up’s Save button.

Save 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.