DOCUMENT by: ESC Training
Subject: Edit Course Map Adjuster page

The Edit Course Map Adjuster page, as the name implies, is used to edit the elements that are displayed on the Course Map. This tool is only available to the instructor and is linked from the top of the Course Map page as shown in the first image below:



This page consists of 5 main elements (noted in red in the image below), along with some other tools and links that you may or may not find useful:

1. Newsflash Text area: This is the area where you will regularly update your Newsflash text with current announcements, words of encouragement, etc. As always, make sure you keep announcements short and date each one. Old announcements should also be removed (cut-paste) from this page and placed into a Newsflash archive document in the Bulletin Board area. View the next document for details about adding or editing the Newsflash area.

2. Rich Text Editing toolbar: this is the shaded strip of icons above the Newsflash text box. It allows you to format the text in the box and includes functions for cut-paste, font size and color, bold, italics, indenting, bullet lists, and even creating rudimentary tables. The function of a specific icon within the toolbar will be displayed when you place your mouse over it.

3. Learning Module Access area (open/close modules): this area displays a list of all the learning modules in the course and below that a box of numbers with check boxes that correspond to each module. These check boxes give you the option to open or close access to the specific modules if needed (all modules are left open by default). Module numbers that have a check mark in the box to the right of them are open and available for students to access on the web. You simply click in the box once to place or remove a check mark. If you remove a check mark, then the students will not be able to access that closed module.

Empire State College does not normally recommend using this feature both because working adult learners sometimes need to work ahead or refer to past material, and also because when modules are closed, faculty often forget to reopen them (resulting in students unable to access learning material on schedule).

4. Course URL: this is the web address of the course. Use this yourself for bookmarking the page on your browser for easy access. This is also the URL you send to any student that gets permission to access your course after the official closing date (because SLN removes the course links from the Student Commons about two weeks after they end).

5. Save buttons: located at the top and the bottom of the page - simply click on one of these links to save your changes to the Course Map Adjuster and return to the Course Map page. If you try to leave this area without saving first you will receive a warning screen. The warning screen will explain that your changes have not yet been saved and give you a chance to change your mind so as to not lose them.





Other areas of the Course Map Adjuster:

• Link boxes on left side of page: this information is handled by SLN and the campus MID (Multimedia Instructional Designer) - you do not have to deal with this information at all.

• Links to Course Information and Class Community Areas (Meet Your Classmates, View Shared References and Bulletin Board): these links are here for your convenience and lead directly to the section of the course labeled.

• Display shared reference area: "Yes" is selected by default. If you do not want to use this area and want the link to it removed from the Course Map, click in the "No" radio button to disable it.

• Use private folders: The default is "Yes" and it is highly recommended that you do use the private folders area - it is the only tool in the course that allows private communication between you and each student.

• Use Course Calendar: The default here is "No." This option is not used by Empire State College and should not be changed. Note: this is separate and different than the standard Course Schedule page used within the Course Info area.