DOCUMENT by: ESC Training
Subject: Terminology
Collapse Module. Use the Collapse Module link on the navigation bar to condense all the documents in the module into the sections headings so that only the section heading display.
Course Areas (links on the Course Map)
- Course Information Documents: contains the syllabus-type information.
- Learning Modules: contains course content and learning activities.
- Bulletin Board: where students can post and respond to questions about the Course Information documents as well as any nonacademic issues. Also where you should archive your old Newsflash announcements.
- Meet Your Classmates: where students and instructor introduce themselves with brief biographical information.
- Shared References: where students and instructor can post items to build a shared bibliography.
- Your Evaluations: allows students to see all of their evaluations.
- Private Folder: where each student can have a private conversation with the instructor.
Course Map. This is the main page of your course. From the Course Map, there are links to allow you to navigate to every section of your course, other resources on the SLN web site and on Empire State College's web site.
Course Information documents. These documents in the left column of the Course Area give general information about the course. Typically these would include a Welcome, Contact Information, the Course Objectives, Library Resources, and the Course Schedule. You also have other standard course information documents in your Empire State College course, such as student and instructor responsibility statements.
Document Page. Any course content page that contains text and or graphics.
Expand Module. The Expand Module link on the navigation bar allows you to see all the postings (documents) within that module.
Learning Modules. The Learning Modules contain the content and learning activities of your course. This is the area of your course where the actual teaching and learning take place. All your lessons, assignments and course discussions will take place in the modules. The learning modules are listed in the right-hand column of the course map.
Logout. A link on the Course Map that terminates your login to the course server. Use it for security.
Menu Page. A course page that contains a module menu with section headings and links to all module documents in outline form.
Menu Section/Module Section. See Section.
Modules. The learning in a course is chunked into Modules. A typical course will have from five to ten modules. Modules are subdivided into Sections to help students find their way around more easily.
Module Menu. A module menu is a list of the contents of a module.The module menu will include Section names and Document links. Access the module menu by clicking on the module name on the Course Map.
Navigation Bar. A set of links at the top and bottom of course pages that help you move to other pages in the course.
Sections. Modules are divided into sections. Each document within a module is placed into a section. In a well-organized course, the sections will appear in the same order in each module to give students a comfortable pattern. Typical Section headings in Empire State College courses might include: Module at a Glance, Mini Lectures, Written Assignments, Discussions and the Question Area. Some course modules may have additional sections or may have more than one section for assignments or discussion. The Section Headings appears in the module menu. When a module menu is collapsed, only the Module Name and Section Headings are displayed.
Twistie. 
or 
A twistie will expand or collapse postings to the level you desire. This is a useful navigation tool when you have a module with many documents. (Using twisties is discussed in more detail in the Module 4. Communicating with your Students.)
Text Only. View that allows users to navigate the SLN course using a non-graphical interface. The link for the Text Only view is in the upper left corner of the course map. The Text Only view might be used by visually impaired students who use screen readers, or by students with very slow internet access.
Open Professor Navigator. A link on the Course Map that provides the instructor with course management functions.
SLN. SUNY Learning Network is the organization that provides servers, accounts, and web space for Empire State College courses.
SLN Commons is the student home page. On the SLN Commons page, students see links to all of their on-line courses as well as links to the orientation and helpdesk.
SLN Faculty Center is the faculty home page. On this page, faculty see links to all of their on-line courses as well as links to teaching tips and other help and information items.
SLN HelpDesk link indicates a link to Help Desk information and question submission form.
Submissions from last 14 days is a link on the Course Map that lets you (and students) see the most recent postings, arranged by date. While you will see all postings, students will only see those they are allowed to see.
