Introductory notes

Introduction Creating an ILIAS learning module

With the help of the ILIAS learning module, you can provide your learners with all internet-enabled content in a self-contained unit. Beyond the general possibilities of the ILIAS editor, the ILIAS learning module offers the following content-related possibilities:

  • Outlines with chapters and pages
  • Automatically generated user guidance elements (table of contents, browse function, print and download view)
  • Questions

In an ILIAS learning module, a distinction is made between the presentation and editing modes. After creating the learning module, you immediately enter its editing mode (i.e., the author's/lecturer's view).

Entering the editing mode

You want to open the editing mode of the learning module. There you can, for example, create chapters and pages, create questions, and make the settings for the learning module.

  1. Click on the title of the ILIAS learning module you are editing.
  2. ILIAS opens the learning module in the presentation view.
  3. Click the Edit page link below the title.
  4. ILIAS opens the edit mode of the page you are currently on.
  5. Click on the Learning module tab.
  6. ILIAS opens the editing mode of the learning module in the Content tab.

Tabs in the editing mode of the ILIAS learning module

Here is an overview of the purposes of the individual tabs of an ILIAS learning module in edit mode. The functionality of each tab is explained in detail in the following chapters.

  • Info: The tab "Info" names the title of the ILIAS learning module, and also contains the permalink, which leads directly to the object and - unlike the dynamic link in the address bar - always remains the same.
  • Settings: In the "Settings" tab, you define how the entire ILIAS learning module should be presented. You can include glossaries and determine the style in which the content is presented.
  • Questions: In this tab, you get an overview of all questions. You can easily check if the content is tested appropriately and balanced with questions.
  • Learning Progress: This tab displays the learning progress that users have made in the learning module. Metadata: In the "Metadata" tab, you store description data for the learning module, such as the author and license. Here you can also change the title.
  • Export: In the "Export" tab, you can export and download the ILIAS learning module in various formats. Rights: In the "Rights" tab, you can view and change the current distribution of access rights and check how a specific person has access rights to this ILIAS learning module.

Create outline

Inserting a new chapter

You want to add a new chapter to the outline.

  1. Open the edit mode of the learning module.
  2. Click on the link Chapter below the tab Content.
  3. ILIAS opens the chapter overview.    
    Note: Immediately after creating the learning module, you will automatically be taken to the chapter overview. In a new learning module ILIAS already creates a chapter.
  4. Click on the hatched bar above or below an already existing chapter.
  5. ILIAS opens the selection menu Insert chapter.
  6. Select the number corresponding to the number of chapters you want to insert.
  7. ILIAS creates the chapters.
  8. In the New Chapter input field, enter the titles you want your chapters to have.
  9. Click on the button Save title.
  10. ILIAS takes over your entries.

Insert a new page or subchapter.

You want to add a new page or subchapter to the outline.

  1. Open the editing mode of the learning module.
  2. Click on the link Chapters below the tab Contents.
  3. ILIAS opens the chapter overview.
  4. Click the Edit link next to the chapter to which you want to add a page too.
  5. ILIAS opens the Subchapters and Pages tab.
  6. Click on the shaded bar.
  7. ILIAS opens the Insert Page/Insert Chapter drop-down menu.
  8. Select the number corresponding to the number of pages or subchapters you want to insert.
  9. ILIAS creates the pages or the subchapters.
  10. Enter the titles you want for your pages or chapters in the New page/New chapter input field.
  11. Click on the button Save title.
  12. ILIAS will accept your entries.

Move a chapter or page within a chapter level.

You want to move a chapter or a page of an ILIAS learning module to another position within a chapter level. The chapter or page will then only be visible at the new location.

  1. Open the edit mode of the learning module.
  2. In the outline, navigate to the chapter level where you want to move a (sub)chapter or page.
  3. Move the chapter or page via drag & drop: Click on the icon of the desired chapter/page and drag it to the striped bar behind which it should be reordered.
  4. ILIAS will apply your change.

Move a chapter or page beyond the chapter level.

You want to move a chapter or page of an ILIAS learning module to another chapter or learning module. The chapter or page will only be visible at the new location afterward.

  1. Open the edit mode of the learning module.
  2. In the outline, navigate to the chapter level where the (sub)chapter or page you want to move is located.
  3. Select the checkbox next to the title of the chapter/page you want to move.
  4. Click on the Cut button.
  5. ILIAS moves the selected chapter/page to the clipboard and reports: "The selected elements have been moved to the clipboard. Now click the corresponding placeholder to paste them into the learning module."
  6. Navigate to the location where you want to paste the chapter/page.
  7. Click on the shaded bar behind which you want to insert the chapter/page.
  8. ILIAS opens a selection menu.
  9. Select the entry Insert chapter/page from the clipboard.
  10. ILIAS will apply your change.

Copy the chapter or page.

You want to copy a chapter or a page to another place. The chapters/pages will then exist independently at the old and the new location. Chapters and pages can be copied within a learning module or into another learning module.

  1. Open the edit mode of the learning module.
  2. In the outline, navigate to the chapter level where the (sub)chapter or page you want to copy is located.
  3. Select the title of the chapter/page in the corresponding checkbox.
  4. Click on the Copy button.
  5. ILIAS copies the selected chapter/page to the clipboard and reports: "The selected elements have been copied to the clipboard. Now click the corresponding placeholder to paste them into the learning module."
  6. Navigate to the location where you want to copy the chapter/page.
  7. Click on the shaded bar behind which the chapter/page will be copied.
  8. ILIAS opens a selection menu.
  9. Select the entry Paste chapter/page from the clipboard.
  10. ILIAS will apply your change.

Delete a chapter or page.

You want to delete a chapter or a page of an ILIAS learning module.

  1. Open the edit mode of the learning module.
  2. In the outline, navigate to the chapter level where the (sub)chapter or page you want to delete is located.
  3. Activate the checkbox next to the title of the chapter/page you want to delete.    
    Note: You can also delete several chapters or pages at once. In this case, check the checkboxes of all the items you want to delete.
  4. Click on the Delete button.
  5. ILIAS opens a new view and asks: "Are you sure that the following items should be deleted".
  6. Click on the Confirm button.
  7. ILIAS reports: "Object(s) deleted".

De-/activate page

You want to deactivate a page without taking it out of the outline. A deactivated page is not displayed in the presentation view. You can reactivate the page at a later time.

  1. Open the edit mode of the learning module.
  2. In the outline, navigate to the chapter level where the page you want to deactivate is located.
  3. Select the checkbox next to the title of the page you want to disable.
    Note: you can also deactivate several pages at once by checking several checkboxes.
  4. Click the (de)activate button.
  5. In edit mode, ILIAS displays deactivated pages highlighted in color.
    Note: To reactivate the page, activate the checkbox and click the (De-)Activate button.

Move page elements to new page/split page

You want to move a part of a page that is too large to a new page. The additional page will be created automatically by ILIAS and inserted behind the original page.

Note: You cannot undo the moving of page elements.

  1. Open the edit mode of the learning module.
  2. Navigate to the page you want to split.
  3. Click on the topmost of the page elements you want to move.
  4. ILIAS opens a selection menu.
  5. Select the Split page entry.
  6. ILIAS creates a new page and moves the page element(s) to it. The new page will have the same title as the original page.
    Note: To change the title, click the chapter with the new page in the outline in the left column, enter a new title, and click the Save Title button.

Moving page elements to the next page

You want to move a part of a page that is too large to the next existing page.

Note: You cannot undo moving page elements.

  1. Open the edit mode of the learning module.
  2. Navigate to the page you want to split.
  3. Click on the topmost of the page elements you want to move.
  4. ILIAS opens a selection menu.
  5. Select the Move to next page entry.
    Note: The entry Move to the next page is only displayed if the next page exists. It can be located in a new chapter.
  6. ILIAS moves the page elements to the next page.

Free pages

Introduction Free pages

A free page is not placed in the outline chapters or visible in the presentation. They can be made available to the learner via a link.
Free pages can also be used as headers or footers. This setting then applies to the entire learning module. Different headers and footers for different chapters cannot be set up.

Note: You can assign Free Pages to a chapter in the outline by moving them afterward.

Create free page

You want to create a page not assigned to a chapter in the outline.

  1. Open the editing mode of the learning module.
  2. Click the All pages link.
    Note: If you are still somewhere in the outline, first click on the title of the ILIAS learning module.
  3. ILIAS shows an overview of all pages of the learning module created so far.
  4. Click on the button Create page.
  5. Enter the title and, optionally, a description for the new page in the corresponding text input fields.
  6. Click on the button Create page.
  7. ILIAS creates the page and opens the All Pages view.
    Note: You can recognize free pages in the All Pages overview because no chapter name but "--" is displayed in the Use column.

Moving a free page into the outline

You want to assign a free page to a chapter in the outline afterward.

  1. Open the editing mode of the learning module.
  2. Click on the link All pages.
  3. ILIAS shows an overview of all pages of the learning module created so far.
  4. Activate the checkbox next to the title of the free page you want to move into the outline.    
    Note: You can recognize free pages because no chapter name but "--" is displayed in the Use column.
  5. Open the drop-down menu above or below the table and select the Move entry.
  6. Click on the Execute button.
  7. ILIAS moves the page to the clipboard and reports: "The selected elements have been moved to the clipboard. Now click the corresponding placeholder to paste them into the learning module."
  8. In the outline on the left, navigate to the chapter where you want to paste the free page.
  9. Click on the shaded bar behind which the free page is to be inserted.
  10. ILIAS opens a selection menu.
  11. Select the entry Insert page from the clipboard.
  12. ILIAS accepts your change.

Delete free page

You want to delete a free page.

  1. Open the edit mode of the learning module.
  2. Click on the link All pages.
  3. ILIAS shows an overview of all pages of the learning module created so far.
  4. Activate the checkbox next to the title of the free page you want to delete.    
    Note: You can recognize free pages because no chapter name but "--" is displayed in the Use column.
  5. Open the drop-down menu above or below the table and select the Delete entry.
  6. Click on the Execute button.
  7. ILIAS opens a new view and asks: "Are you sure that the following objects should be deleted".
  8. Click on the Confirm button.
  9. ILIAS reports: "Object(s) deleted".

Copy free page

You want to copy a free page to another location. The pages then exist independently at the old and the new location.

  1. Open the edit mode of the learning module.
  2. Click on the link All pages.
  3. ILIAS shows an overview of all pages of the learning module created so far.
  4. Activate the checkbox next to the title of the free page you want to copy.    
    Note: You can recognize free pages because no chapter name but "--" is displayed in the Use column.
  5. Open the selection menu above or below the table and select the Copy entry.
  6. Click on the Execute button.
  7. ILIAS copies the selected free page to the clipboard and reports: "The selected elements have been copied to the clipboard. Now click the corresponding placeholder to paste them into the learning module."
  8. Navigate to the location in the outline on the left where you want to copy the free page.
  9. Click on the shaded bar behind which you want to copy the page.
  10. ILIAS opens a selection menu.
  11. Select the entry Paste page from the clipboard.
  12. ILIAS will apply your change.

Use free page as a header or footer.

You want to use a free page as a header or footer for all other pages of the learning module.

Note: A free page can only be a header or footer. It is not possible to create different headers or footers for different chapters.

  1. Open the editing mode of the learning module.
  2. Click on the link All pages.
  3. ILIAS shows an overview of all pages of the learning module created so far.
  4. Activate the checkbox next to the title of the free page you want to define as a header or footer.    
    Note: You can recognize free pages because no chapter name but "--" is displayed in the Use column.
  5. Open the selection menu above or below the table and select the entry Select as a header or Select as a footer.
  6. Click on the Execute button.
  7. ILIAS marks the free page in the Use column as a header or footer. In the presentation view, you will see the selected page as the header or footer of all pages.

Note: To delete the assignment as header or footer again, use the selection menu and select the entry Select as a header or Select as footer again.

Converting a page to a free page afterward

You want to convert a page included in the outline into a free page (again). To do this, cut the page, but do not paste it at a different location.

  1. Open the edit mode of the learning module.
  2. In the outline, navigate to the chapter level where the page you want to define as a free page is located.
  3. Activate the checkbox next to the title of the page.
  4. Click on the Cut button.
  5. ILIAS moves the selected chapter/page to the clipboard and reports: "The selected elements have been moved to the clipboard. Now click on the corresponding placeholder to paste them into the learning module."
  6. ILIAS converts the page into a free page.

Note: To navigate the free page, click the Learning Module tab and the All Pages link. ILIAS does not display a chapter name in the Use column for free pages, but instead "--".

Further Functions Content Tab

HTML Export IDs

Assign export IDs to pages

With the help of HTML IDs, the pages of an ILIAS learning module can be recognized by external systems and assigned to processes. Each HTML ID can only be used once within a learning module. If the ID you entered already exists, the ID value will not be accepted, and the Export ID field will remain empty. Consequently, the page can no longer be assigned.

Note: Export IDs can only use the following letters: a-z, A-Z, 0-9, '_'. The ID must not start with a number. Please check and correct your entry.

All internal links integrated into an ILIAS learning module, no matter if they refer to the same or another learning module, to a media object, or a completely different object in ILIAS, will be displayed centrally in the learning module.

Precondition: You are in the edit mode of the ILIAS learning module.

  1. Call up the Content tab of the ILIAS learning module.
  2. Switch to the sub-tab Internal links.
  3. ILIAS shows you a list of all internal links.

The listing is organized by pages. Each of the pages can be accessed from here. For each internal link, the link type is indicated.

Links you insert into an ILIAS learning module can be checked for validity by a separate function, "Check external links," in the header of the editing mode.
Precondition: You are in the edit mode of the ILIAS learning module.

  1. Call the tab Contents of the ILIAS learning module.
  2. Use the sub-tab to switch to the view "Check external links".
  3. ILIAS shows you the latest status of invalid links in this learning module.

By clicking on Edit in the Actions menu, you can call up the page where an invalid link is located and correct the error.

History

Viewing learning module history and accessing changes

The history allows you to view all changes in the ILIAS learning module. If a user with the appropriate permission edits something in the ILIAS learning module, this is recorded in the history. This way, you can track by whom, when, and what has been changed.
ILIAS shows you

  • the user who made the change
  • the date of the change,
  • and the action, what was changed.

Maintenance

Removing empty pages in the chapter structure

You have created an ILIAS learning module. Your chapter structure contains empty pages that you did not create.

  1. Open the Maintenance sub-tab.
  2. Click the Repair Structure button.
  3. ILIAS repairs the chapter structure and removes the empty pages.

Subtitle Media Objects

Introduction

It is possible in ILIAS to add subtitles to the video in the .mp4 format. The subtitles must be in the form of .srt format files.
Within ILIAS learning modules, you can also centrally provide and manage the subtitles of all included videos.
So you can upload all .srt files at once.
ILIAS automatically recognizes

  • which .srt file is intended for which video, as long as you keep the file titles of the .srt files identical to those of the video files (e.g. the .srt file for a video file named "video-1.mp4" would then have to be named "video-1.srt").
  • which .srt file is intended for which user language, provided that you add an appendix with an underscore and an ISO-639-1 language abbreviation to the file titles before the format extension (e.g. "video-1_en.srt").

Before the final upload, you will be shown an overview of which file has been recognized by ILIAS for which video and language.

Note: The .srt files must be packed in a .zip file.
However, this should not contain any subfolders!

Upload subtitle file

You want to add a subtitle to a video. You have the corresponding .srt file available and have already packed it into a .zip file.
Prerequisite: You are in the edit mode of the ILIAS learning module. You have opened the Subtitle Media Objects sub-tab in the Content tab.

  1. Click on the Select file button.
  2. Now select the prepared .zip file from your local computer and click Open.
  3. Then click on the Upload button.

ILIAS shows in a tabular display which of the included .srt files it has recognized for which language and video.

  • If you consider the assignment correct, click "Save" when you finish.
  • If the assignment is not correct, assign the srt. files manually and finally click "Save".

Import

Import translation file

You have exported the ILIAS learning module for translation to another ILIAS installation. Now you want to import the translated export file again.

Prerequisite: You can access the export file.

  1. Open the Import sub-tab.
  2. Click on the Select file button.
  3. Select the file from your local computer and click Open.
  4. Then specify the target language.
  5. Click on the Import button.
  6. ILIAS imports the translated file.

General settings

Settings

In the sub-tab Settings, you can define the basic settings of the ILIAS learning module. You can adapt the respective settings to your desired learning module.
To enable or disable an option, activate or deactivate the corresponding radio button or checkbox. Afterward, click on the Save button so that ILIAS applies your settings.

You can make the following settings:

  • Learning module settings, here, you can rename the ILIAS learning module and add a description.
  • Availability, define whether the learning module is online or not.
  • Presentation, configure the presentation of the ILIAS learning module
  • Self-tests, make the settings of the self-test
  • Additional functions, here, you can manage the comment function and activate or deactivate the assessment of the ILIAS learning module.

Edit Menu Items

Introduction

You can change the menu's settings in the presentation view via the Menu sub-tab. ILIAS offers the following setting options.

  1. Via the checkbox Activate menu, you can deactivate the tab navigation in the presentation view. As soon as you deactivate the checkbox, no more tabs will be displayed in the presentation view.
  2. You can activate or deactivate the menu item Table of Contents via the checkbox Table of Contents.

    If you do not need a print view of the individual pages of the learning module, deactivate the checkbox Print view. If you leave the checkbox activated, you can additionally configure the following settings of the print view via the corresponding checkboxes:
    - No display of the glossary appendix in the print view.
    - Hide the header and footer in the printout.
  3. Use the Download checkbox to create the Download menu item. This menu item allows users to download an export file you provide.

Add menu item

You want to add a new menu item. This menu entry can refer to another page in the learning module and an external page.
Prerequisite: You are in the edit mode of the ILIAS learning module.

  1. Click the Add menu entry button.
  2. Give the menu entry a title.
  3. To define the target of the menu entry, you have the following options
    - Under Target, enter the URL of the target.
    - Click on the button Select internal object if you want to refer to an ILIAS-internal object with the menu entry.
  4. Then click on Save.
  5. ILIAS creates a new menu entry.

The created menu item now appears in the tab bar in the presentation view.

Create download tab

You want to make a download available to your participants. The participants can download the file via the Download menu item.
Prerequisite: You are in the edit mode of the ILIAS learning module.

  1. In the Menu section, activate the Download checkbox.
  2. Decide whether the file should be available for non-logged-in users by leaving the checkbox Allow downloading for non-logged-in users activated or deactivating it.
  3. Then click on Save.
  4. ILIAS creates the menu entry Download

The created menu entry now appears in the tab bar in the presentation view.

You want to store a file for download.

  1. Click the Change link in the Menu section under Download. The link is located in the description of the Download checkbox.
  2. ILIAS reloads the page.
  3. Then follow the following help entry: Create an export file.

Public Area

Introduction

The Public Area tab allows you to determine whether non-logged-in users can access the learning module.
You can grant access rights for the whole learning module or only for the pages you have selected.

Access rights

You want to grant access rights to users who are not logged in.

  1. Choose between the following options in the drop-down menu Access rights for non-logged-in users:
     for the whole learning module
     only for the pages selected below
  2. Then click on Save.
  3. ILIAS will apply the settings you have made.

If you want to allow access only to selected pages, continue as follows:

  1. After you have saved the selection for the pages selected below, ILIAS will show you the table of contents of the learning module.
  2. Activate the checkboxes in front of the pages or chapters for which you want to approve the access of unregistered users.
  3. Click on Save.
  4. ILIAS will apply your settings. Unregistered users will now have access to the selected pages.

Linking ILIAS learning module automatically to a glossary

Introduction Linking to a glossary

You want to link terms from the learning module to a glossary where the terms are explained. You can link single terms or let ILIAS search the learning module and automatically create links to all terms the glossary contains.

The learner is presented with the terms as links, and on click, the glossary entry is opened in a window adapted to the scope of the definition. Glossary entries can contain text, images, videos, or files. In this way, you can keep the text of your ILIAS learning module 'lean' while providing learners with more in-depth or introductory information.

Notes:

  • Only terms that are present in the glossary at the current time will be linked. If terms are added to the glossary later, there will be no automatic synchronization. To link a new glossary term, you must either resave the text paragraph or unlink it from it and reestablish it.
  • Each occurrence of the term automatically becomes a link. For terms that occur frequently, this can affect the typeface and readability of a text.

Creating and embedding a new glossary

You want to create a new glossary and integrate it into the ILIAS learning module.

  1. Click on the Create new glossary button in the Settings tab.
  2. ILIAS presents a field where you can enter a title and description.
  3. Enter a title and click Save.
  4. ILIAS will show you the Settings tab again. The glossary has been linked and entered.
  5. ILIAS has placed the glossary in the same container object as the ILIAS learning module. Here you can also add terms, text and media.

Note: To unassign the glossary, please click the Unassign Glossary button.

Integrating an existing glossary

You want to include an existing glossary.

  1. Click on the Assign glossary button in the Settings tab.
  2. ILIAS opens the tree of the repository.
  3. Select the glossary in the tree you want to link by clicking on its title.
  4. ILIAS shows you the Settings tab again. The glossary has been linked and is entered.

Note: To unassign it, click the Unassign Glossary button.

Questions

Statistics of questions used in the learning module

You have inserted questions into your ILIAS learning module and would like to have an evaluation of the answers displayed. In the sub-tab Statistics, all inserted questions will be displayed, and you will get the following information:

  • Page: the name of the page on which the question is located.
  • Question: the wording of the question
  • User answers: the number of user answers
  • First answer correct: the number of users who answered the question correctly on their first attempt
  • Second: the number of users who answered the question correctly on their second attempt
  • Third or later: the number of users who answered the question correctly on their third attempt or later
  • Never: the number of users who never answered the question correctly

Locked users

You have added questions to your ILIAS learning module and set a maximum number of attempts.  In the sub-tab Locked Users, you will see all users who have exceeded the maximum number of attempts and have been locked automatically.

ILIAS displays the locked users in a list view. You can see the user, the question, the title of the page, the last attempt, and in the column Unlocked, the user's current status.

Using the selection menu above or below the list, you have the following options:

  • Send mail.
  • Reset the number of reply attempts. Reset individual answer attempts. The user can answer the question again according to the number of attempts you reset.
  • Unblock / Allow to continue. The user can answer the question again. All answer attempts are available to him.