Creating collections

Creating and managing collections

Collections are the way to deliver flexible learning to users. We recommend using collections for content that students can use at their own pace. When collections are updated or new items added the changes show immediately for users (unlike assignments)

Collections can be shown

Setting up a collection

Head over to the Collections page using the main menu and Create a collection to start making one. Provide a title and descriptions, then save.

The short description will display beneath the collections title. The description will only display when the collection is in player view.

Player view

The image will display on the main collections menu along with the title. If this isn't set then the default image set on the portal settings page will be used. The image will also be used for the collection items unless otherwise specified.

Collection items

Now it's time to add items to your collection, using the Items option on the sub menu, the content types for collections are:

• Quizzes

• Notes

• Documents

• Videos

• Audio files

• Embed

• Zip files

Presentations need to be converted to pdfs and uploaded as documents, or you can use the embed option, see our guide on embedding presentations

Surveys, SCORM files, upload boxes and text entry are not supported in collections as these content types should be taken once & usually need to be reviewed. If you want to use these content types please consider using courses, see our doc below.

Course builder

You can choose to add an existing item from your Library or create a new item.

For new items you will be taken directly to the builder for that item type. Once you've created the item it will be available in the Library for use in other collections.

On the collection item menu you can set a custom title, label, description, short description and image which only apply when the item is viewed in this collection. Use custom labels for example if you have a Synap quiz you want to call 'Survey' or 'Practice' same for any other collection item.

You can also set whether users can access this item or just see it in the collection. For quizzes you can also toggle whether it can be added to a users study.

Collections and the Study

Advanced options

Advanced options provide additional options to manage collections, including locking items and setting an access schedule.

Access schedule and Locked item on a collection

Locked Collection items

Enablig the 'Locked' on a collection item will stop users being able to access the item, it will still show in both the card and player collection but it will be frozen and users cannot access it until it is unlocked. You can change 'Locked' to something else on the collection configure page by changing the custom restricted access label.

custom restricted access label

Access schedule

Set an access schedule on collection items to provide an open window the item can be accessed. A fixed date range can be used where a close window is required, once the close window is met the collection item will be restricted again for all users. Or an indefinite schedule means once the open window is met the item will remain accessible for all users. Note that items must be both unlocked and within their access schedule in order for them to be accessed by users. If an item is locked, its status will display as Locked regardless of the release schedule. If it is unlocked, but the access schedule has not opened, the access schedule open date will be displayed.

Access schedule

Organising

You can organise your content into folders to make it easier for users to find specific content and navigate the collection. Click the Create Folders button in the top right hand corner of the screen and select a title and image.

After you've added folders you will be on the Folder menu where you can reorder folders and move items into different folders. This is also where you can add more folders and edit existing folder titles / images (using the pencil icon).

To go back and add more items click on the red Collection button

Once you have folders you can add items directly into those folders using the Add item button under each folder. To return to managing folders click the Folders button in the top right hand corner

Try for yourself

Head over to https://universe.synap.ac or click here to get access to our demo platform with more examples of collections.