Required Reading
This chapter describes the Required Reading feature, which you use to post a list of recommended or required readings.
Key Concepts of the Required Reading Feature
The Required Reading feature lets you post a list of recommended or required readings for students, along with a URL to a page that lists more information about each reading—such as a link to an online bookstore or a library page.
In each instance of the Required Reading feature, you define sets, which are like topics or categories. Individual readings are posted within sets. For example, you might create sets that represent different topics, different authors, different units in the class or some other common element.
For each reading you can post a variety of information, including the item’s title, author, a URL, etc.
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By default, an instance of this feature is located on the Syllabus page of a course. You can create additional instances of the feature anywhere within your course context.
If you need help with adding a feature to a page, see the Add a Feature Instance to a Page section.
The section describes a few features of the Required Reading feature that your students—and you—will use when navigating the feature, as well as few other basics.
The main page of the feature displays the name and description of each set, along with each set’s individual readings. In this view, each listing shows whether or not the reading is required.
If you maximize the feature, you can expand (Show) or collapse (Hide) the list of readings associated with each set. In this view, the listing for each reading shows additional details, such as the author and the number of pages.
As noted in Default View vs. Maximized View, the default view shows some details on the initial view of the feature, and more are displayed after the feature is maximized.
You can display all details about the reading by clicking the name of the reading. In response the system displays the Required Reading – View Reading Details screen, which lists all the details that were entered when the reading was created.
While using the Required Reading feature, you can adjust your own personal view of the feature instance using any of the following procedures:
Ordering readings alphabetically
Ordering sets alphabetically
Displaying empty sets
Note that students and any other users of the feature can also adjust their view using these procedures. For this reason, bear in mind that whenever you create a specific order for either readings or sets, students will not necessarily see that sequence.
If appropriate, you can have the system display readings alphabetically within each set.
When readings are ordered alphabetically, the system ignores any sequence that may have been specified when you (or another authorized user) configured each set, as described in Working with Sets.
Navigate to the page that contains the Required Reading feature instance.
Click the wrench icon in the upper-right corner of the page.
The admin bar displays.
Click the Preferences link in the admin bar.
The system displays the Preferences screen.
Select the Required Reading feature from the drop-down list.
Select the checkbox labeled Order Readings Alphabetically.
The system now orders all readings alphabetically (within your personal view).
If appropriate, you can have the system display sets alphabetically within the feature instance. When sets are ordered alphabetically, the system ignores any sequence that you (or another authorized user) might have previously specified, as described in Order Sets.
Navigate to the page that contains the Required Reading feature instance.
Click the wrench icon in the upper-right corner of the page.
The admin bar displays.
Click the Preferences link in the admin bar.
The system displays the Preferences screen.
Select the Required Reading feature from the drop-down list.
Select the Order Sets Alphabetically checkbox.
The system now orders all set alphabetically (within your personal view).
By default, the system does not display sets that contain no readings. However, you can choose to display them in your view of the feature.
Navigate to the page that contains the Required Reading feature instance.
Click the wrench icon in the upper-right corner of the page.
The admin bar displays.
Click the Preferences link in the admin bar.
The system displays the Preferences screen.
Select the Required Reading feature from the drop-down list.
Select the Show Empty Sets checkbox to display sets for which no readings are available. If this preference is not selected, the default Ungrouped set does not display.
The system now orders all set alphabetically (within your personal view)