Free-Form Content
You can use the Free-Form Content feature to publish text, images, and other content that might be useful to members of the portal community.
Key Concepts
The Free-Form Content feature is used to display text, images, video, or content hosted by another URL.
Content You Can Add
There are a few different types of content that you can add to a Free-Form Content feature.
Elements
If you want to add text or images to a Free-Form Content feature instance, you create an element. You might also create an element if you want to embed a video into the feature instance.
Remote Content
The Free-Form Content feature can be used to host remote content. With this feature, the feature essentially acts as a window into another URL. With this feature, as with elements, you can set up the feature instance to host video.
Your ability to add remote content varies depending on whether you have the Can Add Remote Content global feature operation. You will know you have this permission if you see, within the Free-Form Content feature, a link labeled Show external remote content.
If you do not have this permission and you think that you should, speak with an administrator for your portal.
Uploading Files from the Web Server
The Free-Form Content feature can be used to display the content of HTML and text files stored on the web server.
Your ability to add remote content varies depending on whether you have the Can Upload Content from Server File global permission. You will know you have this permission if you see, within the Free-Form Content feature, a link labeled Load from Server File.
If you do not have this permission and you think that you should, speak with an administrator for your portal.
Default Locations
By default, the portal includes several Free-Form Content feature instances. The following are a few that you will have permission to help manage:
By default, you course context includes two instances of the Free-Form Content feature—one called “About this Course” and another called “Course Syllabus.”
If you manage a Campus Group, the context for your group is created with a Free-Form Content feature instance on its default page.
If desired, you may be able to create additional instances. If you need help with adding a feature to a page, refer to the Add a Feature Instance to a Page section.
Course Syllabus
The “Course Syllabus” feature is intended to be a place where you can create a version of your syllabus that students can display in their browser window, without opening a file. This feature by default is located on the Syllabus page.
Note that the default setup of this page includes a feature called “Downloadable Version”, which is intended as a place for you to post a downloadable version of the same details entered in the Course Syllabus feature. The Downloadable Version feature is technically a Resources feature, so if you need help using it, refer to the Resources section.
About This Course
The “About This Course” feature is intended to offer students a quick overview of the course section. By default, this feature is located on the main page of your course context. You might use it to post your office hours and details about where your class meets.