Content layout tool was initially developed by Sunshine Coast University and has been developed further by Learning and Teaching Systems team at UTS. Following web standards, UTS instructors can improve the appearance of their educational materials further with only a few clicks.

Please note: Content Layout is a powerful tool and will enable you to add fantastic new elements to your subjects, however it is important that you watch the videos and read the instructions carefully, to ensure you can use it without some common mistakes.

How to work with this tool: *

To access this tool within UTSOnline subject site select “Build Content” from the horizontal menu-bar.

Please note: To be able to view the horizontal menu bar, you should switch the Edit Mode On.

This tool has been embedded within each subject site above the content editor.

1. Under Build Content select “Item”.
2. You will notice a blue button Above the content editor “Launch Content Layout Tool”.
3. Click on “Launch Content Layout Tool” button.
4. You will see a pop up window.
5. Please hold down your mouse cursor over the Plus sign “+”.
6. Now drag your mouse cursor over the tools categories.
7. Here you notice each row reveals tool options in that category. You are required to keep holding down your mouse and as you mouse over the tools  release your mouse to be able to select them.

Please note: These rows are named for your convenience to allow you to choose the right tool for your subject site development.

How to add, remove or move my selected tools: *

Before pressing the submit button in Content Layout tool environment by hovering in between your chosen Tools, you will notice that a plus sign “+”. This plus sign allows you to select more tools in between your already selected tools.
Also, if you hover to the right side of selected tools or even in between, you notice three chevron icons appear. Up, Down and Remove. Here if you change your mind and would like to delete a tool, you can simply select the Remove option. Or, you can move your tool up or down side or other chosen tools.

The only recommended way to delete a tool:

The only recommended way to delete a tool is by pressing the “Content Layout Tool” button again. Here you can easily hover over to the right side of the tool that you wish to delete and select the Remove icon (X).

Why these tools should not get deleted from a subject site content editor?

If these tools get deleted from the subject content, there is a high possibility of having some HTML tags left over in your content editor, without you noticing them and this would make your content editor messy.

Where to add descriptions: *

After selecting the desired tool and pressing the Content Layout Tool “Submit” button.

Why there are Square Brackets:

We have used square brackets to make adding and removing descriptions easier for you. This way, you will not delete a paragraph tag in your html code by accident. You can simply add more comments and explanations to your Tools, while keeping your Square brackets. After finishing with your descriptions, you can simply move your keyboard arrow keys behind your square brackets and just press “Delete” button once.

Images: *

We encourage you to add more hover effects to find out which one suit your selected image better. Images with bright theme require having darker hover effects to allow users to read your descriptions better. As a result, if you have a bright color image, first set of advanced hover effect suit your purpose better.

You can download free images from one of UTS Learning and Teaching Blog posts, “The Best Things in Life are free Images“.

Please note: To comply with accessibility standards make sure that you enter your image descriptions.

How to add images:

After selecting a tool and choosing the right customization option for it please press the submit button of the Content layout Tool.
Now that you are within UTSOnline Content Editor environment, you can right click on the provided grey place holder and from the drop down menu select “Image”.
In the new window, under General tab, you can either browse your computer or your subject to select an image.
Please note: Not miss to include your image description here.

Content Layout Tools: *

Lesson Structure: *

First row from the top of the Content Layout Tool has been developed for “Lesson Structure”.

Layout Elements: *

Second row from the top of the  Content Layout Tool has been developed for “Layout Elements”.

Basic Tiles: *

“Basic Tiles” allow instructors to 1. select an image 2. Make that image link to an educational document 3. Write a short description for that image.

Flip Cards: *

“Flip Cards” are ideal for image descriptions.

Enhanced Tiles: *

We have developed two sets of “Enhanced Tiles“. Each set of enhanced tiles have different range of hover effects.

Home Page Welcome Tiles: *

We have developed Three sets of “UTS Welcome Tiles“, FASS, FEIT and UTS.