eLearning

Create an Individual Journal

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  3. Blogs and Journals

Note: Once journals are created, other students in the course cannot view each others' journals. If other students can view other peers' journals and it is not a concern for your teaching experience, consider creating a Blog.

  1. From the Control Panel select Course Tools > Journals.

click on journals

Journal information

  1. Click the Create Journal button.
  2. Enter a name for the journal in the Name textbox.
  3. Enter instructions for the students in the Description textbox.

assessment information, name and description textboxes selected

  1. For the Journal Availability section, leave the Yes radio button selected.

journal availability​

Journal Date and Time Restrictions

Set the following, if required. i.e. If the journal is an assessment task, you may need to restrict when it is available to students. 

    1. If required, select the Display After checkbox and enter the date using the  Date Selection Calendar and enter the time using the Time Selection Menu.
    2. If required, select the Display Until checkbox and enter the date using the  Date Selection Calendar and enter the time using the  Time Selection Menu.

    enter journal and time restrictions

    Journal Settings

    1. Index Entries: For a semester long course you will probably want the entries grouped by week.
    2. Allow Users to Edit and Delete Entries: Selecting this option makes the tool easier for students to use. Both the date the post was first posted and the date the post was last edited are displayed. If the journal is an assessment task you will need to emphases to students not to edit posts after the due date.
    3. Allow Users to Delete Comments: You may chose not to select this option to put more emphasis on students making appropriate comments.
    4. Permit Course Users to View Journal: Journals can be made Public by the Instructor so all enrolled users can read all entries made to the Journal topic.

    enter journal settings

    Grade Settings

    1. Select the Grade radio button if the item is an assessment task.
    2. Enter the total marks for the assessment in the Points possible textbox.

    enter grade settings

    1. Alternatively, you can create a rubric. For more information, refer to the Rubric tool page guide.
    2. Click on the Add Rubric button.
    3. Select Select Rubric from the drop-down list.

    select rubric

    1. Check the required rubric's checkbox.
    2. Click on the Submit button.

    click on the submit button

    1. Click OK, if you want the points possible for the blog to be the same as the total mark for the rubric.
    2. Alternatively, click Cancel and enter the total marks for the assessment in the Points possible textbox.

    Note: The values of rubric cells will be automatically changed so the rubric totals the mark entered in the Points possible textbox.

    click on the OK button

    1. Click on the show rubric button and select Yes (With Rubric Scores) button.
    2. Click on the Submit button. 

    Add a link to the journal

    1. From the Course Menu, select Assessment.
    2. Navigate to the required folder.
    3. From the Tools dropdown menu, select Journals. 
    4. Select the Link to the Journal Page to link to all course journals OR select the Link to a Journal radio button and the required journal. 
    5. Click on the Next button. 
    6. Enter a link title in the Link Name textbox.
    7. Click on the Submit button.