Brightspace Spotlight - HTML Templates

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 By Darren Towers, Teacher Specialist, Office of Instructional Technology

Content HTML Templates: The What, How, and Why

A new and welcome hidden gem in the Brightspace environment are the pre-loaded HTML Templates. HTML templates can be used in your course Content tool and are easy to access and use. In this article I will briefly review what HTML templates are, how they can be used in Brightspace, and why you should give them a shot.

What are HTML Templates?

An HTML or website template provides an online page or site structure and a consistent appearance. This is similar to using a certain theme in a Powerpoint or Slide presentation. Various templates can be used throughout a Brightspace course to give the students a consistent and organized look and feel as they navigate through their learning. Some experimentation with the different templates will be necessary when you first start out. There are basic appearance templates as well as templates for specific use cases like meeting the course instructors or presenting video to users. In addition to providing consistency and organization, some Brightspace HTML templates offer page function and user interactivity. Once added to your course, each template includes an explanation of what it will do for your course.

How are HTML Templates Used?

Adding an HTML template to your course is pretty painless. The templates can be selected and added to an HTML Doc in your Content tool. After selecting the Content block > Create New > HTML doc, the template can be selected from the ‘Select Template ‘ dropdown right above the edit window. For step-by step directions with images, use the link below.

After the template has been added, all features and components can be edited to fit your needs. If you find the template you chose will not work, simply select another from the menu and it will replace the current template. Finding the template that works best may take some trial and error at first, but once you have made your choice, a consistent look and feel can be created throughout your course.

Directions: Using Content HTML Templates

Why Use HTML Templates?


The use of HTML templates can bring so much to your course. In addition to a consistent visual experience for the learner, templates improve accessibility. Templates provide a layout that supports adaptive technology like screen readers. Some common standards these template help you achieve include:
  • the use of headings to communicate relationships between sections
  • the use of size, color, and text in conjunction to convey meaning
  • use of relative font sizes that adjust when the layout is changed to avoid horizontal scrolling
  • the inclusion of text alternatives or detailed captions for multimedia content like audio and video.
HTML templates can also bring some interactivity and flexibility to your course. The Accordion template is useful for presenting learners with a list of items. Once accessible to learners, they click to expand the list of related items. Another interactive template is the Tabs template. This template is useful for elaborating on a concept that has related or different categories of sub-information. Students use the tab heading to reveal more information about the topic. Finally, the Meet You Facilitator template provides a space to introduce yourself to your course participants. This can be especially useful for courses with multiple teachers as the Profile widget does not allow for this.

HTML templates are simple to access and use in your Brightspace Content tool. Have fun experimenting and improving the look, feel, and accessibility of your course.
Click here for a comprehensive list of all HTML templates currently available in Brightspace.



 




 


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