The glossary activity module enables participants in a course to create and maintain a list of definitions, like a dictionary, or to collect and organise resources or information.
A simple static non collaborative glossary can be used in a free standing OER which doesn't require tutor support.
In a tutor
supported course, a tutor can allow files to be attached to glossary entries.
Attached images are displayed in the entry. Entries can be searched or browsed
alphabetically or by category, date or author. Entries can be approved by
default or require approval by a tutor before they are viewable by everyone.
For an OER which is not supported by a tutor some of the collaborative elements need to be limited otherwise the glossary could attract a lot of spam or unsubstantiated comments or amendments.
If the glossary auto-linking filter is enabled, entries will be automatically linked where the concept words and/or phrases appear within the course.
A tutor can allow comments on entries. Entries can also be rated by tutors or students (peer evaluation). Ratings can be aggregated to form a final grade which is recorded in the gradebook.
Glossaries have many uses, such as
Click on the dropdown arrow of the 'Add an activity' box
Select 'glossary' from the list
Type a name
for your glossary and a short description.
Choose from the dropdown list what the Glossary type will be. The default setting is 'secondary glossary' or you can choose 'main glossary'.
A main glossary is a glossary in which entries from secondary glossaries can be imported. There can only be one main glossary in a course. If glossary entry import is not required, all glossaries in the course can be secondary glossaries.
Decide what the settings for individual glossary entries need to be. Settings for individual glossary entries are:
Click on Appearance to set the display settings for the glossary.
Click on the Display format dropdown box to choose the format (defaults to 'Simple, dictionary style'). There are 7 display formats:
The other appearance settings are
Click on 'Save and return to course'.
Your new
glossary will now display on your course page.
To add entries
to the glossary, click on the glossary title.
Your glossary view will appear which will not yet contain any glossary entries.
Click on the 'add a new entry' button
The new
glossary entry screen will appear.
Type a glossary term into the Concept box and the definition of that term into the Definition box.
Each glossary entry can have an associated list of keywords (or aliases). If the entry is auto-linked, then any keywords will also be auto-linked.
Enter each keyword on a new line (not
separated by commas).
Decide if auto-linking is required. The options are:
Click on
Save Changes and the new glossary entry will now appear in the glossary. It will have an editing button beside it if you need to make further amendments.
You might
want to categorise your Glossary entries. To add categories to your glossary you need to click on the 'browse by
category' tab of the glossary.
Click on 'edit categories' button
The categories screen will appear. Click on the 'add category' button.
The add category screen will appear.
Type the
name of the category in the name box.
Decide whether the category name will be automatically linked wherever it appears in the course.
Automatically link this category Yes/No (defaults to No) - If glossary auto-linking
has been enabled and this setting is enabled, the category name will be
automatically linked wherever it appears throughout the rest of the course.
When a participant follows a category name link, they will be taken to the
"Browse by category" page of the glossary.
Click on 'Save
changes' then click on the 'back' button.
This will take you back to the glossary.
To
categorise your individual glossary entries, click on the 'edit' button for the
entry. Just below the Definition screen
you will find the Categories drop down box which will now include the category you
have just added.
Click on the
relevant category for that glossary item
Click on 'save changes'.
Now if you browse by category you will find the glossary entry you have just categorised listed under that category.