This manual consists of six parts. The chapters 1 - 3 deal with the Introduction to this Learning Platform. Chapter 2 concentrates on OpenOLAT's basics. You will learn that OpenOLAT is an open-source learning platform with several different OpenOLAT user roles at your disposal. Chapter 3 shows you how to register in OpenOLAT, how to use further features on the login page, and finally how to log off.
In the second part you will learn How to Use OpenOLAT. Please read Chapter 4 after registering and choosing an OLAT user name in order to get further information on its structure and general functionalities as well as your personalisation options. The following Chapter 5 deals with OpenOLAT's concept of groups, e.g. which group types are feasible in various scenarios. Let yourself get inspired and create your own didactic concept. Chapter 6 and chapter 7 concentrate on OpenOLAT's primary concern, on learning resources. There are different types of learning resources and these chapters also tells you how to find learning content, for authors as well as for regular users. Should you have difficulties while working on some learning content you can get help in Chapter 8. Course elements as well as possible learning activities will be explained from the participant's point of view.
Do you want to create and manage courses for yourself? The third part of this manual is dedicated to the Creation and Administration of Learning Content as well as performance control. Chapter 9 contains step-by-step instructions on how to prepare a course before authorizing course participants to get access. Course elements as well as feasible configurations in the course editor will be described in detail in the following Chapter 10. Your learning content is now completed, published, and frequently used by course participants. Chapter 11 will tell you where to find course results, where to assess achievements or how to archive your learning content after your course's completion. Chapter 12 will provide you with a collection of best practices and procedures exceeding the mere description of single elements or functionalities. This chapter is a constant work in progress - check it frequently! In Chapter 13 you will find all relevant information and links in order to conduct performance controls and assessments, and where to find course or group based overviews.
If you want to Create further Learning Resources to be included in your course the fourth part of the manual with the following chapters will be useful: "Creating CP Learning Content", "Creating Wikis", "Creating Videos", "Creating Podcasts", "Creating Blogs", "Creating Tasks", "Creating Portfolio Tasks", "Managing Topics of Topic Assignments", and "Creating Tests and Questionnaires".
Chapter 23 deals with the creation, storage, management, editing and use of test questions in the question bank, the open database for individual question items. How to use the question bank for test and questionnaire design is described in detail in this chapter.
In the fifth part, in Chapter 24, you can make yourself familiar with technologies and tools that will facilitate your work within OpenOLAT. We recommend these tools that complement OpenOLAT's features since many OpenOLAT users can tell you about their positive experience they have made with OLAT over the years.
Depending on your OpenOLAT user role you will be interested in various chapters of this manual. The chapters 1 - 4, 6 and 8 describe features that are at the disposal of all OpenOLAT users. Chapter 5 and 7 first deal with information regarding all users. The second part then concentrates on specific author features. The chapters 9 - 21 are only relevant for OpenOLAT users without any author rights if a course author has provided these users with certain tasks, e.g. the mentoring of groups. Chapter 22 can help authors who work with OpenOLAT regularly and who want to get familiar with further auxiliary technologies.
The sixth part, Chapter 25, is dedicated to all administrative functions found in the "Administration" tab. This chapter is therefore only relevant for users with the system administrator role.
