This user guide was last updated in July 2024

This is the User Guide for Causeway 2.6.  It is intended for Authors using Causeway to create bespoke learning packages and supersedes previous guides

You can access topics of interest using the navigation panel on the left.

Each topic area may contain all or some of the following:

• Written guidelines on how to use the particular feature 
• A video guide demonstrating the feature and how to use it
• Worked examples
• An outline of any Tips, Tricks and Traps to be aware of
• A summary document which can be downloaded or viewed inline.

In addition from time to time we will add articles about the online learning creation process.

Please note that this User Guide is a dynamic document which will be incrementally updated with extra articles and information as it becomes available.

Supported Browsers and LMS environments

Learning Management Systems

Causeway is compatible with all the standard SCORM compliant systems.

This release has been tested in the following environments

• Moodle 4.1.6 
• Canvas 
• Learndash 
• Elentra 

Browser Supported - note: older versions of your browser may also work but some features may not be supported.

• Chrome 118 | 119
• Firefox 119 | 120 
• Edge 118 | 119
• Safari 16 | 17 (Macintosh only)

This user guide is for the Causeway Digital Authoring Platform version 2.6 first released in August 2024. The videos below give an overview of the changes and improvements that have been made:

• Import an RLO  - You can now import eLearning components from your available packages, including your own and any shared with you. During package editing, you have the option to select an entire package, specific chapters, or individual pages from the identified package.  

• Splash Page — How to create and maintain a Splash Page to introduce your eLearning package.

• New package settings include options for authors to publish their name and email address within the package, as well as a setting to enable an audio clip to play automatically when a page is entered.

Import an eLearning Component

You can now import previously developed content into a package you are editing.

To do this, place your cursor where you want to insert the content and click the import button .

A list of existing packages in your account will appear, and you can also choose from content shared with you.

You can insert an entire package using  or expand it using the  button to select specific chapters or pages. Click on the import button on the right to import the selected content.  To preview content before selecting click on the item name and a preview of the selected content is displayed.

Once imported, the content can be edited and rearranged like any other part of the package.

Finally, save your package.

This feature allows you to easily reuse and modify existing content.

Add a Splash Page

 A new element, the [Splash Page], allows authors to add an introductory page to their learning package. You can choose from 4 standard images, upload your own image, or use a block background colour. The page includes two text blocks: a title and a footer.  The text in the header and footer and be aligned using the position icons and the text colour can be changed.

The spacing of multiple lines of text within header and footer can be adjusted using the sliders  provided.

Note: The Splash Page element is a special case and cannot be mixed with other elements on the same page.

Two new Package Settings flags have been added to General package settings screen.

These are located at the foot of the settings page.

Enable Audio Commentary Auto-play: When this option is checked, any recorded voice-overs on your elements will play automatically when a learner enters the page. This is especially helpful if you've imported a PowerPoint slide pack and added an audio track..

Show Author Email Address when Published:  Tick this box if you want to display your name and email address on the header banner of your published package.

The package settings should then be saved. 

Video overview of the simple logging in process:

When you click on the "forgot password" button you will be asked to enter your email

There are a few things worth bearing in mind before you start to develop a learning package. Apart from the topic itself you will need to think about your learners / audience and the learning objectives.

Assembling your resources

You can of course open Causeway and start writing your content directly into Causeway, but an initial plan will make the process easier. You might want to have some or all of the following resources to hand:

•  The text you are going to use
• Questions and assessments
• Media such as still images, videos, animations or audio files

Points to remember  

Creating effective e-learning starts with engaging your learners with language. When people feel that you’re giving them information that’s interesting, relevant, and personal, they’re much more likely to listen and keep listening. As you’re writing for e-learning, stay conversational by following these basic rules of thumb.

• First, use contractions to keep your writing warm and human. Writing that connects with people is more effective, note that good  e-learning reaches people on an emotional level. For example, instead of giving quiz feedback such as “That is not correct,” try using something more human and helpful such as “Sorry. That’s not quite right. Here’s a better way to solve the problem.”

• Address the learner as an individual.  Instead of sharing learning objectives in a passive way, such as “After this course, the learner will be able to (insert objective here),” try rephrasing it to something more personal, such as “Completing this course will help you (insert objective)” or “Imagine if you could (insert objective).”

• Keep your content concise to enhance readability. For instance, when providing instructions, instead of saying “Position the cursor to hover over the adjacent text-entry field before clicking to enter text” try using “Hover your mouse over the text field. Click to enter text.”

Just as you engage learners with your writing, you also need to engage them with activity—or, more accurately, interactivity. Interactions that engage are ones that give learners the opportunity to discover, explore, or connect with content in a meaningful way. 

• Unlike the passive experience of listening to or reading information, meaningful interactions are engaging because your learners learn by doing. They’re tapping the screen. Moving objects around on the screen. Making choices that keep their brains working. Not only is learning by doing a more engaging way to learn, it’s also an experience that your learners are more likely to retain and apply later. This does not need to be super complex.

• If you require more complex interactions you can help give your learners much needed practice with solving problems or making important decisions in a safe, meaningful way.

• First and foremost, stay focused on the learner. As with writing, you need to consider your learners’ needs when designing interactions: who they are, what they really need to learn, and what challenges they face. In short, make your interactions relevant. You can  provide the learners with helpful feedback based on their selected responses, you can help them learn from their mistakes in a consequence-free environment.

Build Components that can be Reused

A Reusable Learning Object (RLO) is a digital educational resource that can be used and repurposed in various learning contexts. RLOs are designed to be modular, making them easily integrated into different instructional materials and adaptable for various educational purposes. Here are some key characteristics and components of RLOs:

Characteristics of Reusable Learning Objects

1. Modularity: RLOs are typically small, self-contained units of learning that can stand alone or be combined with other RLOs to create more comprehensive educational experiences.

2. Reusability: The content is designed in a way that it can be reused across different courses, disciplines, or educational levels without significant modification.

3. Metadata: RLOs include descriptive metadata to make them easily searchable and identifiable. This metadata typically covers aspects like subject, grade level, learning objectives, and keywords.

Typical Components of Reusable Learning Objects

1. Content: This is the core educational material, which can include text, images, videos, simulations, quizzes, and interactive elements.

2. Learning Objectives: Clear statements about what learners are expected to achieve after interacting with the RLO.

3. Assessment: Tools or methods to evaluate learner understanding and performance, such as quizzes or interactive activities.

4. Instructional Strategies: Guidance on how the RLO can be used effectively in a learning environment, including suggestions for different teaching approaches.

5. Context Information: Background information that helps situate the RLO within a broader curriculum or educational framework.

Benefits of Using RLOs

• Efficiency: Saves time for educators by allowing them to reuse and repurpose existing high-quality educational resources.

• Consistency: Ensures consistent delivery of educational content across different courses and institutions.

• Collaboration: Facilitates sharing and collaboration among educators and institutions, promoting best practices and innovation in teaching.

• Customization: Allows for easy customization and adaptation to meet specific learning needs and contexts.

RLOs are a key component in modern education, particularly in e-learning and blended learning environments, providing flexibility and enhancing the quality and accessibility of educational resources.

Conclusion

Remember, visual design for e-learning is more than just aesthetics. The visuals you use are powerful messengers, setting the tone and communicating key ideas about your course without requiring you to say a word. 

There is a quick tour of the package manager in the video below:

The Opening Banner Menu has a number of buttons.

Note: The opening banner can be customized to your site by using your institution's name and logo.

User Name:- This displays your name, the down arrow to the right gives access to the logout button.

Clicking on this exits the system.

Having logged in, the system opens on the Package Manager screen, initially this screen will have no packages.

By running the cursor over the fields displayed you can see the active buttons on the screen, in addition to the user name the following fields are active.

• Package Manager    -  Lists the packages in your  folder. 
• Help and Support     - Access to online support
• Contact.                       - Submit an inquiry to the Causeway Support team
•        - Switch the Causeway environment to another language. 

Package Manager Banner                 

Search    -  When there are multiple packages in your folder this facility enables the Author to  search for a particular package. This is based on the package name or on the tags set in the package settings.

[Import a Package]  - This facility enables the importation of Causeway packages that have previously been exported in SCORM format.

[New Feature] It is now possible to import a PowerPoint file into Causeway. Use the browse facility to navigate to your .pptx file and press [Save]. The Powerpoint file is loaded into Causeway, each slide is added as an image element. If the Powerpoint slide pack has an audio track then this is automatically added. Having imported the slides it is possible to incorporate other elements such as MCQs, Word Match etc in the newly created Causeway package. 

[Create a Package]   -  This enables an Author to start building a package from scratch

Package Manager

Each package is identified and the following fields are displayed

Status: 

Package Name:  Polyarthritis v2

Package Information 

Blue Circle      the number of chapters in the package

Green Circle    the number of pages in the package

Yellow Circle   the number of elements in the package    

Action icon: this gives access to the tools available to manipulate the package. When this is clicked the following menu appears.

Show   - If the package has been published then this option launches the package in a new browser window.

Edit      - Opens the package in edit mode.

Delete  - Deletes the package. (Should be used with care)

Export - Exports the package in a zip file in SCORM 1.2, SCORM 2004 or HTML format.

Preview - Displays the package in preview mode.

Copy       - Creates a copy of the package in the Author's package catalogue.

When a package is created from scratch the following screen appears:

Import an eLearning Component

You can now import previously developed content into a package you are editing.

To do this, place your cursor where you want to insert the content and click the import button .

A list of existing packages in your account will appear, and you can also choose from content shared with you.

You can insert an entire package using  or expand it using the  button to select specific chapters or pages. Click on the import button on the right to import the selected content.  To preview content before selecting click on the item name and a preview of the selected content is displayed.

Once imported, the content can be edited and rearranged like any other part of the package.

Finally, save your package.

This feature allows you to easily reuse and modify existing content.

It is now possible to record an audio description for any of the Causeway elements. The following icon   is located in the bottom right hand corner. When this is clicked the following appears on the screen.

When you press Record; the recording toolbar  will record your input until you press the black button to stop the recording. When this happens  the following appears , the green triangle will play back whatever you have recorded. If you are unhappy with the content the X will delete the audio track and you can re-record if you wish.

Recording Audio

When a learner encounters an element with an added audio tracked the  icon appears in the top right hand corner of the element. When the students clicks on this icon. the following appears

 and the  audio is played when the triangle is clicked.

An author can test these features with the preview options before the package is published or exported.

When a caption is available within an element, then it can be edited to improve the layout and display

i.e.

by clicking on the  icon the following menu is displayed.

These options allow the use of Bold, Italics, Underscore, Font size, URL, Font Colour, Text position and Special Characters within the caption

i.e.

The Author adds elements to their learning package by double  clicking on the element they want to insert. This adds the element to the bottom of the page they are currently on. Elements can be re-ordered on a page by dragging them to the position required using the  icon. Do not forget to save your work when you have completed the task.. The element types available are listed below.

Moving Elements  to a Different Page

An element can be moved to another page by dragging it  from the edit panel to a page listed on the navigation panel. Press [Save] . The moved element will have been positioned at the bottom of this new page. Click on the selected page and position the element as required.

Duplicating Elements

When you have saved your edits you can create a duplicate by clicking the  icon. The copied element is added at the bottom of the page. This can be renamed , moved, edited as required.

 Remember to press [Save]

When you are editing an element after you have saved your changes you can click  on

x Close to close the element.

Card Stack - This element enables an author to create a set of flash cards for the Learner.

The first step is to insert the Title of the Flash card set.

Each card has a front and a back. The front of the  can have an image or a statement. When the Learner clicks on the card. The reverse side is displayed giving the correct answer. The Learning clicks on the Correct or Wrong buttons and the card is added to that stack. The next card is displayed and the process is followed until all of the Flash card are shown. The learner can review the cards they had correctly or wrongly answered.

The Author can used snip  to cut and paste an image or type in text unto a card. A new card is added by clicking on the . Cards can be deleted and the stack is saved when the  is pressed.

Flash Card Learner View.

Card Front 

Card Back

Card Stack

The Comment element can be added when the Author wants to add additional information to the Package. The text block is tagged with Comment label in the published package.

Upload Files

• Use File/Media to upload files (e.g.. Word, PDF, PowerPoint etc. ) into Causeway which students can then either download onto their own computers or view inline as PDFs within Causeway.
• This element also enables an Author to upload video or audio files. Most of the standard formats are supported.

VIDEO PLAYER FORMATS (File/Media Element)

video/mp4 (generally .mp4 file extension)
video/x-m4v (generally .m4v file extension)
video/webm (generally .webm file extension) 
video/ogg (generally .ogg file extension) 

If the user uploads a file with one of the following video mime-types:

video/x-ms-asf (generally .asf or .wmv file extension)
video/x-flv (generally .flv file extension)
video/quicktime (generally .mov file extension)
video/x-msvideo (generally .avi file extension)

then the file will be automatically transcoded by causeway into .mp4 format for native playback

Other formats e.g. open office etc. can also be loaded

Note:

When a file is being loaded a progress bar is displayed.

When a non media file is uploaded the author can decide whether they want the learner to see the contents of the  file online as well as download the original file format.

Uploading Files instruction video

The Header Section element enables the input of text content and several tools are available to enable the formatting of the Header

This element is used to import an image to the package using the PC’s file manager. This image is scaled to fit the page on the learner’s device. It is possible to add up to four images which can be displayed in a line.

A caption can be added to the image.

The author can also set a flag that enables the learner to use a magnifier to view the image in close detail.

Step 1 upload image from your computer:

The image tool bar is displayed on the desired image  

  Switches on the magnifier functionality for the learner.

 This toggles the position of the caption (below,left, above,right)

This optimizes the uploaded image to display in the learner's browser. This can be switched off if the author wants the image displayed in it's native resolution.

Captions

A caption can be added for each image, this can be placed above or below the image. It is also possible to display the caption to the left or right of the image. (care should be taken if this is used with multiple images).  Captions can be quite substantial and a small menu to format the content is available.  This is accessed via the  icon.

The Multiple-Choice element is very flexible and enables data to be collected about a Learner’s performance. It allows the Author to provide feedback when a correct or incorrect answer is given.

There is a flag which can be set to invite the learner to retry if they get an incorrect answer and it is possible to have more than one correct answer. If the collect learner data flag is set in Package Settings, then the Learner responses can be stored and downloaded for later analysis.  If the Package is uploaded to a Learner Management system such as Canvas or Moodle, then the Learner’s performance is automatically added to the LMS’s Grade Book

The Observation / Note element can be added when the Author wants to add additional information to the Package. The text block is tagged with Observation / Note label in the published package.

The Open Question element enables the Author to pose a question and the package will invite the Learner to type a full response. If desired the Author can provide expanded feedback in the box provided. If the collect learner data flag is set in Package Settings then the Learner response can be stored and downloaded for later analysis.

When a learner is responding to an open question. They type their response into the box and click the  button to submit their answer.

The Author can use this element to create and display an ordered list. When this is accessed by the Learner this list order is scrambled and the Learner is asked to reorder the list into the correct order. The list is given a meaningful  title. A new line can be added by clicking on  lines are deleted using 

Learners rearrange the displayed list using the   grab icon.

Author View

Learner View

This element enables the author to build a simple ordered list of references. This can include URLs to external reference documents

The text in this field can edit by clicking on the  to give access to a set edit features.  Additional lines can be added by clicking the icon

This element places a separator bar in the body of the eLearning Package the author can specify the width of the line and the colour.  If the Hide Following Elements box is ticked, then when a learner is using the package, they have to click a box to view remaining content on that page. 

Add a Splash Page

 A new element, the [Splash Page], allows authors to add an introductory page to their learning package. You can choose from 4 standard images, upload your own image, or use a block background colour. The page includes two text blocks: a title and a footer.  The text in the header and footer and be aligned using the position icons and the text colour can be changed.

The spacing of multiple lines of text within header and footer can be adjusted using the sliders  provided.

Example:

Note: The Splash Page element is a special case and cannot be mixed with other elements on the same page.

The text element enables the input of text content and several tools are available to format this and in addition there are insert tools which enable the inclusion of URLs to external web sites and external video clips such as those hosted in Youtube or Vimeo.

Note: The text editor is a simple tool that enables that creation of content that is rendered consistently clearly in a variety of browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari etc). Text can be cut and pasted into this field from other sources, such as MS Word, but this may not be rendered correctly.  It is possible to paste plain text only, this can then be styled using the editor tools. This gives a more consistent look and feel to your learning package.

Text Editor Tool Bar 

Note: Inserting images into a text box should be treated with care. If very large images are inserted into the text editor can be overloaded. It is fine for small scale images. It is recommended that the Image element should be used for high definition and large images. If an image is copied from a web page then a dynamic URL can be added which looks like an image on the screen. This could pose a problem if the package is loaded into your learning management system. The  button in the menu will download the remote image into your package and resolve this issue. 

 Font library and inserting images into text blocks

Using Popups

 If an author wants to use the popup facility  they should highlight the text they want to utilize and click on the  icon the following window pops up and additional information can be input.  The author can determine the text position, whether it can be closed automatically or on pressing  and additionally set the colour of the text box.

Author View

Pop Up Feature

The User Details element can be inserted by the package Author and can be used to collect identification details of the Learners using the package. This would normally be positioned at the start of the package and is used in conjunction with the collect learner data flag in Package Settings. This element is useful to identify an answer script that has been generated using the Generate PDF option in Package settings or to print a learners name on a completion certificate.

The Word Match element was introduced with Causeway 2.1.  Basically this allows authors to design questions which require unprompted student input.  For example you may wish the student to come up with a single word response, such as a diagnosis, by simply asking "what is the diagnosis" and leave a text box for students to type in their answers.  You can also allow students to type in a list, or a short essay format answer, again without prompting, which the computer then "marks"  Authors furnish ranges of acceptable answers.  The video below shows how this is done:

An example of a Navigation panel

This is the authors view of the panel

Note the numbers in the circles indicate the number of elements on a page.

A learner would see this as 

Package Name

When a package is created the name is displayed in the Package Manager. To edit this name go to the Edit Package Screen.

in the top left corner the package name is displayed.

Click on the word Edit to the right of the title. 

Edit the name and press [Save] to confirm the change

Chapter and Page Names

In the navigation column place your cursor on the Chapter / Page item you want to edit.

A set of icons are displayed.

Click on the  symbol, the chapter / Page text is highllghted this can now be edited.

Press [Save] to confirm your edit.

In the navigation column place your cursor on the Chapter / Page item you want to delete.

A set of icons are displayed.

Click on the  symbol the following panel appears

Press [Delete] to confirm 

By clicking on the  to the left of the item you want move you can drag this to the desired position. This mechanism works for both Chapters and Pages.

Press [Save] to confirm the move.

Note: it also possible to drag an element from the edit panel to a different page on the navigation panel.

When an Author is developing a package, at any stage, by selecting preview on the package banner they can see what their package will look like to a learner.

When a package is published its URL can be shared with colleagues or learners. Change the status of the package by clicking on the appropriate option and Saving the package.

You can access the published package via several routes.

1.   Click on the link icon in the Published Status Box.

2. The package URL can also be found in  the General section of [Package Settings] - Cut and Paste this for distribution. 

3. Via the Show option in the Package Action menu

Note: if the Enable QR Code option has been selected then the QR code for the package can be displayed and distributed to potent package users.

The URL can also be harvested when the Show option appears in the menu displayed when the action icon of the package is selected on the Package Manager screen. Action icon is on the left hand side.  

When Show is selected a new browser windowed is open and the publish package is launched. Again the URL can be harvested.

Package Settings

 In Package Settings, the author can provide a description that becomes part of the metadata when the package is published.

Authors can also add tags (keywords) for easier searchability on the Package Manager page.

The language used for system instructions can be selected from a dropdown menu.

The Published Package URL box displays the URL of the learning package. If the checkbox is ticked, learner responses are stored on the Causeway server, and the author can download them as an Excel spreadsheet.  

If the Enable QR Code check box is set then when the package is published then an icon   in the top right corner of the package banner. When the learner clicks on this icon the QR code for the package will appear on the screen.

The learner can scan this code to capture the package url, there are two other two options

 download the QR image.

 copy the QR image

Once this Settings have been set, they should be saved

Generating QR code for you package

Enable Audio Commentary Auto-play: When this option is checked, any recorded voice-overs on your elements will play automatically when a learner enters the page. This is especially helpful if you've imported a PowerPoint slide pack and added an audio track..

Show Author Email Address when Published:  Tick this box if you want to display your name and email address on the header banner of your published package.

 Do you wish to collect student responses ?

When a Package has been published and the URL distributed to Learners if this check box is ticked then Learner responses are stored on the Causeway server and the Author can download these responses as an excel spreadsheet to their local PC.

Navigation Options:

0. Disable navigation panel and hide from learner

The remaining options can be set individually or in combination

1. Deactivate unvisited page links in learner navigation:- 

This enables an author to set the navigation panel so that a learner cannot jump forward in the lesson.

2. Hide navigation section by default:-

Flag set by the author allows the learner to toggle the navigation panel of and on.

3. Collapse chapter navigation:-

In a large learning package there may be multiple pages within a chapter, by setting this flag the author causes the navigation panel to collapse to chapter headings.  When the learner accesses the package, the chapters will expand to show the pages contained within.

The Author can set whether a Learner can print a PDF after they have completed the published / exported Learning Package 

The options are:-

Certificate – Confirming completion of the Package This can include the Learners name if the User Details element is included. And their score if the have answered any MCQs included in the package

Package Content – This included all content including images contained within the Package

Student Answers – This contains all the answers provided by the Learner to both MCQs and open questions

One, none or any of these options can be toggled on or off by the Author.

Once this Options have been set these should be saved

This option is also available via the Sharing icon on the Edit Package page. 

Users:- This option enables the author to share Causeway  packages with individual  colleagues.

Organisations:- With groups of colleagues within their Institution.

 Sharespaces:- With public share spaces accessible by Causeway users.

The numbers inside the circles indicate the number of times the package has been shared with other Causeway authors.

Packages shared with an Author can be accessed by clicking on

[My Packages] Tab on the Package Manager Screen and 

selecting which shared packages they want to access.

Packages Shared with the Author can be previewed or copied to their own folder

Packages can exported from the Causeway environment and these exported learning packages can be hosted in other services  such as an Learning Management system, such as Moodle or Canvas, or on a Web Server. The SCORM compliant exported content can also be imported into Causeway by other Causeway users

If a package has been exported from Causeway in SCORM format then this can be Imported with the

[Import a Package] button in the top left section of the Package Manager page. 

When the Author clicks  on this button button the following appears

Click on the [Choose file] button to navigate to the zip file containing the package you want to import. 

Press [Import] to bring the file into Causeway.

Note: This mechanism can also be used to import a PowerPoint slide deck into Causeway to create a new  Causeway package.  This mechanism only works for the very latest versions of Powerpoint  i.e. with an extension .pptx  If you wish to import an older PowerPoint slide deck then load the slide deck into PowerPoint and save it as a .pptx file

 at the top of the edit Panel

Users:- This option enables the author to share Causeway  packages with individual  colleagues.

Organisations:- With groups of colleagues within their Institution.

 Sharespaces:- With public share spaces accessible by Causeway users.

The numbers inside the circles indicate the number of times the package has been shared with other Causeway authors.

Packages shared with an Author can be accessed by clicking on

[My Packages] Tab on the Package Manager Screen and 

selecting which shared packages they want to access.

Packages Shared with the Author can be previewed or copied to their own folder

Create an Internal Link or Branch

In a text block anywhere in the body of the package position & click your cursor.

Go to the Navigation Panel and click on the Page you want to branch to, click on the associated   symbol.

A dynamic link is inserted into the text where your cursor is positioned.

The text associated with the link can be edited with the  icon to make it more apparent to the learner. Highlight some or all of the link and click on the icon. The edit link window pops up and you can edit the wording and update the link. .

Instructions for capturing student responses

 When you wish to capture  the responses students make when they are interacting with a Causeway package there are a number of steps to take to enable this to happen. View or download the document below to see how this is done: