The Task element allows creators to set a defined task for explorers to complete at any time within a topic or article. The 'task' is essentially a set of instructions you can give your explorers to complete a defined activity.
The element enables blended learning. Tasks can be completed both online and offline, creating the opportunity for you to incorporate on-the-job activities into your training.
Expand the following sections to learn more.
Steps to add a task to a course
Steps to add a task to a course
Add the element to your topic or article by selecting the 'Task' option from the Content box, then follow these steps:
Give your task a label. The label is hidden from explorers and is used for reporting purposes. It also helps you differentiate between multiple tasks within the same topic or article.
Provide instructions to your learners about the task they need to complete.
Optionally add an image to your task.
Optionally adjust the background and text colours for the task element (visible to explorers). TIP: Make sure the colours you pick have high contrast, such as a dark background with light font.
Manage your settings for the task:
Explorer requirements: These requirements outline what explorers must do in order to complete the task. More info...
Progress settings: There are two progress setting options which specify whether an explorer can progress past the element within the topic or article and/or complete the topic without having completed the task. More info...
Click 'Save'.
Note: Depending on how long the task is expected to take a learner to complete, you may or may not choose to 'add time' to the expected amount of time your topic or article will take a learner to complete. This can be done using the settings of the section the task belongs to. More info...
Video demonstration
Video demonstration
In the video below, we show you how you can use the Task element within your topic or article. Please note, certain aspects of the UI may have changed since this video was recorded.
Settings and options
Settings and options
Explorer requirements
Tick 'The explorer must confirm they have completed the task' if you want explorers to confirm that they have completed the task. This will create a blue button for the explorer to click when ready. This feature allows you to place ownership on the explorer to confirm completion, eliminating administrative work for you.
Tick 'An assessor must verify this task has been completed' if the task requires an assessor to verify that the task has been completed. In this scenario, a separate person designated as the assessor would confirm this in the platform. This is outlined to the explorer within the task.
Note: You can choose to require just the explorer confirm their completion, just the assessor verify the explorer's completion, both the explorer and the assessor verify completion, or neither the explorer or an assessor verify completion.
Progress settings
Firstly, you can choose whether the explorer is able to continue through the part without the explorer requirements being met, or whether they are unable to do so until all requirements have been met. The former allows explorers to continue to progress through the part without the requirements being met and might be particularly useful for tasks that will take some time to complete. In this scenario, explorers can continue exploring the part while simultaneously completing the task.
Secondly, you can choose whether the explorer is required to complete the explorer requirements in order to complete the topic. You may decide to allow the explorer to continue exploring before the task is complete, but choose to turn on the requirement to complete the task before they can complete the topic.
As with the explorer requirements, you can choose to turn on either progress setting, both, or neither.
Assessing tasks
Assessing tasks
You can choose to make the Task element assessable by requiring an assessor to verify the task was indeed completed.
To do this, check the box "An assessor must verify this task has been completed" in the Explorer requirements section. Optionally, you can also require the explorer to confirm that they have completed the task, making it easier for the assessor to know when the task is completed in order to verify it.
Assessors have access to a tab called “Assess” when in creator mode for the applicable topic or article. This tab is not visible to explorers.
Follow these steps as an assessor:
Access the 'Assess' tab and click on 'Assess tasks' to view a list of tasks for you to verify.
When satisfied with a learner's task completion, select the 'Verified' option (in the Result column).
Optionally, add a score, upload a file (for example a video or image showing the task being completed), and/or comments.
Once the task has been verified by an assessor, the element will indicate this to the explorer in the topic or article. If applicable, they'll also see their score and any comments.
Examples
Examples
Here are four ways you could use the task element to help you get inspired!
Take your training into the work environment with an offline “on the job” activity.
Incorporate competency-based training with the assessable feature.
Include a practical activity at the end of a part to reinforce what's been learnt.
Provide generic information about an upcoming workshop:
How does the Task element differ from the Activity module?
How does the Task element differ from the Activity module?
The Task element is similar to the Activity interaction (found in a topic's Navigation settings), but there are a number of key differences.
Task. The Task element can be used anywhere in a topic or article, so its very flexible. However, the Task element has fewer options - you cannot enable notifications for a specific task, you cannot add a file to a task (instead, you would just add an Upload element after the Task element with your file), and there is no built-in explorer feedback about how they went with the task (instead, you would add a Q&A or Poll element after the task).
Activity. The Activity interaction can only appear at the end of a topic (and cannot be used in an article). However, as noted above, it has more options: it can have its own deadline and notifications (including to stakeholders), as well as more detailed reporting.
Tasks can still be assessed by an Assessor and are easy to combine with other elements to create complex tasks. So Tasks are a great starting point for combining offline activities into your training. Activities are generally best used if your tasks are complex and need to utilise due dates and notifications to ensure completion.
Reporting and analytics
Reporting and analytics
Details of explorer Task completions and results can be obtained using the Tasks report in Analytics.