Adding a branch table

Note for Contributors: This page should explain what can be seen on the page where you can add a branch moodlesite.com/mod/lesson/lesson.php).

Branches in a nutshell

1. Branch tables are simply pages which have a set of links to other pages in the lesson. Typically a lesson may start with a branch table which acts as a Table of Contents.
2. Each link in a branch table has two components, a description and the title of the page to jump to.
3. A branch table effectively divides the lesson into a number of branches (or sections). Each branch can contain a number of pages (probably all related to the same topic). The end of a branch is usually marked by an End of Branch page. This is a special page which, by default, returns the student back to the preceding branch table. (The "return" jump in an End of Branch page can be changed, if required, by editing the page.)
4. There can be more than one branch table in a lesson. For example, a lesson might usefully be structured so that specialist points are sub-branches within the main subject branches.

The Jump-to Link

Each Answer (for questions) or Description (for Branch pages) has a Jump-to link. When this answer is chosen, the answer's response is shown to the student. After that the student sees the page given in the Jump-to link. This link can be either relative or absolute. Relative links are This page and Next page. This page means that the student sees the current page again. Next page shows the page which follows this page in the logical order of pages. An absolute page link is specified by choosing the page's title.

Note that a (relative) Next page Jump-to link may show a different page after pages have been moved. Whereas Jump-to links which use page titles always show the same page after pages have been moved.

Special Jumps

Unseen Question within a Branch

This will link to a randomly chosen unseen (by the student in this attempt) question between this branch table and the End of the Lesson or the next End of Branch.

Random Question within a Branch

This will link to a randomly chosen question between the current branch table and the End of Lesson or the next End of Branch. If the student has already seen the question and attempts are greater than 1, they will get another chance to earn the point(s) for that question. If attempts are set to 1, the question will be skipped and another random question shown.

Random Branch Table

This will jump to a random Branch Table between the current Branch Table and the End of Lesson or the next End of Branch.

Creating a branch table

It is best to create a branch table after you have created pages in your lesson. You should go to All-Pages View of your lesson. Above each page of your lesson you can see a link: Add a Branch Table. Decide where you want to craete your branch table and click on the link. You will need to specify the name of your branch table (for example: Contents) and then write a few words introducing the topic/ topics covered in your branches.

Next, you specify the name of each link and the pade to which each link will jump.