Resources (Content Management)

​

Overview

The Resources tool (also known as Content Hosting) provides centralized file storage and management for course materials. Upload documents, images, videos, and other files, organize them in folders, control access permissions, and share resources with students—all within a secure, version-controlled environment.

​

Key Features

​

File Management

Comprehensive file operations:

• Upload files: Add documents, images, videos, and other file types
• Create folders: Organize resources hierarchically
• Move/copy: Reorganize content structure
• Rename: Update file and folder names
• Delete: Remove outdated or incorrect files
• Bulk operations: Work with multiple files simultaneously
• Drag and drop: Upload multiple files at once

​

Folder Organization

Structure content logically:

• Hierarchical folders: Create nested folder structures
• Folder templates: Set up consistent folder structures across courses
• Folder permissions: Different access rules per folder
• Folder properties: Add descriptions and metadata
• Hidden folders: Prepare content before making visible
• Expandable tree view: Navigate complex folder structures easily

​

File Types Supported

Store diverse content types:

​

Permissions and Access Control

Granular control over resource access:

• View permissions: Who can see and download files
• Edit permissions: Who can modify or update files
• Delete permissions: Who can remove resources
• Role-based access: Set permissions by role (instructor, TA, student)
• Group-based access: Limit access to specific course groups
• Public access: Share resources outside the site (optional)
• Inherited permissions: Folders pass permissions to contents

​

Availability Control

Schedule resource visibility:

• Show/hide: Make resources visible or hidden from students
• Release date: Automatically show resources at specific time
• Retract date: Automatically hide resources after date
• Conditional access: Link availability to prerequisites
• Manual control: Override automatic scheduling when needed

​

Version Management

Track file history and changes:

• Upload new version: Replace file while preserving history
• Version history: Access all previous versions
• Restore old version: Revert to earlier file version
• Version comparison: See what changed between versions
• Version notes: Document changes made in each version
• Timestamp tracking: Record when versions were uploaded

​

Copyright and Licensing

Manage intellectual property:

• Copyright status: Indicate copyright ownership
• Fair use rationale: Document fair use justification
• Creative Commons: Apply CC licenses to your own materials
• Copyright alerts: Inform students of usage restrictions
• License metadata: Track licensing information

​

File Properties and Metadata

Enhance resource discovery:

• Display name: User-friendly file names
• Description: Detailed information about resource
• Copyright info: Ownership and usage restrictions
• HTML description: Rich formatted descriptions
• Custom metadata: Additional searchable fields
• Tags: Categorize resources by keywords

​

Quota Management

Manage storage space:

• Site quota: Total storage allocation per site
• Usage tracking: Monitor space consumed
• Quota warnings: Alerts when approaching limit
• File size limits: Maximum individual file size
• Cleanup recommendations: Identify large or unused files

​

Search and Discovery

Find resources quickly:

• Full-text search: Search file names and descriptions
• Filter by type: Show only specific file types
• Sort options: By name, date, size, or type
• Recent items: Quick access to recently added files
• Breadcrumb navigation: Track location in folder hierarchy
• Favorite folders: Bookmark frequently accessed folders

​

Batch Operations

Work efficiently with multiple files:

• Multi-select: Select multiple files for operations
• Bulk download: Download multiple files as ZIP
• Bulk delete: Remove multiple files simultaneously
• Bulk permissions: Apply permissions to multiple items
• Bulk move: Relocate multiple files to different folder
• Copy multiple: Duplicate several files at once

​

Citations and Links

Reference resources from other tools:

• Direct links: URL to specific resource
• Citation helpers: Generate formatted citations
• Embed in lessons: Link from Lesson Builder
• Attach to assignments: Include in assignment instructions
• Reference in forums: Link to resources in discussions
• Persistent URLs: Links remain valid even if files move

​

Dropbox Feature

Private file exchange:

• Student dropboxes: Private folders for each student
• File submission: Students upload files to their dropbox
• Instructor access: View all student dropboxes
• Privacy: Students see only their own dropbox
• Feedback files: Return annotated files to students
• Alternative to assignments: Simple file collection

​

HTML Pages

Create web pages directly:

• Built-in HTML editor: Create formatted web pages
• Rich text formatting: Headings, lists, links, images
• Inline images: Embed images in HTML pages
• Templates: Use pre-formatted page layouts
• Edit in place: Update HTML pages without downloading
• Preview before save: See how pages will appear

​

WebDAV Access

Access resources like network drive:

• Desktop integration: Mount Resources as network drive
• File system access: Use standard file operations
• Bulk uploads: Upload large numbers of files easily
• Folder synchronization: Keep local and remote in sync
• Cross-platform: Works on Windows, Mac, Linux

​

Integration with Other Tools

Resources integrates throughout Sakai:

• Assignments: Attach resources to assignment instructions
• Lesson Builder: Embed resources in lesson pages
• Tests & Quizzes: Include resources in test questions
• Syllabus: Link to resource files from syllabus
• Announcements: Attach files to announcements
• Email Archive: Store email attachments

​

Best Practices

​

Organization Strategy

• Create folder structure before uploading content
• Use consistent naming conventions (e.g., “Week_01”, “Week_02”)
• Group similar resources together
• Avoid deeply nested folder structures (3-4 levels maximum)
• Delete or archive old content from previous semesters
• Use descriptive file names, not generic names like “document.pdf”

​

File Naming

• Include topic or week in file name (e.g., “Week3_Chapter5_Slides.pdf”)
• Avoid special characters in file names
• Use underscores or hyphens instead of spaces
• Keep names reasonably short but descriptive
• Include version numbers if maintaining multiple versions
• Use consistent date formats (YYYY-MM-DD)

​

Access Control

• Review permissions before making folders visible
• Use folder-level permissions to manage groups of files
• Limit edit permissions to instructors and TAs
• Make reading materials visible as needed, not all at once
• Use groups for differentiated content access
• Regularly audit permissions for sensitive materials

​

Storage Management

• Compress large files before uploading
• Use external hosting for very large video files
• Remove duplicate files
• Archive or delete resources from previous semesters
• Monitor quota usage regularly
• Use appropriate file formats (PDF for reading, not scanned images)

​

Student Resources

• Provide clear folder names so students know where to find things
• Add descriptions to important files
• Use release dates to pace resource availability
• Consider creating a “Course Resources” folder for reference materials
• Make syllabi and core materials available from day one
• Update resources promptly when corrections needed

​

Accessibility

• Ensure PDFs are accessible (searchable, tagged)
• Provide text alternatives for images
• Include transcripts for audio/video content
• Use descriptive link text, not “click here”
• Test files with screen readers when possible
• Provide multiple formats when appropriate (PDF and Word)

​

Common Use Cases

​

Course Readings

Organize required and supplemental readings:

• Create folders by week or topic
• Upload PDF versions of readings
• Add copyright information
• Set release dates aligned with schedule
• Include reading guides or questions

​

Lecture Materials

Share presentation slides and notes:

• Upload slides after each class
• Include PDF and editable versions
• Organize by week or topic
• Add audio recordings of lectures if available
• Provide handout versions for accessibility

​

Assignment Templates

Provide files students need for assignments:

• Data sets for analysis assignments
• Templates for reports or projects
• Example files showing expected format
• Rubrics and grading criteria
• Reference materials and guides

​

Multimedia Resources

Store audio and video content:

• Upload lecture recordings
• Provide supplemental video content
• Include audio interviews or podcasts
• Add transcripts in companion files
• Organize by topic or week

​

Student Submission Dropbox

Collect student files:

• Enable dropbox for file submissions
• Students upload to private folders
• Review and provide feedback
• Return annotated files to students
• Alternative to formal assignments for low-stakes submissions

​

Technical Details

The Resources tool is implemented using:

• Content Hosting Service: Core API for file storage and retrieval
• Storage Backend: Configurable file system or database storage
• Metadata Service: Dublin Core metadata support for resource description
• WebDAV Server: Standards-based remote file access
• Quota System: Configurable storage limits per site
• Permissions: Integrated with Sakai’s role-based security
• Version Control: Complete history of file modifications