You can create a module in minutes using a Microsoft Word file and the Connexions word importer tool. Before you begin, you will need to completethe following tasks: Get an account on Connexions. See the Request a Connexions Account page. Download a copy of the Connexions document template. If you apply the styles in this template to your Word document, the conversion from Word to CNXML will be cleaner. Click Connexions Document Template to download a copy of the template. Verify that the content in your Word document is as you want it.

Downloading the Connexions Document Template Click the link below to download a copy of the Connexions Document Template. Connexions Document Template Place the template on your desktop.

Installing the Connexions Document Template Installing the template is quick and easy. Follow the steps below to install the template. Start Microsoft Word. Reduce your window size so that the document template is visible on your desktop. From the Word File menu, click New. Drag and drop the document template into the "General" tab of the "New" document box. (see figure 1) Figure 1: Microsoft Word's new document prompt

Creating Your Connexions Word Document To create a Word document, use the following steps: Once you have followed the steps above to install the Connexions Document Template, select the Connexions Document.dot icon. Click OK. Your new Connexions Word document is created and displayed.

Using CNXML Styles Connexions modules contain not only structural information about the document, but also semantic information. This means that you do not simply highlight some text and designate it as bold. Rather, you highlight the text and designate it as a "term" or as a "quote". When your document is uploaded to Connexions, the structure and the semantics are both preserved. Using Connexions styles is easy. If you have used styles in Microsoft Word before you will not have a problem. If you have not, have no fear, you will be using styles in no time. Just use the following steps: Type the text of the paragraph into the document. Highlight the word or phrase you want to semantically mark up. In your toolbar at the top of the screen, locate the style drop-down box. It usually displays the default style Heading 1 or Normal. Open the style drop-down box. Click the name of the semantic style you want to apply to the highlighted text. The text that was highlighted is automatically given the style you selected.

Uploading Your Connexions Document You are now ready to upload the document to Connexions. Use the following steps to upload your Connexions Document: After creating your module in Connexions (see Editing Modules) click the Edit tab (see figure 2). Select Microsoft Word from the Import drop-down list and click Import. Click Browse to locate the document you want (see figure 3). Click Import to upload your document. Your new document is uploaded and ready to edit or publish using Connexions. Figure 2: The import/export screen in the Connexions editing interface.

Editing Your Module Content Once you have created your module, you can edit it in Connexions, or make your changes in your original Word file and repeat the upload process.

Inserting Metadata Metadata is information about the module, such as the module title, any keywords that readers may search on, and a brief abstract or summary of the module. To insert metadata, use the following steps: Click the "Metadata" tab to display it. Type the name you want to give the module in the "Name" field. This name will appear wherever the module title appears in Connexions. Type the topic related terms that a user may use in a search for the module in the "Keywords" field. Enter each term on a separate line. Type a brief description of the module topic in the "Abstract" field. Do not repeat the title of the module in the abstract. The abstract displays under the title in the module and restating the module title in the abstract would be redundant. Click Save. A message that the metadata was updated displays and the name of the module replaces "New Module" in the screen title.

Naming Authors, Maintainers, and Copyright Holders As creator of a module, by default you hold the roles of author, maintainer, and copyright holder. Authors receive credit for writing the material. Maintainers are able to edit and publish successive versions of a module. Copyright Holders have the legal right to license the materials. To grant one or more roles to other Connexions account holders who you want to collaborate with you on the module, use the following steps: Click the "Roles" tab to display it. Type the first or last name of the person you want to grant a role to in the text box next to Search. Click Search. The Connexions accounts are searched and any Connexions accounts that match the search string are displayed. Select the check boxes for the appropriate roles next to the name of the person you want to add and click Add People. The name of the new collaborator appears with the names of authors, maintainers, and copyright holders under the "Current Roles" heading and in the table under the "Change Roles" heading. In both places, the new collaborator is noted as a role change that is pending acceptance. Look at the table under the "Change Roles" heading and verify that the check boxes in the "Author", "Maintainer", or "Copyright Holder" columns are checked for the roles you want to grant to the new collaborator. If necessary, you can click the check boxes to change which roles will be granted. Click Submit Changes. The next time the new collaborator logs into Connexions, he or she will be notified of a pending role request. Connexions will not apply the roles to the new collaborator until he or she accepts the role request.

Adding Links to Your Module To add or edit links that are associated with a module, use the following steps: Click on the "Links" tab on the editing interface. The Edit Links" screen displays. Type the label for the link in the "Link Name" field (required). Identify the target of the link by typing in a module ID in the "Module ID" field or typing a URL in the "Link URL" field. You can optionally specify a version if you entered a module ID. Click on the down arrow next to the "Link Type" field and select the type of link from the drop-down list. Click on the down arrow next to the "Link Strength" field and select a number from the drop-down list for the strength of the link. 5 is the strongest link. Click Add to add the link.

Previewing Your Module After editing the module, you should preview the module to verify that it appears as you want it to appear. You can view modules from the "Preview" tab in both online and print versions.

Publishing Your Module Once you are satisfied with the content and appearance of your module, you can publish it in Connexions. To publish a module, use the following steps: Click on the "Publish" tab. The "Publish Module" screen displays. This screen contains a list of reminders for you to check before you publish the module. Type a brief description of your work on the module in the "Description of Changes" text box. Click Publish. Your work on the module is entered into the Connexions Content Commons. Once in the Content Commons, anyone with Internet access can you’re your module.