This guide will show you how to create, test, and publish an activity using the Journal Template. 

What are Templates? Templates are created by Rievent and added to your account for you to create CE/CME activities. Each activity type (journal, live event, enduring, RSS, webinar, and manuscript review.) will have its own template. 

Please note that an Activity Evaluation (as well as other evaluations) can be built into the template if the same questions are asked for every activity. If this is the case, Rievent can build the evaluation into the template and provide it as a checkbox option on the Activity Options tab. This saves administrators from having to create the same evaluation questions over and over for each activity. These "shared" or "built-in" evaluations are not editable by a customer, so if changes need to be made, please let us know. 

Step 1: Creating a New Journal Activity

1. To begin, click the  icon next to the Manage Your Program Menu.

2. Enter the Short Name for the activity. The Short Name is how the activity will be listed in the Manage Your Program menu and will not be exposed to learners. If you have not already decided to do so, we recommend setting up a naming convention for your activities. 

When creating the Short Name, please keep in mind that it must be unique and should also include the Activity ID. For example, if your Activity ID is CH-01, the Short Name might be in the format CH-01: Chronic Health Conditions.

3. During the pre-production stage, you have the option to add the activity to other administrative accounts and to upload any production-related files for storage (optional). Please note the files uploaded here are for storage only; this feature is not intended for content hosting. Files stored here cannot be accessed by learners. 

Adding the activity to other administrative accounts allows others to see and access the activity from the Manage Your Program menu in their own admin accounts. Click Pre-Production complete to continue. 

4. Next, select the Journal template.

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Production Wizard

The Production Wizard will walk you through the template step-by-step, starting with the Activity Info tab. Once you've completed a step, you can go back at any time to edit what you've entered by clicking the appropriate tab. Always click the Save button for the steps that include a Save button, and Next after making any changes.

Activity Information tab

5. From the Activity Information tab, enter the following information:

• Internal Activity ID: The internal activity identification number or name. This must be unique for each activity in the Rievent Platform. Typically the Activity ID is part of the Activity Name. For example, if the Activity Name CH-01: Chronic Health Conditions, then the Activity ID would be CH-01.

• Internal Activity Name:  Same as the Short Name. This will already be populated for you, based on what was entered as the short name in the beginning of production, and can be edited. This must be unique for each activity.
  
  
• External Activity Title: The name of the activity as you would like it to appear to learners from the Overview Page, Certificate, and all activity related emails (CME Confirmation, Outcomes Invitation, etc). 
  
  
• Activity Start Date: The first day learners can access the activity to request credit. 
  
  
• Activity End Date: The last full day that learners can request credit. The activity will expire at midnight Eastern Time on the date entered into the field.  

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Journal Info

6. Next, enter the Volume, Issue Number, Page, Cover Date, and Issue Date. These are all optional fields. And depending on how your certificates are configured, the text entered into these fields may be displayed on the learner’s CME certificate.

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CE Catalog

7. From the CE Catalog tab, you have the option to enter a brief description of the activity and assign metadata tags. This information will display in the CE Catalog (if the activity is published) and provides learners a quick summary description of the activity.

For more information on uploading images, visit the FAQ: How do I use the Image Upload Tool?

Go through the list and check the meta-data tags you would like to assign to the activity. Once created, the list of metadata choices will be maintained by the Rievent Platform, so you do not need to recreate the list for each activity.

You can create new tags by clicking the Add button. To edit an existing tag, simply double click it, make the changes, then click Save. You can also remove a tag by clicking the Delete button.

The image below shows how the meta-data tags will be displayed in the CE Catalog. Only the metadata tags checked during production will show up in the CE Catalog.

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Credit Options

8. Next, configure the credit options that will be available in the activity. You can include one or multiple credit options. If the credit option you are looking for is not listed, you can create a one using the Certification Management Tool. If there are many credit options listed, the Search box can help quickly locate the desired credit type.

Check the boxes of the credit type(s) you would like to include, then fill out the min, max, and credit increment fields. To set a static credit amount, without the option for learners to choose incremental credit, enter the same number for the min/max and enter "0" in the increment field. 

By default, all the selected credit options will be available for the duration of the activity (set on the Activity Info tab). However, under the More Details menu, you have the option to add a Credit Release and Credit Expiration date for individual credit options. This allows you to offer certain credit options for only part of the duration of the activity.  

Also under the More Details menu, is the Certificate Activity Accreditation Statement field. This field is for certificates that (1) have been created using the certification management tool and (2) that contain the Activity Accreditation Statement merge tag. The information provided here will override the existing credit accreditation statement and be merged onto the applicable certificate. More information on the Certification Management Tool and Accreditation Statement Merge Tag.

When you are finished configuring the credit options, click the Next button.

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Activity Options

9.  From the Activity Options tab, you can select which evaluations to include and enable features like eCommerce. Depending on your template, you may also see additional pre-built evaluations (also referred to as "shared" or "common" evaluations) as options to include.

If including content in the activity, there are 3 different options:

• Link to Externally Hosted Content: Select this option if your content already exists on the web and is accessible from a valid URL. Later in the template, you will have the option to provide the URL. Learners will click a "View Content" button on the page and be taken to the link you provide. 
  
  
• Compose or Paste HTML using a WYSIWYG Editor: Use this option to create your own HTML page using the WYSIWYG editor. This is useful when providing multiple videos, or various types of content together. For example, including multiple videos from a conference, as well as PDF downloads. You can also copy/paste in existing HTML by accessing the editor's source code button. 
  
  
• Upload Content to Rievent (Mp4 video, Mp3, PDF, SCORM): Select this option to upload your content into Rievent for hosting. A drag-and-drop style interface allows you upload your content later in the template. For SCORM content (does not apply to videos or PDFs), decide if you would like to include a header, footer, sidebar, continue button, or exit button.  
  
  NOTE: The file uploader is limited to 2GB files. For files exceeding the limit, we recommend uploading to YouTube and then using the "WYSIWYG" content editor option to embed the video onto a page in the activity.

Enable Smart Continue button: This option is only available for uploaded MP4 files and zipped SCORM content. By default, a continue button displays to learners at all times and allows them to advance past the content page at any point. Select this option to disable the continue button until the learner watches the entire video or completely advances through the SCORM content. 

To enable this option for SCORM content, before uploading to Rievent, the SCORM content must be configured to include a continue button call at the end of the content experience. The continue button will only appear when one of the following conditions is met:

• 1. The SCORM 1.2 attribute "cmi.core.lesson_status" is set to "completed"
  2. (OR) The SCORM 2004 attribute "cmi.completion_status" is set to "completed"

Click Next to continue.

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Overview Page

10.  If included, the Overview Page will appear to learners as the first page of the activity and is typically used to present activity information, such as learning objectives, accreditation info, disclosures, etc....  A default overview page may already be built into the template, but you must be sure to add any activity specific information, such as the learning objectives, to the page.  

Use the rich text editor to add formatting, images, links, tables, etc. to the page. To work with the HTML view of the page, click the Source button in the toolbar.

Helpful Articles on the Overview Page:

• FAQ: How do I use the Image Upload Tool?
• Configuring links to open in a new window

Selecting the Require Disclosures Agreement checkbox will include a disclosure's checkbox at the bottom of the Overview page that learners must check to verify they have read the all the information before continuing into the activity.


When you are finished creating the page, click Next to continue.

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Pre-Activity Evaluation

11. If you selected to include a Pre-Activity Evaluation, you will create it now. To add questions, click the Add Question or Text button and then use the editor to enter the question text and answer choices.

The Pre-Activity Evaluation for this example will be configured as a single rating question, asking learners to rate their current knowledge level of the event’s topics. More information on configuring rating style questions.

You may also edit the name of the evaluation as it appears to learners (e.g., “Pre-Activity Evaluation” to “Knowledge Assessment”) by hovering the cursor over the text, then double clicking to edit.

When finished, be sure to click Save before clicking Next.

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Content 

12.  Next, depending on the content option selected on the Activity Options tab, configure the content for the activity. 

• Link to Externally Hosted Content: Enter the full URL for the content, such as http://www.example.com/educational/content.pdf

• WYSIWYG Editor: Use the editor to compose your content, or paste existing HTML using the source code button.  

• Content Uploader (VIDEO, PDF, SCORM): Drag and drop the file into the content box, or click the content box to locate the file using the traditional file browser. If the file is large, it may take several minutes. Be sure to wait for the file to finish uploading. 

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Post-Test

13. Next, configure the Post-Test (Pre-Tests are configured the same way). There are two different ways to enter the test questions.  You can enter them all at once using the Multiple Choice Parser (more info), or one at a time using the wizard.

To configure multiple choice test questions individually, start by clicking the Add Question or Text button and then selecting the Choose One question type.

Next, double click the question to insert text. To add answer choices, click the  icon and then double click to insert text. You can also delete questions and answer choices with the  icon.  

To mark an answer choice as correct, click the  icon next to it and the icon will change to a . You can also add Answer Choice Rationale by clicking the  icon. 

You may also edit the title displayed to the learner, minimum passing score, and the number of attempts the learner will be allowed to achieve the passing score. Awarding of credit and a certificate of credit is contingent on meeting this minimum passing score.

When you are finished configuring the test, be sure to click the Save button before continuing.

Activity-Specific Evaluation

14.  If you selected to include an Activity Specific Evaluation (Pre-Activity Evaluations are built the same way), you will create it now. To add questions to the evaluation, click the Add Question or Text button and then use the editor to enter the question text and answer choices.

For this example, the evaluation will be configured as a single rating question, asking learners to rate how well the activity met its stated learning objectives. More information on configuring rating style questions.

When you are finished configuring the survey, be sure to click the Save button before clicking Next.

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Outcomes Evaluation

15. Lastly, if an Outcomes Evaluation was selected from the Activity Options tab, use the same set of tools as the Post-Test and Activity-Specific Evaluation to build the Outcomes Evaluation. When finished be sure to click Save before clicking Next.

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Finished Tab

16. All the activity parameters have now been entered. Click Finished to create the activity and transition to the Review stage.

After the activity is created, you (along with any stakeholders) will have the opportunity to review. If any changes are required, you may return to the Production Wizard to edit the activity.

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Step 2: Reviewing the Activity

From the Review stage, you will have the opportunity to test the activity from a learner’s perspective, as well as add the activity to other administrative accounts.

Managing Administrative Access

Click the Assign to Administrator... button to manage activity access for other administrative accounts.  Adding the activity to other administrative accounts allows them to see and access the activity from the Manage Your Program menu in their own admin account. 

Testing the Activity (Request for Credit and Outcomes)

The Draft Review Links will walk you through the activity as a learner, from start to finish.  To review the activity, click the Request for Credit Launch Activity link. This will allow you to participate in the activity exactly how a learner would see it. If an outcomes evaluation was included, you can review it by selecting Outcomes Launch Activity link.   

You can also preview individual pieces of the activity using the Preview Program Component links at the bottom of the screen. This can be useful for reviewing a specific component without having to run through the entire activity. 

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Step 3: Publishing and Locking the Activity

When you have finished reviewing and are satisfied with the activity, click the Complete Draft Review and Lock Activity button. This locks the activity to prevent any accidental changes from being made and transitions you to the Publish stage. You can always go back and unlock an activity to make edits. 

Once the activity is locked, the Share Activity “friendly” URL for accessing the activity are provided. If you haven't already done so, be sure to also delete any test records that were created during the review process.

To publish the activity to the CE Catalog, click the Publish button. Once an activity is published, it will appear in the CE Catalog. 

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Deleting Test Records

Once you have tested the activity, be sure to delete all test records created during the review process.  Each time the activity is tested as a learner, a participation record is created. Test participation records can be deleted using the Records tab. 

1.  First be sure the correct activity is listed in the Manage Your Program drop-down menu.

Leaving all criteria fields blank and clicking the Search button will return all records associated with the activity (which can be useful in deleting test records for activities not yet available to learners, since all the records listed will be test records). However, you can also search for individual records by using the various search criteria fields.

2. From the search results page, click the  icon to delete the test records. You can also check the boxes for all the test record(s) you would like to delete, then click the Delete Selected button.

You can also search for test records across all activities by selecting ALL PROGRAMS from the Manage Your Program menu.

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Making Changes to the Activity

To make a change, go back to the Production Wizard by clicking Production in the production timeline.

If the activity is locked, you will need to unlock it. To edit a locked activity, simply click the Unlock for Edit button. When an activity is unlocked, it will be removed from the CE Catalog until you re-publish it. Any learners that are actively participating in the activity when it is unpublished will not be affected in any way. 

Access the different areas of the Production Wizard by clicking the tabs on the left side of the screen. After making the necessary changes, be sure to click the Save and/or Next button.

Lastly, click the Finished button on the Finished tab to complete the change.

 
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