Create and edit a Workbench
Build multi-page interactive documents in Fuxam — pages, media, and interactive questions — that students complete in view mode inside a course.
A Workbench is a multi-page interactive document created inside Fuxam. Teachers design the document in edit mode; students open it in view mode and complete any interactive elements — questions, tasks, or fill-in fields — directly on the page.
Workbench documents can be added to a course as a Workbench content block, giving students an assignment they complete entirely within the platform. Unlike a simple Files or Text block, a Workbench can combine narrative, media, and interactive prompts across several pages — closer to a digital worksheet or workbook than a single upload.
Why it matters
Many university tasks sit between “read this PDF” and “upload an essay.” Instructors want guided pages, embedded questions, and a clear completion path without sending students to an external authoring tool. Workbench keeps that experience inside FuxamLMS: one block in the learning journey, one editor for staff, one view mode for students.
For formative practice, interactive questions on each page can check understanding as students progress. For richer assignments, a multi-page structure supports scaffolds (instructions, examples, then tasks) that a single hand-in file cannot express as clearly.
How it fits
| Related area | Relationship |
|---|---|
| Add a content block | Create the Workbench block in Content Manager first |
| Learning journey | Students open the block from the journey; teachers can monitor progress at journey level |
| Review submissions and grade | Review completed interactive work and enter grades where grading applies |
| Submit a hand-in (students) | Use Hand-in instead when the expected output is a file upload rather than an in-document activity |
| Content Database | Consider reusable library blocks when the same Workbench pattern is shared across courses |
Key concepts
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Edit mode | Teacher/editor interface for designing pages and inserting elements |
| View mode | Student interface for reading content and completing interactive elements |
| Page Manager | Left panel listing all pages; add, rename, reorder, and navigate |
| Creation toolbar | Top tools for inserting text, headings, images, interactive questions, tables, and more |
| Auto-save | The document saves automatically as you work |
Open a Workbench to edit
Open your course and go to the Content Manager tab.
Find the Workbench block in the learning journey and click Open editor.
Alternatively, you can create a standalone Workbench from outside any course by selecting Workbench from the navigation.
Edit mode overview
In edit mode the Workbench interface shows:
- Page Manager (left panel) — lists all pages in the document. Click a page to navigate to it. Use the + button to add a new page, and drag pages to reorder them.
- Creation toolbar (top) — tools for adding content to the current page: text, headings, images, interactive questions, tables, and more.
- Auto-save indicator — the document saves automatically as you work.
Add and arrange pages
In the Page Manager, click the + button to add a new page.
Give the page a name by clicking the page title in the Page Manager.
Drag pages in the Page Manager to change their order.
Add content to a page
Click on the page canvas to place your cursor.
Use the creation toolbar at the top to insert elements — text blocks, images, interactive questions, and so on.
Continue adding and arranging elements. The document saves automatically.
How students complete a Workbench
When a student opens a Workbench block in the Learning Journey tab, they see the document in view mode. They can:
- Read all content on each page.
- Fill in interactive fields and answer questions.
- Navigate between pages using the Page Manager or the next/previous controls.
- Submit the Workbench when they have finished all pages.
Students follow the same journey navigation patterns described in Follow the learning journey (students). If the block has a due date or conditions, those apply like any other content block.
Best practices
- Put instructions on the first page and interactive tasks on later pages so students know what “done” means before they start answering.
- Keep interactive questions focused; a Workbench is usually stronger as guided practice than as a dense exam substitute (use Exam or Assessment blocks when attempt limits and formal grading rules are central — see Add a content block).
- Name pages for students (“Case study”, “Submit answers”), not for internal drafts (“v3 final”).
- After major edits, open the course journey in Student View or view as a student to confirm navigation and interactivity feel clear.
Common pitfalls
- Leaving the Workbench block without a clear title or due date in the journey, so students miss the assignment among other blocks.
- Overloading a single page with many interactive elements — prefer additional pages for clearer progress.
- Expecting students to change layout or add pages; only interactive fields and questions you placed are available in view mode.
FAQ
Is a Workbench the same as a Hand-in?
No. A Hand-in asks students to upload files or write a submission for review. A Workbench is completed inside an interactive document. Choose Hand-in when the artifact is a file; choose Workbench when the learning happens on structured pages within Fuxam.
Do I need to save manually?
No — the document saves automatically as you work. Watch the auto-save indicator in edit mode for confirmation.
Can students reorder pages?
No. Page structure is fixed by the teacher in edit mode. Students only navigate and complete interactive elements in view mode.