Editing Commons content types: open textbook v template

[reheftma]

1. Please define and compare open textbook v template

2. Does this bear on the method of editing Commons content?

I understand the content is edited in Canvas and then uploaded to replace or be added to an existing resource (Page, Assignment, Module…).

I further understand the edit will not automatically update other instances of that resource (in either another course or the same course). That has to be done by importing and replacing each instance in the Canvas shell(s).

[Chris_Hofer]

Hello there, @reheftma ...

I am so sorry to see that your question has been sitting out here in the Community since October of 2020 without any response.  After reading through your question, I did some searching here in the Community, and I found the following Guide:

How do I edit the details of a resource in Commons?

If you scroll down to the heading "Select Content Type", you'll see a screenshot and a couple short paragraphs that describe the options of "Template" and "Open Textbook".  I've pasted in these paragraphs for you here (the blue highlighted text is my own doing, by the way):

You can label your resource as a template or open textbook content type. Content types help users more easily locate resources when filtering search results.

To select the template content type, click the Template checkbox [1]. To select the open textbook content type, click the Open Textbook checkbox [2]. Both content types can be selected for the same resource.

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I hope this might help to answer your question about the difference between the two checkbox items, "Template" and "Open Textbook".  And, to answer your second question, no, I don't think this would bear on the method of editing Commons content.  These options are for helping in search results.

Please let Community members know if you have any other questions about this...thanks!

[MadeleineYoung1]

Thanks for the response. However, it hasn't really answered for me the question "define and compare template vs. open text book"

Can anyone clarify further?

[Chris_Hofer]

@MadeleineYoung1 ...

If you feel that the descriptions of "template" and "open text book" are not clear within the Guide that I linked above, you can fill out a form at the bottom of that Guide which will get sent to the Documentation Team at Instructure (the people that make Canvas).  You could ask them to describe in detail what "template" and "open text book" mean rather than that it's just a checkbox option for each.  To make a suggestion like this, go to the bottom of the link I provided above, and then click on the "Leave Feedback" blue oval button (just above the dark blue area at the bottom of the page).  A form will open up, and you'll be able to provide your feedback.

I hope this will be helpful to you!