ISIDORE FAQs

ISIDORE FAQs
Table of Contents
Table of Contents ..........................................................................................................................................................2
General FAQ’s ................................................................................................................................................................3
Announcements FAQ’s ..................................................................................................................................................7
Assignments FAQ’s ........................................................................................................................................................8
Blog FAQ’S ...................................................................................................................................................................14
Chat Room FAQ’s .........................................................................................................................................................15
Drop Box FAQ’s ..........................................................................................................................................................16
Elluminate Classroom FAQ’s .....................................................................................................................................17
Forums FAQ’s ...............................................................................................................................................................19
Gradebook FAQ’s .........................................................................................................................................................22
Gradebook+ FAQ’s .....................................................................................................................................................24
Homepage FAQ’s .........................................................................................................................................................25
Messages FAQ’s ...........................................................................................................................................................26
Modules FAQ’s .............................................................................................................................................................27
My Evaluations ............................................................................................................................................................29
News Feeds FAQ’s .......................................................................................................................................................30
Resources FAQ’s ..........................................................................................................................................................31
Search FAQ’s ...............................................................................................................................................................34
Schedule FAQ’s ............................................................................................................................................................35
Site Info FAQ’s .............................................................................................................................................................37
Site Stats FAQ ..............................................................................................................................................................39
Syllabus FAQ’s ..............................................................................................................................................................40
Tests & Quizzes FAQ’s..................................................................................................................................................41
Web Content FAQ’S .....................................................................................................................................................45
Wiki FAQ’s....................................................................................................................................................................46
2
General FAQ’s
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
What is my Isidore username and password?
How do I change my password?
Where are my courses?
How do Instructors add students/TAs/other Instructors to their sites?
How do I remove users from my site?
How do I remove course tabs for courses I don’t want access to any more?
Why can’t students see my site?
What software do I need to use Isidore?
Which Internet browsers are supported in Isidore?
What are the roles and associated permissions within Isidore?
Can I add a guest to my Isidore site?
Can I reorder the tools on the menubar?
Can I rename the tools in my course?
How do I add or remove a tool from my site?
Is it possible to hide certain tools from my students?
Can I change the icons next to the tool names in the menubar?
1. What is my Isidore username and password?
You will use your University of Dayton LDAP/Novell username and password to log into Isidore.
If you don't know your username and password you should contact the UD Help Desk at (937)
229-3888. You can reset your password at https://udit-services.udayton.edu/password-resets/ if
you've forgotten your password.
2. How do I change my password?
You can change or reset your password at https://udit-services.udayton.edu/password-resets/.
3. Where are my courses?
Once you log into Isidore you will see your courses listed across the top of the page as tabs.
Each course will have its own separate tab. Once you have more than four courses you’ll see an
‘Additional Courses’ tab in the top bar. You can access more courses you belond to once you
click this tab. You can also rearrange the order of these tabs under ‘Preferences’ on the ‘My
Workspace’ tab. If you don’t see a course listed that you belong to you should contact the
instructor. It usually takes 24-48 hours to be added into the course if you’ve added the class
late.
4. How do Instructors add students/TAs/other Instructors to their sites?
Class rosters are added automatically to course sites. Instructors can add students/TAs/other
instructors to their sites by clicking on the ‘Add Participants’ link under the Site Info tool.
3
5. How do I remove users from my site?
Currently, instructors cannot totally delete students from their courses, but they can make them
’Inactive’ within the 'Site Info' tool. Students will no longer have access to the course site if they
are marked as inactive. Students that drop a course are automatically removed withi 24-48
hours.
6. How do I remove course tabs for courses I don’t want access to any more?
Click on the ‘Preferences’ link under your ‘My Workspace’ tab to remove course tabs from your
view. On the ‘Customize Tabs’ page you can click on a course name in the left column and use
the arrows to shift it into the right (My Hidden Sites) column. Any course in the rightcolumn will
be hidden from your view.
7. Why can’t students see my site?
Students can't access sites until 8 AM on the first day of the semester and they lose access to
course sites at the beginning of the following term. Students that add a class late will be
automatically added into the Isidore site within 24-48 hours. If you believe there is a problem
with your students gaining access to your Isidore site you should contact the E-Learning lab at [email protected] or 229-5039.
8. What software do I need to use Isidore?
For basic course access all that is required is an Internet connection and a current web browser
that has Java/JavaScript enabled, and accepts cookies.
You can use a variety of software programs to create your course materials, ranging from
Microsoft Word and PowerPoint to HTML editors. You can also include any content in your
course that can be displayed using a Web browser (e.g. PDF files, audio and video clips,
animations, and graphics).
9. Which Internet browsers are supported in Isidore?
Currently, on Windows based PCs, Isidore performs best using Internet Explorer 7 or Internet
Explorer 8 (and is also stable with utilizing Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 2 or with Internet
Explorer 9 in Compatibility Mode), or Mozilla Firefox 2.0 and above. Google Chrome,
Opera, and other browsers have not been tested and are not recommended for use with Isidore.
For Mac users, Firefox 2.0 and above and Safari have been tested and are supported in Isidore.
10. What are the roles and associated permissions within Isidore?
There are four types of roles that a user might have within an Isidore class site. However,
Instructors can change the default permissions for most tools on a course by course basis to
retract or extend permissions to users.
4
Instructor
Typically the Instructor is the instructor of record for the course. However, Isidore courses can
have multiple instructors associated with them. An instructor owns and administers the course
site and the content of that course. They have full control in the site to add, remove, and change
content as well as manage students.
Teaching Assistant
Teaching Assistants have the same permissions as students with the added ability to grade
assignments and quizzes. TA's can also manage the WebCT gradebook.
Student
Students have the ability to view course content, take quizzes, submit assignments, send mail
messages and participate in Forums, etc. Students can't add or change content in a course site.
Evaluation Coordinator
The Evaluation Coordinator is usually a member of your department who is in charge of
facilitating course evaluations through the ‘My Evaluations’ tool in Isidore. Please be aware that
most Isidore sites will not be using this role. If you are interested in reading more about the ‘My
Evaluations’ tool, please visit this link:
http://academic.udayton.edu/elearning/evaluations/EvalSys.htm.
11. Can I add a guest to my Isidore site?
Instructors may request guest accounts for their Isidore sites. Often time's professors ask
outside professionals to visit their class Isidore site to participate in forums or chat sessions. This
is a great idea to add some real-world validity to class topics. Since these guests don't have UD
LDAP accounts they need a 'manual' Isidore account created for them to gain access to the class
site.
To request a guest account, email the guest's full name and email address along with brief
explanation and usage dates to [email protected].
12. Can I reorder the tools on the menubar?
Yes. You can reorder the tools under the Site Info -> Rename/Reorder Tools link. Simply drag
and drop the tools so they are in the order you desire. Once you are done be sure to click the
‘Save’ button at the bottom or top of the screen to lock in your changes.
13. Can I rename the tools in my course?
Yes. You can rename the tools under the Site Info -> Rename/Reorder Tools section. Click on
the icon that looks like a piece of paper and pencil to the right of the tool you wish to rename.
In the text box that appears, rename the tool as desired and click the green icon underneath.
Once you are done be sure to click the ‘Save’ button at the bottom or top of the screen to lock
in your changes.
5
14. How do I add or remove a tool from my site?
It’s very simple to remove a tool from your site. Navigate to the Site Info tool and click on the
Edit Tools link at the top of the screen. Find the tool that you wish to remove from your site and
uncheck the box next to it. Click the Continue button at the bottom of the screen and Finish on
the next screen to complete the process.
15. Is it possible to hide certain tools from my students?
Yes. By default all tools, with the exception of Resources, are visible to the students by default.
The instructor can hide tools from students very easily under the Site Info -> Rename/Reorder
Tools section by clicking on the light-bulb icon next to the tool name. If the light-bulb is yellow
(On) it means the tool is viewable to the students. If the light-bulb is grey (Off) it means the
tools is not viewable to the students. You’ll be able to tell that a tool is hidden from students
because it will be italicized and in parenthesis in the left-hand menu. (Ex: ( Resources ) )
16. Can I change the icons next to the tool names in the menubar?
No. The icons are system defaults and can’t be changed by an instructor or on a course-bycourse basis.
6
Announcements FAQ’s
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
How do I remove previous announcements?
How do I change the order of announcements?
Can I allow teaching assistants and/or students to post announcements in my site?
Can I shorten the announcements page without removing any of the announcements?
What’s the difference between what I see on the Announcements tool page and what I see in
the Recent Announcements section of my course Home page?
1. How do I remove previous announcements?
To remove an announcement, go to the Announcements tool (in the left menubar) and check
the box to the right sideof the announcements you want to remove. The boxes are under the
column headed Remove. Once you’ve checked the announcements that you want to delete
click the Update button at the bottom of the page.
To avoid having Assignment announcements, don't check the Announce the Open Date box
when you create the Assignment.
2. How do I change the order of my announcements?
You cannot manually change the order of announcements. They are listed chronologically, with
the most recent first. You can sort the announcements by clicking on the different column titles
though.
3. Can I allow teaching assistants and/or students to post announcements in my site?
Yes. Click on the Permissions link at the top of the Announcements tool and check the box
under the ‘new’ heading for either (or both) user types. Once you click the Save button at the
bottom of the page the changes will take affect. You may need to demonstrate the process of
adding Announcements to your TA or students before asking them to do it.
4. Can I shorten the announcements page without removing any of the announcements?
Yes. You can adjust how many days in the past and the number of announcements to display
under the Options link found at the top of the Announcements tool. You can easily cut down
the list of the announcements you see by decreasing these numbers.
5. What’s the difference between what I see on the Announcements tool page and what I see
in the Recent Announcements section of my course Home page?
The Announcements tool will show you a view of every announcement ever created in a site
whether their new, old, open, or closed. The Recent Announcements section of the home page only
shows announcements that were recently created. The Recent Announcements section is set by
default to only show the three more recent announcements within a ten day period. This can be
changed by any site user by clicking on the ‘Options’ link under the Recent Announcements title.
7
Assignments FAQ’s
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
How can I ask my students to rewrite their assignment and resubmit it?
Can students submit more than one file of attachments without removing the first?
If a student has to resubmit an assignment, is the final date still the deadline?
Is there a way to reopen an assignment for one student for a specific period of time?
How do I get back to the role of teacher after submitting an assignment as a student?
How do I release a student's grades?
How do I grade an assignment I completed as a student but created as an instructor?
Can I have two browser windows open while grading so I'm not going back and forth?
Can students see their assignment grades in the assignments section?
When scoring an assignment with an attached file, what do Save, Return, and Allow Resubmit
mean?
What would happen if I revise the point total after grading some submissions?
What happens when a student loses connectivity and all their work and what can the student do
about it?
How do I input a grade in the gradebook when a student never submitted an assignment in the
Assignment tool?
Two of my students did a group final project together and one of them submitted the project. I
have graded the project. How do I give the grade to the person who did not turn in the project?
Can I provide the students with a model answer when setting up an assignment?When
accepting "attachment only" submissions, if I allow resubmission, will I get both the original
attachment and the new one?
Do I need to go to the TurnItIn website and create an account, class, or assignment for my site
to use the TurnItIn integration?
Can I use the TurnItIn Originality Check for Inline submissions?
Do my students need TurnItIn accounts in order to use TurnItIn integration?
If I'm using TurnItIn integration, what happens to the students first Originality Report if I allow
them to resubmit?
If I use TurnItIn integration, what happens if a student submits more than one file for an
assignment?
If I use TurnItIn integration, how long does it take once an assignment is submitted before I’ll
see the originality reports?
Can I grade with a form such as a rubric?
1. How can I ask my students to rewrite their assignment and resubmit it?
After grading the first effort, if it is not good enough, you should say, "please submit rewrite by
mm/dd/year" in the comments field and check the allow resubmission button. This way the
assignment will reopen for the student. You can have the assignment submissions set to accept
attachments so that students can attach a rewrite WITHOUT affecting the original. You should
also ask them to add "rev1" in the filename. You can repeat the process and ask them to submit
a third by allowing resubmission again. Please be aware that if this is an inline assignment, the
students’ original submission will be overwritten.
8
2. Can students submit more than one file of attachments without removing the first?
If you allow resubmissions for an assignment that allowed attachments, when students to go to
resubmit, they get a button "Add/Drop Attachments." They can add new attachments AND
remove previous ones. In a way, it is good to let students clean up junk and leave just good files
for instructors to review and grade. Remember that if you don't allow students to resubmit,
they can't alter or remove already submitted assignments. However, when you allow a student
to resubmit, he/she can make adjustments, as that's the whole idea. If you want the original
submissions to stay intact, you don't allow resubmissions. Instead, create a brand new
assignment and call it "Rewrite - Essay #1.
3. If a student has to resubmit an assignment, is the final date still the deadline?
When you are configuring the student's assignment to allow them to resubmit you have the
ability to set a new submission deadline for the student. Resubmission deadlines can be set on a
student-by-student basis.
4. Is there a way to reopen an assignment to one student for a specific period of time?
No, but you can simply change the due date of the assignment and only inform the student you
are working with. Students that already submitted the assignment won't be able to resubmit or
change their assignment at this point.
5. How do I get back to the role of teacher after submitting an assignment as a student?
After submitting the assignment as a student, you should see links at the top, where you clicked
to get to the student view. You should see a link at the top for "Assignment List". Click this link
to get back to the instructor view.
6. How do I release a student's grades?
Click on Assignment List > In/New > then Release Grades will be in the upper right corner of the
frame.
7. How do I grade an assignment I completed as a student but created as an instructor?
Follow these steps:
1. Create an Assignment and click "Post."
2. Click on the Student View >> Click on "Submit as student" under the name of the assignment
you just created.
3. Complete the Assignment and Click "Submit."
4. Go back to the Assignment List by clicking it in the top menu bar.
5. Click on "Grade" under the name of the assignment.
6. Click on YOUR NAME to open the Assignment to grade it.
7. Grade the Assignment and Click "Return."
8. You will now be back Submissions/Grading page where you can see the score.
9
8. Can I have two browser windows open while I'm grading so I don't have to go back and
forth?
It is not recommended that you have two of the same browser windows open at the same time,
sharing the same session. You may overwrite information or log yourself out. If you must do so,
open two different browsers, such as Internet Explorer and FireFox on the PC, or FireFox and
Safari on the Mac.
9. Can students see their assignment grades in the assignments section?
If you have 'returned' grades, yes. To release grades, you can click on "Return" after grading
each submission. Students will see their grades next time they return to the Assignments. You
can also grade all of the assignments first, clicking on "Save" for all students, and when done
grading all of them, you click on "Release grades." Then, students see their
grades/points/comments but not before the release.
10. When scoring an assignment with an attached file, what do Save, Return, and Allow
Resubmit mean?
•
RETURN does not mean resubmit. RETURN means that you are done grading (comments and/or
score) and you are returning the assignment to the student. This is the same as returning
homework back to students in the traditional classroom.
The only way to allow students to resubmit is by checking the "allow resubmission" box. Then,
click on RETURN it to the student with the option to resubmit. You see "returned" and they see
"resubmit." When they resubmit, you adjust the grade/points based on the value of the
resubmission.
•
SAVE does simply that. It saves your comments and points so that you can take a break and
come back later to review them and RETURN to students. For example, you could grade all your
assignments and click on SAVE on each. Once everyone has been graded you can click on release
grades so that all of them are now viewable to students at once.
It's a matter of preference or teaching style. Some instructors RETURN assignments as they
grade them, just like some prefer to handle email quickly and get answers out to people.
Students are anxious to get feedback. But it is entirely up to you.
11. What would happen if I revise the point total after grading some submissions?
You CAN change the maximum number of points possible after the fact. You will get a warning
message that you are altering the assignment when some students have submitted work, but it
will let you make changes. It wants you to be aware of your actions. So revise the assignment
and make it worth 400 points. Save it. When you click on "revise" and change the assignment's
maximum points to 400, the effect will be available to you immediately for all submissions not
yet scored and any new ones that will come in. The ones already submitted and given only 300
or other points will need to be opened and manually adjusted by you and RETURNED to
students.
10
12. What happens when a student loses connectivity and all their work and what can the
student do about it?
There are several reasons why someone might lose connectivity. One possibility, even with
broadband connections and especially with DSL, is that the ISP may have dropped the
connection for a moment or two and immediately reconnected. Or, locally, Windows XP,
wireless in particular, will habitually drop and reconnect. Hard wired connections are more
stable than dial-up connections. Even the most stable connection can fall victim to power
outages. The bottom line is that if anyone is doing something they would feel bad about losing,
they should take the necessary precautions!
Students should write up their submissions in a text editor/word processor such as Microsoft
Word. Then copy and paste their work into the Isidore submission box. They should save the
original document on their computer in case something happens. This also allows them to use
the Spell Check feature of their text editor.
13. How do I input a grade in the gradebook when a student never submitted the assignment
in the Assignment tool?
You can extend the assignment grace period and allow the student to submit the assignment.
After you set a future grace period date, send an email to the student and tell them to submit
the assignment by the new deadline. The rest of the class won't see the grace period. They only
see open and due dates. Additionally, you can manually enter a grade even if the student hasn't
submitted an Assignment via the Assignment tool.
14. Two of my students did a group final project together and one of them submitted the
project. I have graded the project. How do I give the grade to the person who did not turn in
the project?
Click on the second student's name and assign him/her the same number of points as you did
for the first group member and save and return the assignment. It doesn't matter that they
didn't turn anything in. You can also copy any written feedback you gave the first student into
the second student’s comments area.
15. Can I provide the students with a model answer when setting up an assignment?
When setting up an assignments for students in Isidore there is a section at the bottom of the
page titled ‘Additional Information’. Instructors can supply a Model Answer for their assignment
by clicking the ‘Add’ link next to Model Answer in this section. Instructors can type text directly
into a box or upload a file to share. They can also dictate when the student sees it – after or
before they submit their assignment.
11
16. When accepting "attachment only" submissions, if I allow resubmission, will I get both the
original attachment and the new one?
When you allow resubmission for 'attachments only" types of assignments, students have the
option to remove the previous attachment and add a new attachment, or add a new attachment
in addition to the first, and so on. You can allow as many resubmissions as you wish. If you don't
want the students to remove their original files then you should convey that to them clearly in
the assignment directions.
17. Do I need to go to the TurnItIn website and create an account, class, or assignment for my
site to use the TurnItIn integration?
No. Isidore takes care of all of the account information with TurnItIn for you and your students.
You just need to check the boxes to enable the feature on a per assignment basis and let Isidore
do the rest for you.
18. Can I use the TurnItIn Originality Check for Inline submissions?
No. At this time only attached file submissions can be sent on to TurnItIn for review.
19. Do my students need TurnItIn accounts in order to use TurnItIn integration?
No. Isidore will automatically ‘talk’ to TurnItIn during a student’s first submission to TurnItIn to
create an account for them. The student will receive an email from TurnItIn letting them know
that TurnItIn has created an account for them on their first submission as well. The email will
have a username and password in case the student ever wants to log into the TurnItIn website.
Please note that TurnItIn integration only works with attachments (not inline submissions).
20. If I'm using TurnItIn integration, what happens to the students first Originality Report if I
allow them to resubmit?
The student’s second submission (resubmission) will be sent onto TurnItIn and its Originality
Report will overwrite the original one. It will not match with the previous versions submission.
21. If I use TurnItIn integration, what happens if a student submits more than one file for an
assignment?
If a student submits more than one file for an assignment TurnItIn will not create an Originality
Report for both of them. It will only create a report for one of the files – seemingly chosen by
the alphabetic order of the filename. Instructors should contact the E-Learning Lab if the wrong
file got scanned for assistance retrieving an Originality Report for a different file.
22. If I use TurnItIn integration, how long does it take once an assignment is submitted before
I’ll see the originality reports?
It takes between 15 minutes and 24rs for the Originality Report to become available in the
Isidore Assignments tool. It will say ‘No Report’ in the TurnItIn column (when you’re grading)
12
until the Originality Report is available. There will be a color icon in the column when the report
is ready.
23. Can I grade with a form such as a rubric?
Yes. To do this, please contact the E-Learning Lab at (937) 229-5039 or [email protected].
13
Blog FAQ’S
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What is the orange icon to the right of everyone’s blog?
Can I edit a comment I post?
What is the ‘My Blog Settings’ page?
Why don’t I see all of the student’s blogs on the main page?
Is there a way to receive an email (notification) when someone posts in their blog or comments
on my post(s)?
6. Can I make my blog public?
1. What is the orange icon to the right of everyone’s blog?
The orange icon is the universal icon for an RSS feed. Users can click on the icon next to their
blog to find the web address on the next page. An RSS Feed allows users to share their blogs
(public posts only) with the outside world. The URL can been used outside of Isidore in any news
aggregator, such as Google Reader.
2. Can I edit a comment I post?
No. There is no way to edit or delete a comment you made on another person’s blog.
3. What is the ‘My Blog Settings’ page?
This page allows you to create a profile by adding a picture of yourself and information that you
may want to share with students. It allows you to put a personal touch on your blog. The
information you add to the ‘My Blog Settings’ page will be displayed on the right side of your
blog when users view it.
4. Why don’t I see all of the student’s blogs on the main page?
You will only see a link for each person in a class that has created their blog. If a student hasn’t
added their first blog entry you will not see their name listed on the main blog page.
5. Is there a way to receive an email (notification) when someone posts in their blog or
comments on my post(s)?
No. Email Notification is not an available feature in this tool.
6. Can I make my blog public?
Yes. You can share your blog with users outside of your Isidore class by making your blog entries
‘public’ and sharing the RSS Feed link.
14
Chat Room FAQ’s
1. What is the trash can icon for?
2. Is it possible to set up multiple chat rooms for students to meet?
3. How can I correct the Java error I receive when I enter the Chat tool?
1. I noticed that no one else has a trash can icon by their name, but I do. Why?
You only have a trash can by your messages indicating that you can delete a message you
posted. There is not a trash can next to other participants' messages because you can't delete
their messages. Other students have a trash can by their own name and not by any other's name
when they are viewing the Chat window.
Instructors have the ability to moderate chat more globally, if they desire, and can delete any
chat message, if necessary.
2. Is it possible to set up multiple chat rooms so that if you have multiple groups of students
working on a project, they can meet at a certain time and communicate with each other?
Yes. You can create multiple chat rooms where different groups of students can meet at the
same time in an Isidore site.
3. How can I correct the Java error I receive when I enter the Chat tool?
The simplest way to correct a Java error is to download and reinstall it at http://www.java.com.
The download is free. You should close your Internet browser windows before beginning the
installation.
15
Drop Box FAQ’s
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What is the purpose of the Drop Box tool?
What can students see when they enter the Drop Box tool?
What can TAs see when they enter the Drop Box tool?
How can the instructor tell when new content has been added by a student?
What type of files can a student upload/add to their folders?
1. What is the purpose of the Drop Box tool?
The Drop Box tool allows students to upload items to share with the instructor of a particular
course. The instructor is also able to place items in an individual student's Drop Box. Only the
instructor and student are able to access these files. Each student has their own folder for the
instructor to see but only the instructor can see all of the folders in a site. The Drop Box is a
good tool for passing files between students and the instructor when the grading interface
(Assignments tool) isn’t needed.
2. What can students see when they enter the Drop Box tool?
Each student only see’s one folder when they enter the Drop Box tool. The folder has their
name on it (Ex: Smith, Joe). The student can upload any type of file to this folder as long as it’s
not larger than 100 MB. The student can also create text and HTML files and reorder the files.
3. What can TAs see when they enter the Drop Box tool?
Teaching Assistants can’t see anymore more than a student can. They have their own folder
where they can add files to be seen by the instructor and no one else. They can’t see any of the
folders for students in the class.
4. How can the instructor tell when new content has been added by a student?
A red star will be visible on top of any student folder that has new content in it. The red star will
show up, by default, next to a folder that has had content added to it within the last day.
However, there is a drop-down menu in the upper right corner that allows instructors to change
the range.
5. What type of files can a student upload/add to their folders?
Students can upload any type of file (Ex: .doc, .ppt, .xls, etc...) into his/her folder as long as it’s
not larger than 100 MB. Students can also create web links, HTML pages, and text files directly
in the tool.
16
Elluminate Classroom FAQ’s
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Do I need a special Elluminate classroom or Elluminate account to use this tool?
Can I set up Elluminate sessions for students to use without an instructor present?
How do recorded sessions show up in the site?
How long does it take before recordings show up in the site?
What does ‘Boundary Time’ mean when setting up a room?
How do I invite guests outside of my Isidore site to join an Elluminate session?
What kind of microphone works best with Elluminate?
1. Do I need a special Elluminate classroom or Elluminate account to use this tool?
No. The integration built into Isidore takes care of everything for you. You can use the
Elluminate tool whenever you want and as often as you want without any assistance from the ELearning Lab if you’re so inclined. It’s ready to go when you are and doesn’t require anything
new from you or your students.
2. Can I set up Elluminate sessions for students to use without an instructor present?
Yes. The instructor has the ability to create Elluminate sessions where students are
‘moderators’ – meaning that they can control the session. This can be set up ahead of time by
the instructor and doesn’t require the instructor to log on.
3. How do recorded sessions show up in the site?
There is a link at the top of the Elluminate Classroom tool titled, ‘View Recordings’. This is
where all recordings will show up and be available following the completion of a session.
4. How long does it take before recordings show up in the site?
It will depend on the length of the recording and the robustness of the activity that occurred
during the session. A one hour Elluminate recording can generally take anywhere from fortyfive minutes to four hours to show up in the Isidore site once everyone leaves the session. The
link to the recording will be populated automatically in the site once it’s ready.
5. What does ‘Boundary Time’ mean when setting up a room?
Instructors can set the ‘Boundary Time’ when they’re setting up an Elluminate session. This
setting controls how early before a session starts that a student (participant) can enter the
room. It is best to have some boundary time built into your session – at least 15 minutes. This
allows the participants to get into the room early and get set up so that they’re ready to go
when the session begins.
17
6. How do I invite guests outside of my Isidore site to join an Elluminate session?
Once you’ve created an Elluminate session you’ll see a ‘Guest Link’ that you can share with
anyone outside of your Isidore site. You can also click the ‘Details’ link next to the session title
to reveal the page that contain the Guest Link at any time. Guests simply need to click on the
link you’ve sent them or copy it into their browser’s address bar to join the Elluminate session.
7. What kind of microphone works best with Elluminate?
The microphone that you will need will depend on the way in which you plan to use Elluminate.
There are many good brands and no single right answer for every scenario.
If you are presenting ONLINE ONLY (i.e. all of the participants for your session are viewing your
pretension via Elluminate) then a headset USB microphone is your best choice. The E-Learning
Lab currently recommends the Planetroincs .Audio 630M.
(http://www.amazon.com/Plantronics-AUDIO-630M-audio-Headset/dp/B001IC433Y)
If you are presenting to a group of attendees in person as well as broadcasting online, then a
free-standing microphone is your best choice. In this case, the E-Learning Lab currently
recommends the Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910. (http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-1080pWebcam-ProC910/dp/B003M2YT96/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1305817178&sr=1-1)
The E-Learning Lab stocks both of these microphone options. Please contact Jerry Timbrook at
(937)-229-5032 or [email protected] if you would like to see or purchase either of
these microphones.
18
Forums FAQ’s
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
How do I setup a discussion board in Forums?
How do I edit an existing forum or topic?
How do I reorganize topics in the Forums tool?
Can I view how often each student is contributing to discussions?
How do I close a discussion forum (stop postings)?
Can I grade Forum Postings?
What new features are available in the Forums+ tool?
1. How do I setup a discussion board in Forums?
1. Click on Forums in the toolbar (if you do not have it in your site go to Site Info > Edit Tools.)
2. Click on New Forum at the top of the screen. Enter a name for this forum. At the bottom of
the screen click the button Save Settings & Add Topic.
3. In the text field next to Topic Title enter a name for the topic. At the bottom of the screen
click the button Save Settings, or to add another topic at this time click the button Save
Settings & Add Topic. Repeat this step for as many topics as you need. You can always add
more topics at a later time.
4. After you click Save Settings you will see the new forum and the new topic(s) underneath.
You can’t have a forum with no topics.
5. Click on a topic and click Post New Thread to begin discussion!
For more detailed directions, please refer to the help topic for Forums.
2. How do I edit an existing forum or topic?
Click Forum Settings or Topics Settings on the right side of the screen to edit a forum or topic.
3. How do I reorganize topics in the Forums tool?
Click Organize at the top of the main Forums page. You can then reorder the topics and forums
with the numeric drop-down menus. Make sure that you click the Save Settings button when
you are done. By default the newest forums/topics are placed at the top.
4. Can I view how often each student is contributing to discussions?
Yes. From the Forums main page click Statistics at the top of the screen. You will see what
students have authored, read, and ignored. At this time you should not base participation
grades on these statistics, Isidore does not always recognize when someone has read a message.
It will be accurate for how many messages they have posted though.
19
5. How do I close a discussion topic (stop postings)?
The Forum tool has a feature called "Lock Topic." Once you activate the lock, students can read
postings but can no longer post. Here are the steps to do that.
1. Go to the topic you wish to lock and click on TOPIC SETTINGS.
2. Scroll down the page to the LOCK TOPIC option. By default the NO button is indicated.
Click on the YES button and the forum will now be locked.
3. Click the Save Settings button at the bottom of the screen. Once you return to the topic
you should see a visual Lock displayed.
Please note that the instructor will still be able to post. However, students will not be able to
post.
6. Can I grade Forum Postings?
Yes. First, you must create column in the Gradebook to link the forum posting grades to. Once
you have a column created you need to ensure that the Post to Gradebook option is checked
for the instructor role and the Gradebook Item you created is selected under the Permissions
section when creating or editing a topic in the Forums tool.
Once all of the configurations have been made you can begin grading the forum posts. First,
click the title of the topic where you will be grading. Next, click the individual message subject
link that you wish to grade, and then click the Grade link at the top of the message.
(Alternatively, you can click the title of the thread or Display Entire Message, and then, next to
an individual message, click the Other Actions menu, and select Grade.) On the next page, you
can enter a point value and any comments. The points and comments you enter will be sent to
the course gradebook.
7. What new features are available in the Forums+ tool?
There are a handful of new features in the Forums+ tool that are a big improvement over the
original Forums tool.
Watch
Using Forums+, you can choose to be notified when a new forum message is posted in your
course by subscribing to the watch feature. To enable the watch feature, click on the
“Watch” link at the top of the Forums page, choose one of the following options:
•
•
•
No notification – this is the default setting.
Notify me by email when a thread that I have contributed to receives a new
message.
Notify me by email whenever a new message is posted.
20
Depending on which notification option you select, you will receive an email the next time a
new message is posted in the Forums+ tool.
Word Count
As you’re typing a new message or a response to a message in Forums+, you’ll notice
that a word count feature has been added. The word count will continue to count
words as you type your message.
Statistics
If you’re using Forums+, you have enhanced Statistics reports. If you would like to view
the details about individual students’ Forums activity, you can click on the “Statistics”
link near the top of the Forums page. To view a specific student’s posts, click on that
student’s name. You then have the option of viewing their individual posts or displaying
their posts in a thread. You’ll notice that you also have the option to navigate from
student to student by clicking on the “Previous Participant” and “Next Participant”
buttons.
Reply Privately
The reply privately feature allows instructors to send an individual student a message
directly within the Forums+ tool. It uses the ‘Messages’ tool behind the scenes to
complete and store the transaction for future review. In addition to sending the
message privately to the student with Isidore, users also have the ability to send it to
the student’s University email address at the same time. The reply privately feature is
only available to site participants who have an Instructor or Teaching Assistant role.
This feature lets the instructor privately comment on a student’s post without leaving
the tool.
Read by
The ‘Read by’ feature displays the number of people that have read the specific posting.
21
Gradebook FAQ’s
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Why don't assignments show up when I create them in Gradebook?
Does the gradebook allow weighting?
Can I add myself as a student and grade myself?
Why can’t I see my test and quizzes or assignments in the gradebook overview?
Why aren’t my guests showing up in gradebook?
Do I have to create an assignment with the Assignments tool for grading discussions?
Can I create a manual column in the gradebook to record grades for activities that happen in
class but have nothing to do with Isidore such as the midterm grade?
8. Can I sort my gradebook items?
1. Why don’t assignments show up when I create them in Gradebook?
You are working in the wrong direction. Create your assignments using the Assignments tool.
When you create it, click in the box that sends the assignment grade to the Gradebook, and be
sure to choose Points as the method of grading.
2. Does the gradebook allow weighting?
Yes. You can configure grade categories and weighting under the Gradebook Setup section.
Type the name of the category you wish to create and assign the category a percentage number.
Once you’ve added the categories and percentages you must click the Save Changes button at
the bottom of the screen. Next, go to the Gradebook Items page and click the Edit link next to
the existing gradebook items that you wish to put in the new categories. On the following
screen you will find a drop-down box that you can use to set the category.
3. Can I add myself as a student and grade myself?
Please contact the E-Learning Lab at [email protected] or 229-5039 if you would
like to have a ‘test’ student account to use in your Isidore site. The test student account allows
you to log into Isidore with student privileges and view your site as a student would. It’s a great
way to test components in your site to make sure they are working as expected.
4. Why can’t I see my test and quizzes or assignments in the gradebook overview?
When you publish an assessment, you need to select in the settings of the test to Send Grades
to Gradebook. Go back and check the settings of your assessment. If the Grading options are set
to "None," it explains why the assessments are not sent to the gradebook.
5. Why aren’t my guests showing up in gradebook?
Guests (non-student participants assigned the role of guest) wouldn't be taking your class for a
grade so they wouldn't be added to your Gradebook. But when you add guests to your class, you
can assign them the role of student, and they would show up in the Gradebook.
22
6. Do I have to create an assignment with the Assignments tool for grading discussions?
No, you don't have to add a discussion assignment in Assignments. Just add a column in the
gradebook for discussion/participation.
The gradebook allows you to update the points of any assignments you add by simply tabbing
down (not opening an assignment screen for every student), and date/time stamps your change.
This is a very nice feature that will save you a lot of time.
By adding a participation column in the gradebook, you can go weekly - let's say every Sunday and tab down the list of students in your Participation gradebook column, and add an additional
10 points for everyone who deserves it. The software will accept the new points and will record
(info box) when the updated points were given - while keeping record of when previous updates
were made to the grade.
Students like to know how they are doing. You can remind them (via an announcement) to
check the gradebook for their participation points as they accumulate on a weekly basis. You
can have a second browser window open with the discussion forums, reviewing posts while you
enter the grades.
7. Can I create a manual column in the gradebook to record grades for activities that happen
in class but have nothing to do with Isidore such as the midterm grade?
Yes, you can create manual columns in the gradebook to record grades very easily. Go into the
Gradebook tool and click on the ‘Gradebook Items’ link at the top of the page. Next, click the
‘Add Gradebook Item’ link and complete the necessary information. You can repeat this process
as many times as necessary.
8. Can I sort my gradebook items?
Yes. Once inside the Gradebook tool in your course site click on the 'Sort' link at the top of the
page. Next, click and drag the items or categories into the order that you want on the page. If
you’re using categories you must move the category items one at a time while ensuring that all
category items are together before saving the changes. Click the Save Changes button at the
bottom of the screen when you’re finished.
23
Gradebook+ FAQ’s
1. Can I use the original Gradebook tool and the Gradebook+ tool at the same time in the same
site?
2. Can I change the width of the gradebook columns?
3. Can I enter extra credit?
4. How do I rearrange the order of my columns?
5. Can I set a category up to drop the lowest X scores automatically?
1. Can I use the original Gradebook tool and the Gradebook+ tool at the same time in the
same site?
Yes. Both tools use the same tables in the database which means any change you make in one
of them will show up in the other. It might be confusing to students to see two different
gradebook tools in one site though so it’s a good idea to hide one of them from student view.
2. Can I change the width of the gradebook columns?
Yes - you can change the column widths. It works just like Excel. Simply hover your mouse
cursor over the line between two columns until you see the pointer change (to an icon with two
arrows pointing in opposite directions) and then click and drag to your desired location.
3. Can I enter extra credit?
Yes. You can create new gradebook items in the Gradebook+ tool and set them to work as
‘Extra Credit’. This means the point total won’t be counted against the students that don’t earn
it. The extra credit items in the gradebook will appear in green. The steps to create an Extra
Credit gradebook item are the same as the steps to create a regular gradebook item with the
exception of an extra box (Extra credit) to click.
4. How do I rearrange the order of my columns?
You can rearrange the order your columns in the ‘Grade Items’ pane. You simply need to click
and drag an item to the desired location before letting go of the mouse button. You can move
items in and out of categories just like you can move items above and below each other.
5. Can I set a category up to drop the lowest X scores automatically?
Yes. You have to have your gradebook set up to use Categories (or Categories & Weighting) to
use this feature though. There is a setting when creating a new category titled, “Drop Lowest”.
If you wanted to have the gradebook automatically drop the 2 lowest items in the category
you’re creating you’d enter a 2 in the text box. It doesn’t have to be done at the time it’s
created. You can go back into a column that was previously created and configure it to drop the
lowest scores.
24
Homepage FAQ’s
1.
2.
3.
4.
Can I create a more fully developed class homepage?
How do I change the order of announcements on the homepage?
What size should an image be when I’m trying to put it on my homepage?
Can students change the appearance of the homepage for themselves?
1. Can I create a more fully developed class homepage?
When it comes to customizing the Home Page, you’re actually pretty limited.
You can display any web page that is located on the web by typing the URL into the Customize
Site Info Display options dialog box (the one on the left on the Home Page).
However, you can only adjust the frame height, not the frame width. And since most web pages
are wider than this frame, users have to scroll right and left to see the whole page. Effective web
sites for this frame are pages that are designed to auto-adjust as the browser is resized.
The right side of the Home Page is where the Recent Announcements and Recent Chats dialog
boxes are located. It is set up so the Site Info (left side) and the Recent boxes (right side) each
take up 50% of the available space.
In order to make your Site Info box take up more room, you have to remove the Announcement
and Chat tools entirely from your list of available tools. But, removing Chat and Announcements
means that you won't be able to use these tools in your course site. You decide.
2. How do I change the order of announcements on the homepage?
You cannot change the order of announcements. They are listed chronologically, with the most
recent first. You can force a particular (older) announcement to appear as the newest by
revising it in some way (add a space, change a letter, etc.) Then it will be the most recent.
3. What size should an image be when I’m trying to put it on my homepage?
Images should be resized in a photo program to approximately the following dimensions: 361 X
433 pixels. Save it as a JPEG. Set the window "Options" for the home frame to: 450 pixels.
The photo needs to be on its own web page, published somewhere on the web. If you don't
have hosting space to upload your image, you can upload it to the Resources tool (under
MyWorkspace) and link to it from the home page. Make sure you upload your image in a public
folder.
4. Can students change the appearance of the homepage for themselves?
No. Only the instructor can control the appearance of the Home Page.
25
Messages FAQ’s
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
How do I tell if a message is unread?
Can I mark multiple messages read or unread without opening them?
Can I sort my mail?
What email address does my mail go to?
Can I send a mail message to multiple people at once?
1. How do I tell is a message is unread?
The background color behind a message you haven’t read yet will be green. The background
color behind a message you’ve read already will be white. The text will also be bold for new
messages.
2. Can I mark multiple messages read or unread without opening them?
Yes. Simply check the box to the left of the message subject for all of the messages that you
wish to change and then click the desired link at the top – either ‘Mark Read’ or ‘Mark Unread’
to change the status.
3. Can I sort my mail?
Yes. There are two different ways to approach this problem. First, inside your inbox you can
click on any of the column titles to sort the column alphabetically/numerically on that field. This
will allow you to sort all of the messages by a specific author together easily. You can also
create folders using the ‘New Folder’ link at the top of the main Messages window that you can
put messages into using the ‘Move’ function.
4. What email address does my mail go to?
Isidore, by default, will only send mail to your Lotus Notes email address. If someone wishes to
have their mail forwarded to another account, they must navigate to
http://porches.udayton.edu, login with their LDAP account information, and forward their Lotus
mail under the 'Mail Forwarding' section.
All mail sent to your University of Dayton email address will be sent on to the address you
supplied when you enable Mail Forwarding.
5. Can I send a message to multiple people at once?
Yes, you can. Simply press and hold the ‘Ctrl’ button on the keyboard as you click on multiple
names in the list to send a message to more than one person.
26
Modules FAQ’s
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
What is the ‘Next Steps’ button?
Can I set a module to be available between a specific date ranges only?
Can I reorder the modules and content sections?
How do I collapse modules that I don’t want to see anymore?
What is the difference between ‘View’ mode and ‘Author’ mode?
Can I export a module from one site and import it into another site?
How can I restrict access to specific modules?
1. What does the ‘Next Steps’ button do?
The green ‘Next Steps’ icon allows instructors to set some specific directions aside for the user
at the end of the module. The user will see the ‘Next Steps’ once they complete the last section
of the module. The instructor can use the ‘Next Steps’ section to direct a student towards an
online quiz, reading, or activity before moving on.
2. Can I set a module to be available between specific data ranges only?
Yes, you can. When adding a new module you can set Start and End Dates. You can also click on
the calendar icons under the Start Date and End Date categories to set the release dates on the
main authoring page. You need to be sure and click the Save button at the bottom of the page
when you’re done changing release dates. The students in your site will only be able to see the
module when it’s within the set released date range.
3. Can I reorder the modules and content sections?
Yes. Click on the Manage link at the top of the Modules tool and click the Sort icon on the
following page. Use the arrows on the right-hand side of the page to rearrange the modules or
sections. The Sort Modules and Sort Sections buttons at the top of the page allow you to
choose what to sort.
4. How do I collapse modules that I don’t want to see anymore?
You can collapse modules in two ways. First, you can click the double arrow icon in the upperleft corner (next to the Title heading) to collapse or expand all of the modules at the same time.
The second approach allows you to collapse or expand one module at a time. Simply click the
single arrow icon to the left of module titles to collapse the content sections. If the arrow is
pointing down the content sections are expanded and if the arrow is pointing towards the right
it means the module is collapsed.
5. What is the difference between ‘View’ mode and ‘Author’ mode?
When you first enter the modules tool as an instructor you will be in Author mode. Author
mode allows you to create new modules and edit existing ones on the screen. View mode
allows instructors to view the modules as students would and test the modules they’ve created.
Students can’t access Author mode.
27
6. Can I export a module from one site and import it into another site?
Exporting content is very simple in the Modules tool. Click on the Mange link at the top of the
Modules tool and click on the Import/Export link on the following page. The Export Modules
section of the page allows you to specify the exported format and content you want to export.
You should export the content in IMS Content Package format if you want to import it into
another Isidore site. Once you click on the Export button you will be given a ZIP file to
download. When ready, you will upload and import that ZIP file into another Isidore site on the
same page of the modules tool.
7. How can I restrict access to specific modules?
Instructors can restrict access to modules in two simple ways. The first approach is to set the
module Start and End Dates years into the future to. The second approach involves archiving the
modules. To archive a module you must click on the checkbox to the left of the module name,
while in Author mode, and then click the Archive icon along the top toolbar. The module will
disappear from the page at this point. Click on the Restore icon inside the Manage section to
place the module back into the course at any time. Arching and Restoring doesn’t remove any
of the content from the module.
28
My Evaluations
1. What is ‘My Evaluations’?
2. Where can I find more information about My Evaluations?
1. What is ‘My Evaluations’?
My Evaluations is a tool within Isidore for facilitating distance learning course evaluations.
2. Where can I find more information about My Evaluations?
Contact the E-Learning Lab at (937)-229-5039.
29
News Feeds FAQ’s
1. What is RSS?
2. How do I reorder the RSS Feeds I’ve added to my site?
3. How do I change the viewing options for the RSS Feeds?
1. What is RSS?
RSS stands for “Really Simple Syndication.” It is a way for websites that regularly update their
content (such as news sites and blogs) to send out partial or full articles or posts as they are
added. Subscribing to this kind of “RSS Feed” is usually free, and allows readers to easily track
new information as it appears on the site.
RSS Feeds can be added to an Isidore site using the News Feed tool. The News Feed tool itself
only needs to be added one time. You can add as many RSS Feeds inside the tool as you would
like using the ‘Subscriptions’ button.
2. How do I reorder the RSS Feeds I’ve added to my site?
First, you need to click on the ‘Options’ link at the top of the News Feeds tool. Next, use your
mouse to drag and drop the subscriptions in the order you desire under the ‘Subscriptions
order’ section.
3. How do I change the viewing options for the RSS Feeds?
In the upper-right corner of the News Feeds tool you will see two drop-down menus. These
menus dictate the date range of the news you see and in which view.
The News Feeds tool has three views – Detailed, Titles, and Compact.
Detailed – the user will see the topic titles inside the RSS Feeds along with a small piece
of the story.
Titles – the user will see the topic titles inside the RSS Feeds.
Compact – the user will only see the RSS Feed titles.
30
Resources FAQ’s
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Can students see the Resources tool in the left-hand menubar?
What is the largest file I can upload into Resources?
What is the total space limitation in an Isidore site?
How do I know how much space I'm using in Resources so I can avoid going over 2GB?
What type of files can I place in Resources?
How do I move files from one course to another?
How do I move files from one folder to another?
Can I upload more than one file at a time to Resources?
Can I reorder/sort items in Resources?
1. Can the students see the Resources tool in the left-hand menubar?
Yes. By default both students and instructors can see the Resources tool in a site. If you would
like to hide the tool, the instructor will need to make the tool hidden under the Site Info ->
Rename/Reorder Tools section by clicking on the light-bulb icon next to the tool name. If the
light-bulb is yellow it means the student can see the tool in the menubar. If the light-bulb is
grey it means the students can’t see the tool in the menubar. You’ll be able to tell the tool is
hidden from students because it will be italicized and in parentheses (Ex: ( Resources ) ).
2. What is the largest file I can upload into Resources?
The largest file you can place in Resources at one time is 100MB, although the total size of all
files in Resources can exceed 100MB. Instructors can upload larger files by using the WebDAV
feature. In Resources, click the button labeled “Upload-Download Multiple Resources” at the
top of the frame. This will provide instructions on uploading multiple files using WebDAV.
Contact the E-Learning Lab at [email protected] or 229-5039 for assistance with
this process.
3. What is the total space limitation in an Isidore site?
Each site has a total space limitation of 2GB but accomodations can be made to increase the
space in the right situations..
4. How do I know how much space I'm using in Resources so I can avoid going over 2GB?
You can determine how much space you are currently using by enabling WebDAV and checking
the "Properties" of the WebDAV folder for your site. The folder properties will tell you how
much space the folder is taking up. To enable WebDAV, click the "Upload-Download Multiple
Resources" button in the Resources tool, and follow the instructions.
31
5. What type of files can I place in Resources?
Any type of file can be placed in Resources, including documents, images, video, audio, and even
internet links. Be aware the certain files may have copyright restrictions associated with them.
You should be aware of the copyright status of files you share in Resources, and mark the files
accordingly using the “Copyright Status” drop down box in the Add Item(s) screen.
We also don’t suggest Instructors to place large video files in their sites. Large video take up a
great deal of space. If you have video files that you want your class to access you should contact
John LeComte in the E-Media Lab at 229-92676 or [email protected]. John will
work with you to add your video to the campus streaming media server where it can be easily
accessed on the internet by all users without taking up valuable site space.
6. How do I move files from one course to another?
To move files from one course to another:
1. If you aren't already in the Resources tool, click Resources on the menubar
2. Mark the checkbox(es) to the left of the file(s) you wish to move. If the files you wish to
move are not visible, click “Show other sites” at the bottom of the frame to view the
files from all of your Isidore sites. You may need to also click the plus signs (+) next to
the folders to get to the files you want to move.
3. After you've located and marked the checkbox(es) next to the file(s) you wish to move,
click Move checked at the top of the page.
4. A link will appear to the right of all folders, labeled Paste Moved Items . Again, you may
need to click “Show other sites” and open some folders before you can see the folder
which you wish to move the files to.
5. Click Paste Moved Items to the far right of the folder you wish to move the files to.
7. How do I move files from one folder to another?
To move one or more files from one folder to another:
1. If you aren't already in the Resources tool, click Resources in the toolbar
2. Check the box(es) to the left of the file(s) you wish to move
3. Below the text “Location: …” at the top of the page, three links should become active:
Remove | Move | Copy
4. Click Move
5. A link will appear to the right of all folders, labeled Paste Moved Items . You can click
this link to paste the items you selected into the desired destination folder.
32
8. Can I upload more than one file at a time to Resources?
Yes, and you can do this with drag and drop functionality. In Resources, click the button labeled
“Upload-Download Multiple Resources” at the top of the frame. This will provide instructions on
uploading multiple files using WebDAV.
You can also click the blue ‘Add Another File’ link during the Upload Files process to select
multiple files for upload at once.
9. Can I reorder/sort items in Resources?
The resources you upload always sorted in alphabetical order. The list can be artificially sorted
by clicking on the ‘Actions’ drop-down button on the top most folder. Select ‘Reorder’ from the
drop-down menu and adjust the files/folders as you wish on the next screen.
33
Search FAQ’s
1. What tools does the Search tool look through?
2. How soon once content is added does it take the Search tool to find it?
3. Can it locate matches within documents that have been uploaded?
1. What tools does the Search tool look through?
Search indexes many different types of content, including messages, web pages in HTML format,
documents in DOC, PDF, or RTF format, spreadsheets in XLS format, and Wiki pages. It does not
scan text in every tool but it will find text in most of the major tools like Forums, Resources, and
the Announcements tool.
2. How soon once content is added does it take the Search tool to find it?
There is no set time between when something searchable is added to a site and when the
Search tool will locate it. The Search tool is always updating and rebuilding its indexes behind
the scenes to locate newly added material. It usually takes anywhere from ten minutes to four
hours.
3. Can it locate matches within documents that have been uploaded?
Yes. The search tool is very powerful and not only matches text in the titles of files but also
matches within the content of an uploaded word document. The same applies for most of the
other file types as well.
34
Schedule FAQ’s
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
How can I schedule time Monday, Wednesday, and Friday only?
Is there a way to make the calendar a 24-hour view?
What does event time mean?
What are calendar fields?
What are the steps to adding an attachment to a scheduled event?
How can I avoid entering start and stop times for calendar events?
How can I create a multi-day event and selected a frequency option that includes the last day I
want the event to appear?
8. How can I change the default view in the Schedule tool?
1. How can I schedule time Monday, Wednesday and Friday only?
You'll have to set Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays separately.
Click on Frequency >> Event Frequency = Daily/Every 7 days >> Set Ends After XX times.
You will have to do this for the Mondays, then for the Wednesdays, then Fridays.
2. Is there a way to make the calendar a 24 hour view?
When you look at the schedule calendar, it shows 8 am to 6 pm. There is a little earlier link at
the top and a later link at the bottom to view times outside 8-6. But the calendar view defaults
to the 8a-5p block of time and you can't change that.
If by "24 hr view" you mean military time, no, you can't change the Schedule tool to use that
format.
3. What does ‘Event Type’ mean?
An event can be almost anything. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to see the variety of
choices, as listed in the legend. Typically, instructors use the calendar to announce due dates for
assignments, tests, discussions, academic calendar items like drop dates etc. It is just another
layer of information to help keep students on target -- the start and stop dates for tests &
quizzes and assignment also appear in those tools.
You can have the events over multiple days by choosing the frequency button to add more days
for the event.
4. What are calendar fields?
Calendar fields are for adding additional items that are not already included -- some instructors
may have a use for them while others won't. For example, you may add a field trip, and you
need to add a custom field called "What to Bring" or "Location & Directions." This creates an
extra space while creating a new event for you to add these types of elements.
35
5. What are the steps to add an attachment to a scheduled event?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Click on Add Event
Click on the Add Attachments button
Click on Add New button
In Add Items, select File upload
Choose a file
Click Add Attachment at the bottom.
Click on the Finish button
Click on Save Event
6. How can I avoid entering start and stop times for calendar events?
You don't need an end date, but there is no way around the start date. Notice the * in front of
the Date and Start Time -- anything with a * is required and the program won't allow you to
leave it out.
7. How can I create a multi-day event and selected a frequency option that includes the last
day I want the event to appear?
Set the frequency of your event to end on the day after the event ends so that the previous day
is included. This limitation is due to the fact that there is no place to set the end time; therefore,
an extra day is needed so that the end date is inclusive.
8. How can I change the default view in the Schedule tool?
Only an instructor can change the default view of the Schedule tool in a course site. Students
and instructors can change the default view of their schedule on the 'My Workspace' tab. To
change the default view when you're in the Schedule tool, simply select the view that you desire
and click on the 'change default view' link.
36
Site Info FAQ’s
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
How can a student change their email address if the system has an old one?
Can I add or remove students to my site?
How can I create a test student account?
Can I add a guest to my Isidore site?
Can I change a participant's role in my site?
What does "inactive status" mean?
How do I create ‘groups’ in my site?
Can I import content created in another Isidore site?
1. How can a student change their email address if the system has an old one?
Isidore, by default, will only send mail to a Lotus Notes email address. If you wish to have your
mail forwarded to another account, you can navigate to http://address.udayton.edu, login with
your LDAP account information, and forward your Lotus mail under the 'Mail Forwarding'
section.
Note: All mail sent to your University of Dayton email address will be sent on to the address you
supplied when you enable Mail Forwarding.
2. Can I add or remove students to my site?
Instructors can add students/TAs/other instructors to their sites by clicking on the 'Site Info' tool
and clicking on the 'Add Participants' link. Instructors can only remove users that they’ve added.
They can’t remove a student that is part of the class roster. If a student drops the instructor
should simply mark them as ‘Inactive’. A student loses all access to a site when they become
inactive and their name will no longer show up in any of the tools.
3. How can I create a test student account?
Please contact the E-Learning Lab at [email protected] or 229-5039 if you would
like to have a ‘test’ student account to use in your Isidore site. The test student account allows
you to log into Isidore with student privileges and view your site as a student would. It’s a great
way to test components in your site to make sure they are working as expected.
4. Can I add a guest to my Isidore site?
Instructors may request guest accounts for their Isidore sites. Often time's professors ask
outside professionals to visit their class Isidore site to participate in forums or chat sessions. This
is a great idea to add some real-world validity to class topics. Since these guests don't have UD
LDAP accounts they need a 'manual' Isidore account created for them to gain access to the class
site.
To request a guest account, email the guest's full name and email address along with brief
explanation and usage dates to [email protected].
37
5. Can I change a participant's role in my site?
There are three roles in all Isidore sites: Instructor, Teaching Assistant, and Student and a site
participant can hold any role depending on your needs.
To change participant roles:
1. In the menubar of the relevant course site or project site, click Site Info.
2. Next to the participant(s) whose role(s) you want to change, select the appropriate
role(s) from the drop-down menu(s) under "Role".
3. Click Update Participants
6. What does "inactive status" mean?
If a site participant is listed as ‘inactive’ it means they can’t access your site. The participant is
still a member of your site but they can’t access it – either permanently or until you are ready
for them to. Course rosters are added approximately 20 days before the beginning of the
semester but are ‘inactive’ until two days before the semester begins. This allows instructors to
see their rosters in the site and create groups, if necessary, without students accessing the site
early.
7. How do I create ‘groups’ in my site?
Instructors can create groups in their classes using the Manage Groups link found at the top of
the Site Info tool. Groups are a great way for instructors to divide their classes up for specific
assignments, announcements, quizzes, and forums. Groups can be created and updated at any
time in a site as participants add or remove classes.
8. Can I import content created in another Isidore site?
Yes. Content from Isidore sites can be imported into other Isidore sites using the ‘Import from
site’ link found at the top of the Site Info tool. The ‘Import from site’ functionality allows
instructors to easily import content on a tool-by-tool basis.
38
Site Stats FAQ’s
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Can students or teaching assistants see the Site Stats tool in my course?
Can I see what time of day an event happened or do I just get to see the date?
Why do I have more ‘reports’ on some courses than others?
Can I create my own custom report?
Why is Site Stats italicized and in parentheses in the menubar?
Is it still collecting the data even if the tool is not added?
How far back does the Site Stats collect data?
1. Can students or teaching assistants see the Site Stats tool in my course?
No. There is no way for a student or teaching assistant to view the Site Stats tool. They don’t know
that it’s added to a course.
2. Can I see what time of day an event happened or do I just get to see the date?
No. At this time you can only see the date an event occurred on. We will hopefully be adding the
‘time of day’ alongside the date in the future.
3. Why do I have more ‘reports’ on some courses than others?
You may see more/less reports when you’re on the ‘Reports’ page of the Site Stats tool in one
course as opposed to another depending on what tools you have added to the course. It’s possible
to see as many as 6 reports in your site if you have all of the tools added.
4. Can I create my own custom report?
No. You can’t create your own custom report at this time but the E-Learning Lab can help you with
that process. Please contact the E-Learning Lab at [email protected] or (937) 229-5039
for help creating a custom report.
5. Why is Site Stats italicized and in parentheses in the menubar?
If a tool name is italicized and in parentheses it means that is hidden from student view. You’ll
notice the same formatting for the Resources tool in each site by default.
6. Is it still collecting the data even if the tool is not added?
Yes. You can add the Site Stats tool at any time and see what’s been going on in your course. The
tool doesn’t need to be added for the activity to be recorded.
7. How far back does the Site Stats collect data?
The Site Stats tool is configured to begin collecting data as soon as the course is created. Instructors
can view reports on the last day of the semester that contain data from the first day of class on if
they need to.
39
Syllabus FAQ’s
1. Do I have to retype my syllabus to put it into Isidore?
2. I want my syllabus to be a word attachment and the Syllabus tool is not uploading it. What do I
do?
3. I have a syllabus and a course schedule. Can I add both files to the Syllabus tool?
4. How can I remove a syllabus?
1. Do I have to retype my syllabus to put it into Isidore?
No. You can copy and paste your syllabus or add it as an attachment. The difference between
the two options is that one will be entirely viewable in the Syllabus tool (pasting), and the other
will show up as an attachment that students click on to open up or save (the attachment
option). You could also copy and paste and then add it as an attachment as well to give students
the convenience of both options. You’ll want to make sure that you use the ‘Paste from Word’
option in the text editor to make sure you don’t lose your formatting.
2. I want my syllabus to be a word attachment and the Syllabus tool is not uploading it. What
do I do?
Make sure that you clicked the Continue button after you added the attachment. When Isidore
brings you back to the main “Add Syllabus” screen, ensure that you gave the syllabus a title and
then click the Post button at the bottom of the screen. You will then see the word document
listed under Syllabus Item. To view what a student would see click Preview at the top of the
page.
3. I have a syllabus and a course schedule. Can I add both files to the Syllabus tool?
Yes, you can add multiple attachments to one syllabus section or you can add multiple syllabus
sections inside the tool by clicking the ‘Add’ button for each new file you wish to add. The
benefit to the latter approach is that you can add descriptions for each file separately this way.
4. How can I remove a syllabus file I’ve already uploaded?
To remove your syllabus section, please use the following instructions:
1. Click on the Syllabus to.
2. Click on the Create/Edit link at the top of the page
3. Check mark the boxes next to the sections you want to remove.
4. Lastly, click update at the bottom of the page.
40
Tests & Quizzes FAQ’s
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
What is an assessment?
What is a question pool?
Can I share questions with other instructors?
Can I edit an already published assessment?
Can I make it so only specific students can take an assessment?
Can I see how students answered questions?
Why isn’t my assessment showing up in the gradebook?
What is the difference between remove and retract?
Can I open a quiz for a specific amount of time on a given day?
Can I set a time limit on a quiz?
Can I build my quiz in Word and then import it into Isidore?
Does the ‘Save for later’ option during an assessment still work when the assessment is being
timed?
13. What does 'Mark for Review' mean?
1. What is an assessment?
An assessment is anything from a quiz to a test that an instructor can use to “assess” their
students knowledge about a certain subject. An assessment works just as a paper assessment
would, it is simply online to allow an instructor more in class time.
2. What is a question pool?
A question pool is a method of copying and saving questions for later use. Question pools can
also have subpools for better organization. An example of a question pool would be one labeled
‘Biology 105’, while some subpools might be named ‘Genetics’, ‘Basic Concepts’, and ‘Cells’.
Questions pools are useful for if you come up with a question you may want to use again in
another assessment or another section of your course.
3. Can I share question pools with other instructors?
Yes. You can click on the ‘Share’ link below a question pool name to select another instructor in
the site to share the pool with. The person you want to share the pool with has to be an
instructor in the site
4. Can I edit an already published assessment?
No, you can add questions from an already published assessment to the question pool but you
cannot edit an already published assessment without taking the assessment down completely,
fixing it, and then reposting.
41
5. Can I make it so only certain students can take an assessment?
Yes. Please view Tip 15 on the following site for complete details on how to create a group of
one or more students and release the assessment to only them http://learn.udayton.edu/isidore/tips.jsp .
6. Is there a way to see what students answered on assessments?
Yes, if you want to see what students are answering to certain questions, you start at the main
Test and Quizzes page on Isidore.
Under the assessment title, click ‘Scores’.
The first page to come up will be ‘Total Scores’. Directly to the right of the words ‘Total Scores’ is
‘Questions’, which you click on.
From the ‘Questions’ page, you can click whichever question you wish to see to compare the
correct answer to what students have selected as the correct answer.
7. Why isn’t my assessment showing up in the gradebook?
If an assessment isn’t showing up in the gradebook, the settings of the assessment may not be
positioned properly. To have the grades sent to the gradebook, first go to the main Test and
Quizzes page. Click ‘Settings’ below the assessment’s title. Click the arrow next to ‘Grading’
(third from the bottom). Under ‘Gradebook Options’, the circle next to ‘None’ is probably
selected. Click the one right below it that says ‘Grades Sent to Gradebook’.
Click ‘Save Settings’.
If you’ve configured the ‘Grades Sent to Gradebook’ option already or if you continue to have
problems, feel free to contact the E-Learning Lab at [email protected] or 229-5039.
8. What is the difference between remove and retract?
Removing an assessment means that you completely take the assessment off the Isidore site,
though if students have taken it, the grade will remain in your gradebook. Once an assessment
has been removed, it’s gone and you would have to rebuild it completely if you want to use it
again.
Retracting an assessment is when you do not allow students to continue to have access to the
assessment but it is still in your site, where you can use it again if you need to. The grades of the
students who have already taken the retracted assessment will still show up in your gradebook.
42
9. Can I open a quiz for a specific amount of time on a given day?
Yes, to achieve this, you will need to go to ‘Settings’ under your assessment title.
Click the arrow next to ‘Delivery Dates’ to display the options. Click the calendar next to the box
next to ‘Available Date’
Set the time you want to make the assessment available by entering it into the time box.
Keep in mind that if you want something to be available in the PM hours, you have to add 12 to
your hour time.
Select the date you want the assessment to become available.
Now click the calendar next to the box next to ‘Due Date’.
As with the ‘Available’ input what time and date you want the assessment to be due.
Make sure to also input a ‘Retract’ time and date, even if it’s the same as the Due date and time.
Click either ‘Save Settings and Publish’ or ‘Save Settings’ to save the dates and times.
10. Can I set a time limit on a quiz?
Yes, the time limit option is available under the ‘Settings’ part of the assessment.
Once you’re under the ‘Settings’ section click the arrow next to ‘Timed Assessment’ to set a time
limit. Set the time to however many hours and minutes you would like the students to have.
Click either ‘Save Settings and Publish’ or ‘Save Settings’ to save the time limit.
11. Can I build my quiz in Word and then import it into Isidore?
Yes, with the ‘Quick Create’ button on the assessment main page. With this application, it’s best
to use only one type of question, such as all multiple choices or all fill in the blanks just to avoid
your own confusion.
The most important thing to remember when building your quiz in Word is to put ‘Question’
before the question number and include the point value after it in parenthesis, such as this:
Question 1 (10 points).
With any type of questions, you just type the question and then the answer options in but
before the correct answer, you will need to type a asterisk, so if the correct answer is c it should
say *c. answer, or in true/false, *true. The only exception to this rule would be when using a
short answer question; there should be no answer from you on this one.
Once your quiz has been created in Word, go to the ‘Test and Quizzes’ section of Isidore.
Select you assessment type, type in the title and click ‘Quick Create’.
Copy and paste your quiz from Word into Isidore. Once the text is in place, click ‘Next’.
The site will display all the questions and their answers so that you can ensure that they
transferred properly. If they do not, there’s a ‘Back’ button at the bottom of the screen.
If you go back and are not sure what to fix, on the right hand side of the text box are several
links that expand into the proper ways to set up the different questions.
Once you’re sure your quiz is correct, you can click either ‘Create Assessment’ or ‘Create
Question Pool’ depending on where you want the questions of the quiz to go.
Your quiz or question pool has now been created.
43
12. Does the ‘Save for later’ option during an assessment still work when the assessment is
being timed?
No, in timed assessments, if a student clicks ‘Save for later’ and logs out, the timer simply keeps
running. The ‘Save for later’ option simply allows the student to save the answers they’ve
already selected for the next time they log in.
13. What does ‘Mark for Review’ mean?
Mark for review is a feature used by students who are actively taking an assessment. This
feature allows students to mark a question they would like to re-visit at the end of the
assessment. The feature is simply a way for students to remind themselves to return to a
question.
44
Web Content FAQ’s
1. How do I add more Web Content links if the Web Content tool no longer appears in the toolbar?
2. How do I change the name of the Web Content tool to something else?
3. Why does it ask me if I want to ‘show the browser toolbar’ if opening the Web Content tool in a
new window?
1. How do I add more Web Content links if the Web Content tool no longer appears in the
toolbar?
In Site Info (click Site Info in the toolbar), click the Edit Tools button at the top of the screen. In
the list of tools, check the box next to Web Content and click Continue at the bottom of the
screen. You will now see a new ‘Web Content’ link in the menubar. Click on it and click the
‘Options’ link near the top of the screen to define the new Web Content tool.
You can also add multiple links using the Modules tool. This approach allows you to add
multiple links without growing your list of tools on the menubar.
2. How do I change the name of the Web Content tool to something else?
Click on the Web Content tool and then click the "Options" button near the top of the screen.
This will allow you to change the title from "Web Content" to something more descriptive.
3. Why does it ask me if I want to ‘show the browser toolbar’ if opening the Web Content tool
in a new window?
If your students might need to navigate (use the Back and Forward buttons in the browser) for
the URL you are creating for them you should elect to show the browser toolbar. If you don’t
show the browser tool the student may open the resource and be unable to navigate effectively.
45
Wiki FAQ’s
1. How do I change the default page?
2. How can I change the “default_template” page?
1. How do I change the default page?
The “default_template” page is used as the template for each new page that you create. You
can customize this page to suit your own needs. For example, you can include a structure for
students creating their own project pages, or can remove all the text so that new pages are
created empty.
2. How can I change the “default_template” page?
Find the page called “default_template” by using the wiki search tool.
Edit the “default_template” page as you would with any other Wiki page.
46