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| This lesson introduces the basic concepts you'll need to understand before you can proceed with learning about the CATE system. |
- Read the material on this page
- Follow the links and read the relevant Help documents
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You can use the CATE system from any location -- on campus or off campus -- where you have a connection to the Internet.
You can use dial-up or DSL or cable or anything else. Faster is always better.
You can use any platform or operating system. Windows, Mac, and Linux are all fine.
You can use any browser. Internet Explorer, Safari, Firefox, and many others will all work.
You can use iPhones and iPads and other devices as well, although you will want to have as much screen real estate as possible and you'll need a comfortable keyboard layout.
Just about any browser should be fine for accessing and using the CATE system. If you're concerned about a particular browser, you can test it using this feature.
http://online.santarosa.edu/catedocs/howto_check_browser.html
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Recurring Page Elements and Features
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After you begin to use the CATE system, you'll soon begin to realize that you're seeing some of the same elements and features over and over again.
Here are some you should know about.
Log in via CATE homepage
In order to access you CATE account to create, edit, or delete Web-based materials, you must always go to the log-in page. That page can be reached by going to the CATE homepage and clicking on the "Information for Faculty" tab.
Start from the Main Menu
When you successfully log into your CATE account, you'll arrive at the Main Menu, which will greet you by name. The Main Menu contains links to all the various CATE modules. It also contains news about new features, upcoming workshops, etc. In addition, it has links to the CATE Help Menu, CATE workshops (where you can see which ones you've attended, and enroll in upcoming sessions), your SRJC faculty portal, the CATE systems status page (in case something is misbehaving), and our Guide to Accessibility Compliance for CATE Users.
Help menu
You'll also run across multiple links to the CATE Help Menu, which contains links to dozens of helpful documents, ranging from very brief introductory notes to lengthy Help modules with very detailed technical data, to targeted "How to" documents that explain exactly how to perform specific tasks. If you have a question about the CATE system, this is where you should begin.
Menu across the top of each page
When you move to any CATE module, the top of the page will always contain navigational buttons. The links there will let you jump back to the Main Menu or directly to any other module in the system.
Context-sensitive Help links
Every CATE page also contains context-sensitive help links. No matter what page you're on, you can click the Help link in the colorful bar across the page (near the top) to get information about exactly how to use the page you're looking at.
Activating pages
Almost without exception, everything you create in the CATE system is initially not available to students or other visitors (although you can always see it). In almost every case, you will need to select the appropriate checkbox to activate the page and allow visitors to access it.
Saving/Confirming changes and deletions
Although you might be accustomed to clicking the "Save" or "Save As" button in the menu bar across the top of Microsoft Word or other applications, that doesn't work in the CATE system. Instead, you need to use the buttons provided within the CATE page -- such as "Save" or "Confirm" -- to save your work (or make other changes).
Making back-ups by cloning
To make a back-up of anything you create in the CATE system (except your personal homepage), use the "clone" option (which can also be very useful for other purposes).
Forward/Back buttons
A bit tricky, this one. Your browser will always have "Back" and "Forward" buttons near the very top. Depending on your browser, they might be labeled or they might just be little triangles or arrows. When working in your CATE account, you generally should NOT use those buttons! Instead, use the buttons provided for you within the CATE page. In particular, if the CATE page has this red message -- "DO NOT USE BROWSER'S "BACK" OR "FORWARD" BUTTON WHILE ON THIS PAGE" -- then you need to obey the law. When you use the CATE button to view a page, you will NOT see that message, and then it's okay to use the "Back" button to return to where you were working. To sum up, if the red message is on the page, don't use the "Back" or "Forward" button. If the red message is NOT on the page, then it's okay to use the "Back" and "Forward" button.
These workshops assume you already have a basic understanding of the way your computer works, the way the Internet works, and the way your web browser works.
If you don't already have a good handle on these concepts, then you will want to learn more about those topics before you tackle these workshops.
Be sure to review this list to ensure you're ready to proceed with learning about how to use the CATE system.
Fundamental concepts you need to know: http://online.santarosa.edu/catedocs/howto_get_prepared.html
The CATE system is designed to ensure materials you create in the system are automatically accessibility compliant for students with limited hearing or limited vision. As long as you use the system as it is designed to be used, you'll be fine.
If you decide to ignore the guidelines or build some crazy, non-standard class components, then it will be your responsibility to ensure those components are compliant.
For more information, see our Help document for accessibility compliance.
http://online.santarosa.edu/catedocs/cate_compliance.html
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WWII 101 A plain-vanilla sample class website
Rock 101 A fancier sample class website
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