Chapter 7: Checking In and getting started

Introduction Table of contents Chapters 1. Hardware and OS 2. Basic software 3. The Internet 4. Online learning 5. Starting the class 6. The DE/CATE site 7. Checking in 8 Class sites 9. Message lists 10. Quizzes, tests, exams 11. Gradebooks 12. Documents 13. Chat rooms and blogs 14. Class search engines 15. Student configurations Appendices 1. Basic skills checklist 2. CATE skills checklist 3. Moodle and WebCT 4. SRJC classes 5. Email accounts 6. A day in the life 7. Check your browser 8. Blog tools 9. I forgot my password 10. Current CATE news

Note: CATE (formerly the acronym for the "Center for Advanced Technology in Eduction") was the original name of what is now the Distance Education office at SRJC. CATE (now the acronym for "Computer-Assisted Teaching Environment") continues to be the name of one of the courseware management systems supported by the Distance Ed office at SRJC. Most instructors utilizing the CATE courseware system (whether for online classes or face-to-face classes) require students to go through the check-in process when class begins. By going through the check-in process, students create a username and password for the class, specify an email address to be used for the class, and notify the instructor that they're ready and able to begin accessing online class material and tools. Before going through the check-in process, students must be enrolled at SRJC and registered for the class. And of course not all classes require students to check in. See Starting the class for details about enrolling, registering, and determining your check-in requirements. Topics on this page A. Browser requirements B. Go to your class homepage C. Check in D. Username and password reminder E. Already on CATE roster F. Forgotten username/password G. Log in, visit password protected pages, log out H. More resources I. Self-assessment A. Browser requirements There are many different browsers available for free download. Visit The Internet chapter of this Handbook for more information about browser recommendations. Certain browser settings and security software can affect your ability to view webpages optimally. Visit our Check Your Browser page to ensure everything is in order. Just by visiting the page, you'll get a report of what browser you are using, your browser's compatibility with CATE sites, and if any settings or security software are likely to interfere. B. Go to your class homepage From the Distance Ed site, click on the "Class Homepages" button. Choose an option for locating your class by section number, course number, name of instructor, etc. When you get to the screen showing the section number for your class, click on the section number to get to the appropriate section homepage. Once you've reached your section homepage, read it carefully, paying particular attention to the information under the "Class Check-in" heading. C. Check in If your class requires that you check-in, make sure to do it during the window of opportunity allowed by your instructor. Some classes allow you to check in at any time, but most mandate it must happen within a few days of the first day of class. If you're late checking in, you might miss the deadline for your first assignment. You might even be dropped from the class if you don't check in within the allotted period. Remember that each class requires its own separate check-in, and each instructor sets the check-in dates according to his or her own wishes. In order to check in you will need to know your email address and your student ID number. During the check-in process you will create a CATE username and password for the class. It's possible to use the same username and password for all your classes if you care to do so, but that's optional. Likewise, you can set your CATE username and password to be the same as your SRJC student ID number and PIN code, but that's strictly optional, not mandatory. Your username will usually be case-sensitive. Your password will always be case-sensitive. Password is not the same as password which is not the same as PASSWORD. Availability While instructors can set the check-in dates as they see fit, in all cases the check-in page is only available during those periods when the SRJC A&R database is accessible. As of November 2008, that database is expected to be available 24/7. However, in the event that it becomes inaccessible due to maintenance, power outage, or other issues, the check-in process will not be available during that time. The check-in page should provide further information as it becomes available. Your username will usually be case-sensitive. Your password will always be case-sensitive. Password is not the same as password which is not the same as PASSWORD. Checking in via section homepage The best way to reach the check-in page is via the section homepage for your class. If you arrive at the section homepage before the check-in link opens, the message under "Class Check-in" will tell you when to return. (That's usually the first day of class, or shortly before.) If you arrive at the section homepage after the check-in link closes, the message under "Class Check-in" will tell you when it closed. In that case, you'll need to contact your instructor to see about the possibility of a late check-in. If you arrive at the section homepage while the check-in link is open, click the link to begin the process. Checking in via the generic check-in page Although it's best to check in via the section homepage for your class, you can also do so via the generic check-in page. In this case, you'll need to pick your section from the pop-up menu. Note that your class will not appear on the list in the pop-up menu if the section homepage is closed, if the check-in dates have not arrived, or if the check-in dates have already passed. Otherwise the process is the same as checking in via the section homepage. Entering the data First name: Enter the name with which you're registered at SRJC. Middle name or initial is optional. Last name: Enter the name with which you're registered at SRJC. Email address: Enter the primary email account you plan to use for class communications. It's importantly to enter this correctly. SRJC student ID number: This is a secure form, so you can safely enter your SRJC student ID number. Failing to do so can greatly delay the process and might prevent you from being accepted into class. Note: As of 18 December 2006, you should now use your new nine-digit SRJC student ID number (usually begins with "8"), not your Social Security number. Username: At least six characters. If you want to utilize a CATE username beginning with "8", it must exactly match your SRJC student ID number. Password: At least six characters, and entered again to confirm. Click to submit. If the system detects an error, it will bring up the same page with problems indicated in red. If the system did not detect an error, you'll see a page where you can review your entry and choose to edit or confirm. When you confirm, the following will happen automatically: You'll receive a check-in receipt via email Your instructor will be notified that you've checked-in Your username and password will NOT begin to function until the instructor accepts you into class We recommend you use the same username and password for all your CATE classes, but you can use different usernames and password for different classes if you prefer. Similarly, you can set your CATE username and password to be the same as your SRJC student ID number and PIN code, but that's strictly optional, not mandatory. After your instructor accepts you into class, you'll receive a notice via email, your class username and password will be functional, and you'll be automatically added to your class Message List(s). However, your username and password won't work for this class until your instructor accepts your check-in. Should you want to edit the information you've submitted, after you've been accepted into class you can use the Student Configuration Manager to do so. Remember, your username will usually be case-sensitive. Your password will always be case-sensitive. Password is not the same as password which is not the same as PASSWORD. D. Username and password reminder Generally it takes anywhere from a couple of hours to a couple of days before your instructor will approve your check-in and activate your class username and password. If you're uncertain about the status of your check-in, you can contact your instructor, or—even better—you can use the automated password reminder page. Go to the automated password reminder page, enter the email address you specified for the class, and click to submit. You'll immediately receive an email, delivered to that address, with your class status. E. Already on CATE roster Beginning with the 2009-2010 school year, in some cases your instructor might configure your class website so that you are already on the CATE roster and you do not need to go through the CATE check-in process. If that's the case, your section homepage will clearly indicate that information under the "Class Check-in" heading. If your class has been configured in this manner, the following points apply: You do not need to go through the CATE check-in process for this class (although you might need to do so for other classes). The system will automatically provide you with a CATE username (the same as your SRJC student ID) and a CATE password (NOT the same as your SRJC PIN code). You can use your CATE class username and password to access any/all password-protected components of the class. With a couple of minor exceptions, you can also use your SRJC student ID (NOT Social Security number) and PIN code to access password-protected components of the class. You can access the Student Configuration Manager (using either your SRJC student ID and PIN code, or your CATE username and password) to adjust your CATE settings for the class as usual. For example, you can log into the Student Configuration Manager and change your CATE password. (See Chapter 15 for information about the Student Configuration Manager.) F. Forgotten username/password Forgot your CATE username or password? See Appendix 9 of this handbook. G. Log in, visit password protected pages, log out Usually, at least some of your class materials are password protected so that only registered students may access them. If you try to access such materials, a screen will ask for your username and password. If you've successfully checked into your class and your instructor has activated you, your class username and password should give you access to these pages. If you encounter any difficulties, use the password reminder page or contact your instructor. Your username will usually be case-sensitive. Your password will always be case-sensitive. Password is not the same as password which is not the same as PASSWORD. In some situations in some classes, when you enter your username and password and/or when you move from page to page within the class website, the Distance Ed server might place a cookie in your browser. A cookie is a short string of text that in this case allows the server to help you navigate through your class. A cookie set by our server is absolutely harmless and can do no damage whatsoever to your computer. However, you are never required to accept a cookie. Of course, if you reject CATE cookies, you'll probably find that you'll constantly need to enter your username and password as you participate in your class. After the server sets a cookie in your browser, an unobtrusive "log out" link will appear in the upper left corner of most of your class webpages. If you're the only one who works on the computer, there's no particular need to log out of the class. However, if you share the computer with someone else, and in particular if you're using a publicly accessible computer such as those in campus labs or the library, then you'll want to make sure you click the "log out" link when you've completed your session of class activities. If the "log out" link doesn't appear, then you don't need to do so. H. More resources Check-in help (Located on the CATE check-in page) I. Self-assessment Take the self-assessment quiz to ensure you're comfortable with all the concepts and skills in this chapter. The quiz will open in a new browser window, and after submitting the quiz you'll immediately see your score. Practice exercise: Visit CATE's generic check-in page and make sure you understand the check-in process.

 

Distance Education office Santa Rosa Junior College, Santa Rosa, CA USA Last Modified: Friday, 25-Jan-2013 10:00:04 PST	Email to CATE Webmaster