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| Student Handbook for online classes at SRJC using the CATE system | CATE Handbook More Info for Students Distance Ed Home SRJC |
Chapter 15: Student configuration manager
At Santa Rosa Junior College, most instructors teaching online classes or offering Web-based resources for face-to-face classes
utilize CATE's courseware package to create webpages, class Message Lists, tests, gradebooks,
passwording, etc. If you're taking a course built with that system, you have the ability
to access and control a variety of online configurations for that class by using the Student
Configuration Manager (SCM). This chapter explains how to use the SCM to adjust your configurations.
If you're taking a class with Web-based resources which weren't built with the CATE system, you'll need to consult with your instructor about editing your student configurations. Configurations accessible to you through the Student Configuration Manager apply only to that particular class and do NOT affect any other class or your official Admissions & Records files at SRJC. Topics on this page:
A. Accessing the Student Configuration Manager A. Accessing the Student Configuration Manager Although it's possible to access the Student Configuration Manager through CATE's generic portal page, it's always best to use the section homepage for your class to reach the SCM, because the section homepage contains other pertinent information, such as the availability of the SCM for you and your classmates. So, always go to your section homepage to reach the Student Configuration Manager. (Note, however, that the link to the SCM won't be available until the class is open and students are actually checking in.) If you don't already have your section homepage bookmarked ("favorites"), you can get there via the Distance Ed homepage. From the DE homepage, click the "Class Homepages" tab. Use any of the options there to reach the section homepage (by using the section number, course number, name of instructor, etc). Once you've arrived at the appropriate section homepage, you should bookmark that page for ease of access. On the section homepage for your class, scroll down to the bold "Class Check-in" heading. Under that heading you'll find a link called "Student Configuration Manager." If the section homepage doesn't contain that heading or that link, then your instructor is not taking advantage of this system and the SCM will not be available to you. When you locate the "Student Configuration Manager" link on your section homepage, just give it a click. B. Logging in to Student configuration manager Before you can log into the Student Configuration Manager for a class, everything must be ready for business:
After that procedure has been completed, you can log into the Student Configuration Manager for the class at any time. Just enter the username and password you created for this class or your instructor created for you. (Remember that you might have used the same username and password for more than one purpose at SRJC, or you might have selected a different username and/or password for this particular class.) Alternatively, you can log into the Student Configuration Manager using your SRJC student ID (not your Social Security number) and PIN number. This is especially useful if you don't remember your CATE username and/or password! Nevertheless, you must be on the CATE roster and activated by your instructor in order for your ID and PIN to work. After entering your username and password (or student ID and PIN), click the "Submit" button. Warning! After successfully logging in, your personal data will be fully visible in plain text on the screen. Please protect the privacy of your personal data. One option in the Student Configuration Manager allows you to notify your instructor if you intend to drop the class. While entirely optional, because of the lag time in getting information through all the usual channels, this notification allows your instructor to make the appropriate adjustments to the online class without delay and also means that you won't continue to get unwanted messages from the class. To use this option, click the "Notify Instructor" button and then click the "Confirm Notifying Instructor" button. Remember, this notification does NOT in and of itself constitute officially dropping this class! Another option in the Student Configuration Manager allows you to edit components of your online identity for this particular class. This can be very handy if the information you originally submitted during the check-in process was not entirely correct, or if that information has changed. This option is especially useful because it controls the way your name appears in a variety of places in your class. This option allows you to edit the following information: your first name, your last name, your username, and your password. To use this option, click the "Edit Identity" button. In the text editing boxes, edit your first name, last name, username, and/or password as needed. You can use your SRJC student ID number as your username, or you can use something else entirely. However, you can never use a username which is already in use by another student. There are also a few situations where the system might not allow you to use a specific kind of username. If the system rejects your choice, you'll need to come up with a different username. If your class is configured so that you have a system-generated CATE username and password, it is strongly recommended that you use the CATE Student Configuration Manager to change your username and password to something that's easier to type and easier to remember! After making appropriate changes, click the "Confirm Editing Identity" button. You can return and revise this information any time you want. Remember, when you change this information for a class, it only affects that specfic CATE-based class. You might need or want to make changes for more than one CATE-based class. Also, keep in mind that changes made via the SCM do not affect your official data at SRJC or your information in SRJC's Moodle system. The next option in the Student Configuration Manager allows you to add, edit, or delete the email address(es) you utilize in this class. In many classes with Web-based resources, especially online classes, communicating via email with your instructor and classmates is critical to academic success, so it's important to make sure an accurate, functional email address is on file for you. Class messages transmitted to you via email will be sent to the email address(es) on file for you for that particular class. Some students prefer to have their class email go to only one address, while other students prefer their class email go to multiple addresses. When taking more than one class which involves email, some students prefer to get all their email at one address, while other students prefer to receive mail for each class at a different address. Whatever your preferences, you must provide at least one address for each class, and you're allowed to use as many as three different email addresses for a particular class. To use this option, click the "Edit Email" button. Enter or edit email addresses as necessary on one or more of the three lines provided ("Email address 1," "Email address 2," and "Email address 3.") To remove an email address, just leave the line blank. After making the appropriate changes, click the "Confirm Editing Email" button. You can return and make further changes any time you want. Another option in the Student Configuration Manager allows you to control the receipt of class email. Most classes with Web-based resources will include at least one Message List for communications among students and instructor. In most cases, that Message List will be configured by the instructor to deliver those messages to students via email. In some cases, the instructor will permit students to opt out if they prefer not to receive those messages via email. Under the heading "Your Message List(s) for section...." you will see a list of the Message Lists, if any, of which you are a member. In some cases, you might also see one or more Message Lists under the heading "Message List(s) for your online collaborative work group(s)." To use this option, click the "Edit Msg List" button for the appropriate List. Look at the "Opt Out" heading. If your instructor will not permit you to opt out, you'll see this notation: "Your instructor has not given you the choice to opt out of receiving messages from this List via email." In that case, there's nothing you can do. If your instructor will permit you to opt out, you'll see two radio buttons, one labeled "Opt In" and one labeled "Opt Out." Click to select the option you prefer, then click the "Confirm Editing Message List" button. You can return and adjust this setting any time you want. The next option in the Student Configuration Manager allows you to control the status of messages as they appear on the Archive page (also known as "Bulletin Board" or "Message Board" or something similar) of your class Message List. Most classes with Web-based resources will include at least one Message List for communications among students and instructor. In most cases, that Message List will be configured by the instructor to archive all messages on a webpage accessible to students. When you visit that page, depending on configurations set by your instructor, the system usually displays icons (also known as "flags") to indicate the status of the message—in particular, whether or not you've already read each individual message. As you visit the Archive page and go to individual messages, the system marks and remembers which ones you've read (or at least the ones it thinks you've read) so the Archive page will always display the status flags correctly whenever you visit. Depending on configurations set by your instructor, you can also click icons on the Archive page to change the status of each message on the spot. This option in the Student Configuration Manager gives you further control over those status flags and allows you to quickly change them in bulk if desired. Changes made to the status of messages via the SCM will always show up in the icons on your Archive page just as though you had made the changes directly to that page. On the SCM menu page, under the heading "Your Message List(s) for section...." you'll see a list of the Message Lists, if any, of which you are a member. In some cases, you might also see one or more Message Lists under the heading "Message List(s) for your online collaborative work group(s)." To use this option, click the "Edit Msg List" button for the appropriate List. Look at the "Designate messages as 'already read' or 'not read'" heading (located down the page from the "Opt Out" heading). There you will find a list of all the messages from your class Message List which appear on the Archive page. The list shows the time and date the message was sent, the name of the person who sent the message, the subject line of the message, and the first few words of the message itself. To the left of each message on the list is a checkbox. If the checkbox is selected, that means you've already read the message (or at least the system thinks you have). If the checkbox is not selected, then the system thinks you have not yet read that message. You can easily change the status of one or more message simply by clicking on the corresponding checkbox(es). You can also select or de-select checkboxes in bulk by using the "Select All" or "De-select All" options appearing above the list of messages. If you make changes but want to undo those changes (before saving them), you can click the "Reset" button which appears near the top and bottom of the page. Using these tools, you can select and de-select checkboxes so that messages are flagged as "not yet read" or "already read" as desired. After you have adjusted the status of messages as desired, click the "Confirm Editing Message List" button at the top or bottom of the page. You can return and adjust the status of messages any time you want. H. Signing up for class text messages In some classes, both online and face-to-face, the instructor might send class-related text messages to the cell phones of students. This is strictly optional, and students are never required to receive text messages from the instructor. If you want to sign up to receive text messages from the instructor, you can do so by clicking the "Edit Cell Number" button. When the editing screen comes up, enter your cell phone number (including area code) and select your carrier (such as AT&T, etc). After entering that information, click the button labeled "Confirm Editing Cell Number." You can return and make further changes any time you want. If you decide you want to stop receiving text messages from the class, just edit your phone number and leave it completely blank. I. Collaborative online work groups The final option in the Student Configuration Manager simply shows your work groups. In some cases, instructors might assign students to work in collaborative online groups. If you belong to any work groups, then you'll see the name of the group as well as the name of the owner of the work group (i.e., the instructor). Of course, if you're not in any work groups, then none will be listed. Whether or not you belong to an online work group, no editing options are provided. This is strictly for informational purposes. On the other hand, if you belong to a group, it's possible your instructor has created a Message List exclusively for the group (rather than for the class as a whole). In that case, you'll see a list of any Group-based Message Lists to which you belong. You can edit your configurations for any such lists (opt-in/opt-out and flagging message status) in exactly the same manner as any other Message List. 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: Log into the Student Configuration Manager, experiment with some of the settings, and familiarize yourself with how everything works. |
| Distance Education office Santa Rosa Junior College, Santa Rosa, CA USA Last Modified: Friday, 25-Jan-2013 10:16:44 PST |
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