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Get Started | Communicate with my Professor | Connect to my Course | Participate in my course | Copy, paste and attach files |
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Get Started with SLN
Where do I find information on course materials and how to order my books?
How often do I have to login to my course?
How do I obtain my final course grade?
How do I obtain a transcript for courses I completed during a previous semester?
How do I contact the SLN HelpDesk?
Communicate with my Professor
How do I contact my professor using my Private Folder?
I can't find my Private Folder. What should I do?
How do I send or receive email with another user?
My email address has changed. Who do I notify?
How do I confirm that I can receive email from SLN?
How private is the assignment I submit to my professor?
My professor says I didn't turn in my assignment, but I can see it!
Connect to My Course
Where Are My Courses?
How do I change my password?
How do I logout of my course?
How do I clear my browser's cache or temporary Internet files?
How do I create a bookmark or favorite in my web browser?
What is a browser plug-in or viewer?
How long after the last day of class will my course be available?
How do I enable scripting in my web browser software?
Participate in My Course
I just submitted something in my course but I don't see it. Where did it go?
I don't see current items or my recent submission in the course.
How do I create or edit my introduction in the Meet Your Classmates area of my course?
How do I edit or delete my discussion response?
How do I edit or delete my assignment?
Why can't I enter a Learning Module?
How do I create a hyperlink in my course?
How do I create a Shared Reference in my course?
When I tried to read an item within the Submissions from last 14 Days view of my course, I got an error message. What should I do?
What is a Private Save?
How do I spell check my responses when I'm typing online in my browser?
Copy, Paste and Attach Files
How do I copy and paste my document into the online form?
Why do my quotation marks and apostrophes become question marks?
Why do my dashes or hyphens become question marks?
Why does my document's format change when I use copy and paste?
How do I attach a file to the Create Assignment form?
I submitted my assignment as a file attachment. How do I know it was successful?
How do I save my file in a different format or file type?
I'm a Mac user, how do I submit my file attachment in a compatible format?
My browser will not open a file attachment posted in my course.
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SLN: Getting Started |
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Where do I find information on course materials and how to order my books? [top]
Information about course materials is located with the course description on the SLN web site. Students have many options for purchasing texts. Campus and online book store information is included in the Books and Materials for this Course area under the course description. The SUNY Learning Network does not have an affiliation with a bookstore. Within the course description, the campus may indicate where you should purchase your course materials or provide contact information for a resource. Students may also use their campus bookstore, an online bookstore, or a local bookstore to purchase course materials. The professor will also post book and course materials information within the Course Information area of your course.
- For more information about courses and course descriptions, visit Courses.
How often do I have to login to my course? [top]
SLN courses have start and end dates set by the SUNY college offering the course. While students do not attend or login to the course at a specific hour or day, you do need to participate often enough to complete assignments and activities, as well as interact with your professor and classmates. Your professor will post information in the Course Information section of your course that will explain requirements, expectations, schedule, and how you will be evaluated. You must participate in the course by asking questions, posting discussion responses, contributing to private folder messages, and submitting assignments or taking quizzes as required by each professor. If you only read documents and never submit anything to the course, the professor will not be able to evaluate your understanding of the course material.
The web site is available 24/7 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week). This means that once your course starts, you can login at any time of day and as often as you need to satisfy the professor's course requirements.
How do I obtain my final course grade? [top]
Contact the Registrar's Office at the college that offered the course you completed. Your professor and the college are responsible for providing you with your final course grade information. Visit Campus Contacts for more information.
How do I obtain a transcript for courses I completed during a previous semester? [top]
To obtain a transcript, contact the Registrar's Office at your college or the college that offered the course you completed. See Campus Contacts.
How do I contact the SLN HelpDesk? [top]
Links to the online SLN HelpDesk are available within the Commons, Student Orientation and within each course. For more information on how to contact the SLN Helpdes, please click this link:. SLN HelpDesk. |
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Communicating with my Professor |
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How do I contact my professor using my Private Folder? [top]
Most interactions with the professor take place within the course. Your professor may use a private communication area called the Private Folder located within the Private Folder module on the Course Map. Check the professor's Contact Information document to see what the professor's preferences are with regard to receiving email. If it states that you shouldn't send email directly to the professor, you should instead use your Private Folder. Your Private Folder is automatically created after you edit and submit your introduction in the Meet Your Classmates area.
To communicate privately with your professor:
- Open your Private Folder and click the Respond link. Then create your message and submit it.
- Your professor will respond to you according to his or her schedule which is posted in the Contact Information document.
I can't find my Private Folder. What should I do? [top]
Some professors choose not to use the Private Folder option in their courses. If you do not find this module on the Course Map but your professor refers to it, post a message to your professor in the course asking how you should communicate privately.
If your professor is using the Private Folder area in your course, you will find it on the Course Map, within the Class Community Area. To create your Private Folder, edit your introduction in the Meet Your Classmates.
How to create your Private Folder:
- Go to the Meet Your Classmates list and locate your name. If your name doesn't appear in the list, then click the Introduce Yourself Here link.
- Click on your name to open your blank profile document.
- Click the Edit button in the upper left corner of the page.
- Enter your introduction information, then click on submit.
- Go to the Private Folder area to find the "Private Folder for" document.
How do I send or receive email with another user? [top]
Communication between students and communication between students and professors take place within the online course. For non-course related conversations, you can communicate by email with another user if you know the person's username. Whenever a student submits an item in the course, the person's username appears with the date of the submission.
- How do I send email to another user?
You can send email to anyone with an SLN account by addressing the message to "firstname.lastname@SLN.suny.edu" based on the person's username. Your message is forwarded to the email address in the person's password account.
- How do I receive email from another user?
You receive or check your email as you usually do, within your personal Internet email account. Email sent to your username (firstname.lastname@SLN.suny.edu) by another student or your professor is forwarded to the Internet email address you when you created your SLN Account.
My email address has changed. Who do I notify? [top]
Click on the Update Contact Information link and update the email address in your account.
How do I confirm that I can receive email from SLN? [top]
To confirm your account contains a valid email address, send an email message to your SLN forwarding address using the following format. (firstname and lastname in the address are determined by your username.) You can use your personal email account to create and send the test message. firstname.lastname@SLN.suny.edu
Messages addressed to your forwarding address are sent to the Internet email address listed in your account. If you do not receive the test message or a mail delivery failure occurs, you need to check the email address in your account. Make sure your name is spelled correctly and the address doesn't contain spaces. If you have questions, contact the SLN HelpDesk.
How private is the assignment I submit to my professor? [top]
If you choose Submit for Professor when you save or submit a paper, the document has its own security. You are telling the system to save your document so only a person with professor access is able to view your assignment. You and your professor are able to see your assignment, but your classmates can not.
Other people may also have access to your course in addition to the registered students:
- Technical Support and Administrative Staff. The technical support personnel, including the SLN HelpDesk and database and system administrators, respect the privacy and confidentiality of students. They may access private areas and documents to troubleshoot problems and assist students having technical difficulties.
- Teaching Assistants. Your professor will specify whether he or she will have a teaching assistant who will be viewing and evaluating your online work.
- Course Guests. Your course may have guests. This does not happen often, and it doesn't happen in all courses. A guest may be a new professor who is going to teach online or may be a guest speaker for the course. A guest will request permission to observe the course from your professor. Your professor will follow certain policies about course observations:
- Your professor will post a notice announcing the visitor on the course Bulletin Board. The announcement will tell you who the guest is, the time period she/he will be online, and whether the guest will have professor access to documents.
- If you have any concerns about the guest, be sure to let your professor know privately via email or in your private folder.
- When the observation period is over, the professor will post a second notice to announce that the guest is no longer observing.
- The guest will be able to see the online discussion of the full group. The guest will not see your written assignments or evaluations, unless the professor grants such access to the person.
My professor says I didn't turn in my assignment, but I can see it! [top]
First, make sure your assignment states Assignment for Professor rather than Private Save. If it states Private Save, open the assignment document and click the Edit button in the upper left corner of the screen. Change the save option to Submit for Professor and submit the assignment again. It should now post correctly and indicate that you and the professor can view it.
You are responsible for posting your assignments correctly for the professor. If you post an assignment by mistake as a Private Save and do not fix it before the due date, your professor may not accept your assignment. |
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Connect to My Courses |
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Where Are My Courses? [top]
If you are registered for a course but the link doesn't appear on your Commons page, check to see if any of these situations apply before contacting your campus.
You are a returning student with an existing SLN Account and you need to add access to this semester’s courses.
When a new semester begins, students with existing SLN Accounts need to add their course(s) to the Commons by using the Select/Change Course link in the Commons, complete the Add Course Access form and submit it. You will receive an email indicating the status of your request within 24 hours and a post will be made to your account transaction log.
You just submitted the Create an SLN Account form and your account is still processing .
It takes an hour for your account to be set up in the system. Wait an hour and then refresh or reload your Commons page. If the link still does not appear, contact the SLN HelpDesk for further information. If you are registered for courses offered by Empire State College, read "You are an Empire State College student", for more information about accessing your courses from your Commons page.
Your browser is not displaying the most current version of your Commons page .
Always make sure you are viewing the most current version of a web page. Try refreshing or reloading the web page. To review your web browser settings or other computer requirements, visit Technical Guidance or contact the SLN HelpDesk for more information.
Your course ended and the link was removed from your Commons page.
Course links are removed from your Commons page two weeks after the course ends. If you were granted an extension but did not create a bookmark or favorite in your web browser for the course map page, you need to contact your professor to get the URL address for direct access to the course.
Your access to the course was removed by the professor or the college.
If after working in your course for a few days or weeks you now find that the link has disappeared from your Commons page, your access to the course was revoked by either the professor or the college. When your access to a course is revoked you are notified by email. The email contains information about who removed your access and why. It should also contain information about who you need to contact to have your access to the course reinstated. You can view My Transaction Log to determine if you were revoked from a course. If you feel you are registered for the course and your access was removed in error, contact your college immediately. The SLN HelpDesk cannot restore your access to the course.
You may need to add the course to your SLN Account.
If you register for another course after submitting your initial Add Access to a Course form, you must submit another Add Access to a Course form. If you haven't registered with the college offering the course, please contact the campus. For registration information, visit Campus Contacts.
- Late arriving students : Each SUNY college manages how long a course remains available to students on the Create an SLN Account and Add Access to a Course form. If the course no longer appears, you must contact the college for access to the course.
- Non-SLN courses : If you register for a course offered through a different course management system (for example, Blackboard or WebCT), contact your college for more information about how to get started with the course. For information about who to contact at your college about a non-SLN course, visit Campus Contacts.
You are an Empire State College student .
Empire State College (ESC) manages its own course access process. If you have completed the Create an SLN Account process, ESC will add courses to your account according to your registration records. Course links will appear on your Commons page approximately 24 hours after you activate your SLN account as long as you have completed the ESC registration process. When ESC adds a course to your account, you will be notified by email. An entry will also be made in My Transaction Log of your SLN Account. To confirm or complete your registration in Empire State College courses, or if your courses do not appear on your Commons page within 24 hours, contact the ESC/CDL office at CDLStudent@esc.edu or call toll-free at 1-800-847-3000, extension 2300. Include your name, your username, and state that you have an SLN/account for the current semester. You can also check the ESC web site for more information about Empire State College.
Your course was postponed by the college.
A SUNY college may postpone a course or a section of a course. This can occur prior to the course start date or during the first week of classes. When the college postpones a course, the course link will disappear from your Commons page. To determine if your course was postponed, view the Course List on the SLN web site. If the course is now listed with the words "Postponed This Term" in its title, contact your college for more information.
How do I change my password? [top]
Go to the Commons and use the Update Contact Information link to change your contact information or password.
How do I logout of my course? [top]
When you close your web browser software, you are automatically logged out of the SLN web site. If you return to the Commons, you should be prompted for your username and password. If you are not prompted and you reach your Commons page, your browser software is retaining your username and password. Some students save their web site passwords in the browser software. This can cause problems if you share the computer with another student. Some students do not realize that form-filling software is installed on the computer and it is automatically saving any password information they may enter while using the computer. To ensure that you are logged out of the SLN web site, use the Logout link on the left of the Course Map. Using the Logout link protects the security of your password and prevents someone from entering the course using your identity. You are responsible for the security of your account and password.
How do I clear my browser's cache or temporary Internet files? [top]
The Temporary Internet Files folder or Cache is the location on your hard drive where web pages and files such as graphics are stored while you view them. This speeds up the display of pages you frequently visit or have already seen, because web browsers can open them more quickly from your hard drive instead of accessing them from the Internet. However, if the Temporary Internet Files folder or Cache gets full it can prevent you from seeing the most current version of a web page or can prevent a web page from loading properly. Visit Technical Guidance for directions on how to clear out your Cache and delete any Temporary Internet Files.
How do I create a bookmark or favorite in my web browser? [top]
Visit Technical Guidance to learn how to create bookmarks or favorites in your web browser.
What is a browser plug-in or viewer? [top]
A plug-in is a software program that extends the capabilities of your web browser in a specific way. For example, a plug-in can give you the ability to play audio samples or view movies on your computer screen. Think of a plug-in as an add-on computer program that is easily installed and works in conjunction with a larger application by enhancing its capabilities. Plug-ins are available for most anything, from viewing 3-D animation, listening to audio, or even spell-checking the text you type into your browser. You may or may not need to use these plug-ins for the completion of your course activities. Viewers, sometimes referred to as helper applications, are programs that are launched or used by Web browsers to present graphics, audio, video, and other multimedia files found on the Internet. Viewers allow you to view a specially-formatted file, even if you don't have the full version of the specific program available. For instance, you may need to view a PowerPoint presentation for your academic course, but you do not have the PowerPoint software installed on your computer. You can download the PowerPoint viewer from the Microsoft® web site and view the file or you may need to read a PDF file listed on a web site or posted by your professor. To view PDF files, you can download Acrobat Reader. Plug-ins and viewers are optional downloads that may or may not be required for your course. We suggest you check course requirements before installing more software on your computer. The links below include external web sites with the most common and useful plug-in and viewer products. The SLN HelpDesk does not support external web sites or application software. For assistance with the installation and use of software applications, you need to consult the information provided by the company or manufacturer. Read installation instructions and product information carefully as some applications can make changes to your system's configuration that may affect other applications already installed on the computer.
Plug-ins:
- Macromedia Flash or Shockwave
- RealPlayer (free version is called RealOne Player)
- Quicktime
- ieSpell (spell checker for Internet Explorer 5.x or higher web browser)
Viewers:
- Microsoft® Downloads (to obtain viewers for Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Access, Project; viewers and converters for Mac Users)
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
How long after the last day of class will my course be available? [top]
Your professor will post information about when your last assignment is due, the last day you can submit work in the course, and when final grades or evaluations will be available. Your course has an end date posted within its title or link on your Commons page. The course link will be removed from the Commons two weeks after the end date of the course. If your professor grants you extended access to the course, you can create a bookmark or favorite for the Course Map page in your web browser. You will then be able to access the course after the link is removed from the Commons. The course will remain available on the server until it is removed and archived. Permission for an incomplete or an extension for completing assignments is granted by the professor. You need to talk with your professor to obtain an incomplete and find out how he or she expects you to finish your work. If you do not obtain permission from your professor, any work you submit after the course end date may not be reviewed by the professor and you will not receive credit. Once your course has ended, final course grade information is issued by the Registrar's Office at the SUNY college that offered the course. If you need a transcript or other official grade information, please contact your college. The SUNY Learning Network does not have access to your registration or course grade information. For final course grade information or to order a transcript, contact the college's Registrar's Office. For information, visit Campus Contacts.
How do I enable scripting in my web browser software? [top]
Scripting languages such as JavaScript and VBScript bring dynamic and interactive features to web sites. The SUNY Learning Network uses these scripting technologies to bring customized content to our web pages. Scripting must be enabled in your web browser before you can use the applications and services offered by SLN. Visit Technical Guidance to learn how to enable scripting in your web browser software. |
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Participate in My Course |
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I just submitted something in my course but I don't see it. Where did it go? [top]
There are several reasons you may not see your question, discussion response, or assignment submission:
- You used the browser's Back button to return to the Module Menu. Sometimes your browser will show you a cached or historical version of the web page rather than going to the server for the newest version of the page. This can happen when you use the browser's Back button rather than using the link provided to return to the Module Menu. You can force the browser to go back to the server for the changed or updated web page showing the Module Menu by clicking on the Refresh or Reload button at the top of your browser.
- The module contains so many items that you need to use the Next Menu Section link on the navigation toolbar to see the next section of the module. Discussion areas can get very large, very fast. In some cases, there will be more postings in the module than can fit when the module page is displayed. Within the course modules, there is a navigation toolbar provided at the top and bottom of the page. You may need to use the buttons provided on the navigation toolbar to view the entire module.
Use these navigation tools within your course modules to quickly see all section headings and more easily navigate your course:
- Collapse Menu . This button will collapse the items within the module so only the main headings appear. Click on the blue triangles to open each section and review the postings.
- Next Menu Section . This button will take you to the next page of items for the same module. When a discussion area becomes full with student postings, it will create a second page. If you don't see the question area when you scroll to the bottom of the page, that's a good indication that the module continues on a second page. So if you know you submitted an item and now you can't find it as you scroll to the bottom of the screen, you may need to use the Next Menu Section button to find the remaining items for the module, including your postings.
I don't see current items or my recent submission in the course. [top]
You may be viewing a cached version of the web page. Try the Reload or Refresh button in your web browser. You should also clear your cache or Temporary Internet Files folder in your web browser. Be sure to check the browser settings so that the browser loads the most current version of the web page on every visit to the page. Visit Technical Guidance for more information on clearing your browser's cache. If you need further assistance, please contact the SLN HelpDesk.
How do I create or edit my introduction in the Meet Your Classmates area of my course? [top]
After reading through the Course Information documents in the course, your next step is to introduce yourself to your fellow students. Go to Meet Your Classmates and find your name on the Class List. Unless you are the first student to gain access to the course, the name of your professor and classmates will also appear in the Class List.
To edit your profile document:
- Click on your name to open your profile document.
- Then click on the Edit button located in the upper left-hand corner of the screen.
- On the form that appears, follow the directions to enter your introduction or make the appropriate changes.
- When finished, click the Submit Your Personal Profile button.
- Taking this action will complete the step of introducing yourself and will create your 'Private Folder'.
How do I edit or delete my discussion response? [top]
You may only edit responses in a discussion area that you authored. To edit a response:
- Open the posting from within the Module Menu and click on the Edit button located in the upper left-hand corner of the screen.
- Make your changes and click the Submit button.
Only your professor can delete items within your course. To indicate to your professor that you want a discussion or question item deleted from the course, do the following:
- Open the posting you want deleted and click on the Edit button located in the upper left-hand corner of the screen.
- Change the subject field to "Please delete this" and then delete all the text from the text field. If another student has already replied to your posting, then change the subject field to "Please disregard". After completing the edit to your discussion item, click the Submit button.
- Your professor will delete the marked posting the next time he or she checks the course. However, the professor cannot delete your item if another student has already posted a reply to you.
How do I edit or delete my assignment? [top]
You may only edit Private Save assignments that you authored. You will not be able to edit an assignment submitted for the professor or for class. You will not see an Edit button when you open your Assignment for Professor (or Class) because, once submitted, you no longer have editing rights. An Assignment for Professor or an Assignment for Class indicates you have handed in the assignment for evaluation.
To edit a Private Save assignment:
- Open the posting and click on the Edit button located in the upper left-hand corner of the screen.
- Make your changes and press the Submit button (make sure you choose the proper Submit option.)
- Return to the Module Menu to view your assignment.
Only your professor can delete items within your course. If you wish to have an Assignment for Professor deleted, notify your professor using your private folder or by email. Explain which assignment posting you want him or her to grade and which you would like removed from the course. If you happen to create multiple Private Save assignments in a module, your professor will not see these extra submissions. If you want the professor to delete the item(s), you can do the following:
- Open the Private Save document you don't want and click on the Edit button located in the upper left-hand corner of the screen.
- Remove the assignment text. If there is an attachment, mark the file attachment for deletion.
- Then type "Please delete this" in the assignment text box.
- Change the save option to Submit for Professor and click the Submit Button. Your professor will now see the item and may delete the posting the next time he or she checks the course.
Why can't I enter a Learning Module? [top]
The page says "Click your browser's Back button to return to a previous screen."
This message will appear when your professor has closed a module to students. Check the Course Schedule for information about when a module will open to student participation. Some professors also close a module once the students have moved on to the next module. So if you arrive late to class you may need to make arrangements with the professor to complete work you have missed. Post a message to the professor in your Private Folder. If the professor doesn't respond to your inquiry, please contact the SLN HelpDesk.
If the professor posts a message stating the module is open and you find it closed, first confirm that your browser is loading the most current version of the course map page before contacting the professor or the SLN HelpDesk. Go to Technical Guidance for information about how to clear your browser's temporary Internet files folder and adjust settings so your web pages load correctly.
How do I create a hyperlink in my course? [top]
Your professor may ask that you share a web site with your classmates by including a link within your discussion response. The professor may also ask that you include hyperlinks in your assignment documents.
To incorporate hyperlinks within a discussion response:
To create one web site link in a response:
At the bottom of the response form, you will find the following fields:
- Optional Web Link:
- Web Site Name:
- Web Site Address: (do NOT include http:// or quotation marks)
Enter the information in the appropriate fields (or white boxes) at the bottom of the response form. Whatever you type as the web site name will appear as the hyperlink after you submit your response to the course.
To create multiple hyperlinks within the text of your discussion response:
Enter the entire address or URL (including the http://) for the web site(s) you are referencing within the text field of the response form.
To incorporate hyperlinks within an assignment:
Here are directions for creating hyperlinks in Word97, Word2000 and Word2003/XP documents. If you are using different software, then consult the Help feature or your user manual for directions:
- First, you need to know the URL or web site address. Copy the URL from the Location or Address field on your browser.
- In your Word document, type the web site address or the web site name that you want to use as the link.
- Highlight the web site address or web site name.
- With the hyperlink text highlighted, select Insert - Hyperlink.
- A window will open entitled Insert Hyperlink. Paste the URL in the Address field.
- Verify that the correct URL with http:// appears in the field and click OK to close the Insert Hyperlink window.
The hyperlink in your text should appear underlined and blue. If you are connected to the Internet, you can test the hyperlink in your Word document by holding down the Control key on your keyboard and clicking on the hyperlink. To close the web page, click the Back button at the top left of the screen. This returns you to your Word document.
To submit your document, attach it to the assignment form rather than using the Copy and Paste feature. The Copy and Paste feature will not preserve the hyperlink within your text.
How do I create a Shared Reference in my course? [top]
A Shared Reference is a way for you to tell the class about useful items such as articles, books, web sites, or other materials. You may use Shared References for specific assignments or it may be an optional part of your course.
- Go to the Course Map.
- Select Shared References module.
- Click the Add a Reference Here link to open the form.
- If you are submitting an online resource or web site URL, you must check the appropriate box under the Media Type category.
- Fill in the other fields to complete the Shared Reference form and click the Submit Your Shared Reference button.
You will get a submission verification screen. Click the Go to the Shared References By Date Submitted Menu link to find your addition at the top of the list. If you submitted an online resource, check your link to be sure it is working correctly. You can open your reference item to check the information you included about the reference. If the information needs revision or correction, click the Edit link in the upper left corner.
When I tried to read an item within the Submissions from last 14 Days view of my course, I got an error message. What should I do? [top]
The Submissions from last 14 Days link is a quick way to see what recent discussion activity has occurred in the course modules. If there are too many discussion responses submitted in the course during the past 14 days, you may not be able to use the Submissions from last 14 days link effectively. Some of the items in the view may produce one of the following error messages:
- Error 500 HTTP Web Server: Lotus Notes Exception - Field is too large (15K) or View's column & selection formulas are too large when clicked.
- The page cannot be displayed. There is a problem with the page you are trying to reach and it cannot be displayed
- Error 500 Internal Server Error
If this happens, you will need to read the discussion item from within the Learning Module. Please report the problem to the SLN HelpDesk. Include the name of the course and the name, date, and subject of the items in the 14 day view that resulted in an error message.
Using the Learning Module navigation links can assist in viewing the contents of a module menu with large discussion area(s). For example, when a discussion item is opened you can use the Next Document link to move through the discussion items in the order they were posted.
Information about other navigation links within the course modules:
Using the Collapse Menu button:
- Enter the Course Module.
- Click on Collapse Menu.
- You will see a list of topics, with blue triangles to the left.
- Click on the blue triangle and documents within that topic will appear. If you do not like this view, click the Expand Menu link and the view will return to normal.
Using the Next Menu Section
- Enter the Course Module.
- Scroll down to the end of the page and click on the Next Menu Section link.
- Now you will see the next set of postings within the module.
If documents still appear to be missing, you can click Next Menu Section again to see if there are still more documents. To go to the beginning of the module menu, click on the Previous Menu Section link.
What is a Private Save? [top]
Private Save assignments are viewable and editable only by you. This save option is used when you are still working on an assignment and intend to come back to edit it or add information. To Private Save an assignment, scroll to the bottom of the assignment form and change the save option to Private Save. Then click the Save or Submit Assignment button.
- To edit the text within a Private Save assignment, return to the Module Menu to find and open your assignment. Click the Edit button in the upper left-hand corner of the screen. Make your changes and then click the Submit button.
- To submit your Private Save assignment so it is viewable by the professor, you must change the save option. Open the Private Save assignment and click the Edit button. Change the submit option to Submit for Professor then click the Save or Submit Assignment button. The assignment can now be viewed by your professor and it is no longer editable by you. The date and time of the final submission to the professor is posted on the assignment in red print.
- Do not use the Private Save option if you plan to submit a file attachment. Attach the file only when you are ready to submit the assignment to your professor.
How do I spellcheck my responses when I'm typing online in my browser? [top]
Your web browser software does not have a spell checker like a word processing application. You need to install a third-party plug-in. One browser plug-in is called ieSpell (www.iespell.com) and it's compatible with Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher. ieSpell is free for personal use and it will install as part of the Internet Explorer toolbar under Tools. For more information about browser plug-ins and viewers, visit Technical Guidance.
Reminder: When creating lengthy discussion responses and written assignments, it is recommended that you type your work off-line in your word processor. This enables you to spell and grammar check your work, plus save a copy to your hard drive. Maintaining a copy of your work off-line is helpful as you can lose work if your Internet connection is interrupted or disconnects without warning before you've had the chance to submit the response or assignment. |
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Copy, Paste and Attach Files |
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How do I copy and paste my document into the online form? [top]
Copy and Paste commands can be used to transfer text from your word processing application such as Microsoft® Word or WordPerfect to the online form. Creating your work off-line and saving a copy on your hard drive or to a disk also ensures that you have a copy of the work you submit in your course.
Many features that you are used to using in your word processing software do not retain their attributes when you copy and paste them into an online form:
- Special fonts, colors, formatting such as bold, underline, and italics
- Bulleted or numbered lists
- Alignment attributes
- Charts and graphics
You can format the printed version of your paper so it has a nice, organized appearance, but the formatting will not show when you submit your document online using Copy and Paste. If you plan to only submit an electronic copy of your work, follow these guidelines when creating your word processing document:
Do not use:
- Special fonts
- Tabs
- Hard returns
- Deselect the Smart Quotes/True Quotes setting in your word processing software. This eliminates the problem of quotations and apostrophes becoming question marks in online documents. See Technical Guidance for more information about Smart Quotes.
Instructions for Copy and Paste:
- Create your document using your word processing software. Spell and grammar check the document and save it to your hard drive or disk.
- Select the text of your document that you plan to submit online.
- To select text, highlight the text you want to copy or use Ctrl+A to select the entire document.
- If you are completing a Multi-Part Assignment, you may need to select a portion of your document at a time to paste into the appropriate sections of the multi-part form.
- Copy the text to your computer system's clipboard by selecting Edit - Copy or Ctrl+C.
- Login to your course, and open the location in your course where you need to submit your work.
- Click the Create Assignment or Response link to open the appropriate online form.
- Point and click once in the text box to place your cursor where the text should appear in the form. Then select Edit - Paste from your browser menu, or use Ctrl+V, to paste the text in the online form.
- When you have pasted your document in the form, scroll to the bottom of the page.
- If it's an assignment, select the Submit method based on who should read the document.
- Private Save allows only you to view the document.
- Submit for Professor allows your professor to evaluate your work.
- Submit for Class is used only when instructed by your professor; this option allows your classmates to see your work on the web.
- Click the Submit button to upload your work to the web site.
After you submit your document, you will receive a confirmation screen. Check the Course Module to make sure your item posts correctly.
Why do my quotation marks and apostrophes become question marks? [top]
Why do my dashes or hyphens become question marks?
When you use the Copy and Paste method to submit work in your course, quotation marks, apostrophes, dashes and hyphens in your document may appear as question marks in the online form. These symbols are not ASCII characters; they don't import correctly to the online forms. See Technical Guidance for more information about configuring Smart Quotes and long dash settings in your word processing program.
Why does my document's format change when I use copy and paste? [top]
The disadvantage of using the Copy and Paste method is that your document may not retain its original format. If you intend to use the Copy and Paste method to submit assignments, you should keep the format of your word document simple, using left justification and avoiding any special formats, codes or spacing, such as tabs, indents, or columns. Whenever you enter information in the text box of a response or assignment form you will get straight ASCII text only. If a written assignment requires that you preserve your fonts, underlines, bold, italics, spacing, or contains graphics, you should attach the file to the assignment form rather than use Copy and Paste to enter the text into the form.
How do I attach a file to the Create Assignment form? [top]
To attach a file to the Create Assignment form:
- Create your assignment off-line and save the document to your hard drive. Take note of the filename and the folder you saved it in on your hard drive or disk.
- Your professor may tell you what programs or file types you may use to create assignments that are submitted as file attachments.
- If your professor has requested that attachments be submitted in an RTF format, be sure you have saved the file as an RTF.
- The filename should not contain any spaces and should be less than 5 MB in size. Depending on the speed of your Internet connection, you may have difficulty submitting files larger then 2500K or 2.5MB.
- Close your application and login to your course.
- Go to the Course Module to submit your assignment.
- Open the professor's instruction document and click on Create Assignment at the bottom of the page.
- Scroll to the bottom of the form past the Save or Submit Assignment button until you come to the section To Submit your Assignment as a file attachment.
- Click the Browse button to search your hard drive for the file you just saved. When you find your file, click once on the filename to highlight it and then click Open. The drive path and file name will appear on the assignment form in the field to the left of the Browse button.
- You must use the Choose File or File Upload window to find and select your file. Do not attempt to type the filename into the blank box on the assignment form.
- You may need to change the 'Files of type' field in the Choose File or File Upload window to 'All files'. This ensures that you are seeing all files available.
- When you have completed the attachment steps, scroll up and click the Save or Submit Assignment button.
- Assignments submitted as file attachments should not be submitted as Private Save. Use the file attachment feature to submit your completed assignments that are ready for the professor's evaluation.
- After submitting the assignment, use the link provided on the confirmation screen to return to the module where your assignment is posted. Make sure your assignment has posted as Assignment for Professor and that the file attachment icon appears when you open your posting.
I submitted my assignment as a file attachment. How do I know it was successful? [top]
If you have submitted your attachment successfully, you will see a box with the filename in the lower left corner of the screen. (See below for an example.) Your professor will open your file attachment in a word processing program and evaluate your work. Your professor may indicate his or her preference for the format of file attachments. Be sure to submit word processing files in a compatible file format such as Word (file.doc), Rich Text Format (file.rtf), or ASCII/Text only (file.txt). Your professor may also specify other software or file types may be used in the course. Below is an example of how the submitted file attachment icon appears in an Assignment for Professor document:
Project6.doc
How do I save my file in a different format or file type? [top]
Students enrolled in SLN courses need to be able to create and save documents in a common file format. This is so assignments submitted as file attachments can be evaluated by the professor. We recommend that students have access to a word processing program with the capability to save files in the Microsoft® Word 6.0 (or higher) or RTF (Rich Text Format) file format. Use your word processor's Save As command to save a document file in a compatible format. When naming your file, be sure not to include spaces or special characters.
RTF or Rich Text Format is compatible with the word processors used by faculty. Below are the instructions for saving a document in the RTF file format. Complete these steps before attaching the file to an assignment form.
- Open your document in your word processing program.
- Select File - Save As
- Select Rich Text Format (RTF) from the Save As Type dropdown menu and click Save.
- This will save a new copy of your file in Rich Text Format and the filename will have the RTF extension (for example, Homework.rtf)
I'm a Mac user, how do I submit my file attachment in a compatible format? [top]
See Technical Guidance for more information.
My browser will not open a file attachment posted in my course. [top]
When you double-click on a file attachment icon, the web browser should open the file. If your browser doesn't open the file, then right mouse click on the file attachment icon and select Save Target As. You can then download the file to your desktop or hard drive and open it within the appropriate software application. |
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