Logging On to Sakai via MyCoursesPlus
This Web Design course uses a new course management system called Sakai, which the University of Delaware is piloting this year for possible adoption on campus. Here at UD, the name of the Sakai system is MyCoursesPlus. The Sakai software that powers MyCoursesPlus comes from SakaiProject.org, of which UD is an integral member.
How to Log On to MyCoursesPlus
To log on to your Web Design course, you go to mycoursesplus.udel.edu. When the MyCoursesPlus screen appears, there will be a login form in the upper-right corner of the window. The login form prompts you for your UdelNet ID and password. Enter these credentials and click the Login button. Note: If you are a new student who does not yet have a UdelNet ID and password, you can get one by following the instructions on the UD network page at www.udel.edu/network.
Where to Find Your Course in MyCoursesPlus
After you log on to MyCoursesPlus, there will be a menu bar onscreen. In that menu bar, click your course identifier. If you are enrolled in Spring 2008, for example, the course to click is 08S:EDUC885. If you do not see your course on the menu bar, inspect the right end of the menu bar to see if your course is in a dropdown menu that appears if you happen to be enrolled in more courses than will fit along the horizontal menu bar. If you cannot find your course, send e-mail to your course instructor fth@udel.edu explaining that you are not yet on the course roster. In your message, state the specific course number and section in which you enrolled, and provide your UdelNet ID (but not your password) so your instructor can help you resolve the problem.
How to Use the Course Tools in MyCoursesPlus
As you might expect, this Web Design course uses many of the tools available in Sakai. After you enter your course in MyCoursesPlus, will see these tools listed in the left sidebar that is always onscreen in Sakai. To use a tool, simply click it and follow the onscreen instructions. If you have trouble, try clicking the Help button to see if the answer to your question is in the help file. If something simply will not work as advertised, send e-mail to your course instructor fth@udel.edu explaining what the problem is. Remember that Sakai is brand new here at UD, and we are piloting it for possible adoption here. There are bound to be a few startup problems, and we appreciate your help identifying them.
The specific Sakai tools you will use in your Web Design course are listed as follows:
- Home. Use the home tool whenever you want Sakai to display the Web Design course framework.
- Assignments. You will use the assignments tool to review or submit your course assignments.
- Schedule. Use the schedule tool to see when things are due.
- Forums. Everyone is required to participate in the course discussion forums. You will learn a lot from interacting with your classmates here.
- Wiki. You will use the Wiki to share with your fellow classmates cool tools or best practices you discover during the course.
- Blogger. Three times (or more) during the course, you will use the blogger to submit your project logs, in which you reflect on the progress you are making and describe any dilemmas you may have encountered.
- Podcasts. Your professor plans to experiment with the podcast tool as the course progresses. There is no specific assignment here.
- Chat Room. There is no specific assignment related to the chat room, but it promises to become a popular place to network with fellow students who happen to be online at the same time as you. Please be aware that your chat room conversations are kept in an archive that other classmates can see. These are not "private" chats.
- Search. Use the search tool to find things in your online course. The search includes the chat room archives.
- Roster. The roster tool displays a list of your fellow classmates who are taking the course with you.
- Site Info. Use the site info tool when you want to see official information about the course, including your professor's e-mail address.
- Resources. Here are file folders and Web links used in the course.
- Tests. Under "tests" is an online survey we would like you to complete regarding your initial reactions to Sakai. There are no other tests in this particular course, which uses project-based as opposed to exam-based assessment.
- Gradebook. In the gradebook are your scores on all the course assignments.
- Help. Use the help tool when you have questions about Sakai. The help tool is keyword searchable.