To use the Connections Course Tools, simply use your Connections ID to log into Connections at:
http://connections.webster.edu
Accessing Course Tools
Once you have logged in, you will want to select the “Faculty” tab (Figure 1).
Figure 1
This tab has items, or “channels,” that are pertinent to you as an instructor at Webster. In the upper, left-hand corner, there is a My Courses channel (Figure 2). Click the link in this channel to proceed to your courses.
Figure 2
This page will show you all the courses you are teaching for the semester (Figure 3). If you click on the name of the class, it will take you to that class homepage in the Connections Course Tools, or, alternatively, if it is an online class, it will take you to that course in WebCT.
Figure 3
After selecting one of the courses, you'll see this course's Course Homepage (Figure 4). This page is divided into three columns. From the left, the first column gives us links to navigate this page. Second, the middle column, lists recent announcements and message board topics. The third column lists information about the course.
Figure 4
The items in the first column are essentially all the things you can “do.”
In the first column where it says Course Tools, you can see an overview of the tools that Connections Course Tools offers:
Announcements - This tool allows course members to post announcements about the course such as meeting times, class meeting agendas, assignments, etc. Student submissions require instructor approval (by default).
News - This tool allows course members to post news items to the course homepage. Student submissions require instructor approval (by default).
Photos - This tool allows course members to post photos to the course (in either gif or jpeg format) that can be viewed by other members in the course. Student submissions require instructor approval (by default).
Links - This tool allows course members to post links to external websites, as well as a description of the content that is contained in the link. Student submissions require instructor approval (by default).
Files - This tool allows you to post and organize course related documents to the course (such as a syllabus, handouts, journal articles, etc.). Files of any type can be uploaded, but may be restricted by size. Student submissions require instructor approval (by default).
Message board - This tool allows course members to post and reply to course discussion topics. Unlike other course tools, anyone can post a topic without having to be approved by the instructor.
Calendar - This tool allows course members to keep a calendar of course events. For example the course instructor can post course meeting times, or assignment due dates on the calendar. Students can post events to the calendar once the instructor grants them permissions. Student submissions require instructor approval.
Email - This tool allows course members to email each other. These emails are sent to the course member's Webster email account. The instructor does not have to do any setup for course members to be able to email one another.
Chat - The chat tool allows course members to chat with one another in real time. Chat dialogs cannot be saved. A course member has access to this tool once he/she is enrolled in the course. The instructor does not have to give course members permissions to use this tool. Private messages can be sent to course members.
Members - The members tool allows you to see all of the course members.
Content Tools
Underneath the Course Tools are the Content Tools . This is a set of tools that allows you to configure the features discussed above. For instance, selecting Manage Photos will take you to a page to submit, approve, and activate photos.
Moving still further down the first column, you will find Configuration Tools. These tools let you configure:
Applications - what tools are active. For instance, you could disable Photos.Members - who is allowed to view your course. Anyone with a connections ID can be added.
Permissions - who can do what. You can allow all students to post items without review, or just one if you need a helping hand or are going to be away.
Personal Tools
The last item in that column is Personal Tools .
My Profile - Allows you to see and change information that is visible to course members.My Courses - Takes you back to the listing of your courses.
My Consolidated Courses - Allows you to view your consolidated course. Consolidating allows you to have a single course homepage for multiple classes (for instant, different sections of the same course). You can choose to consolidate courses from this page as well.
