Section 1 Getting Started

Preface

Section 1 Getting Started -

Table Of Contents

Table of Contents

Preface 1

About The Manual 2

General Conventions 3

Where to get Help 4

Using Online Help 4

Help Contact Details 4

1 Getting Started 5

1.1 Getting Started 6

1.2 Installing CE 4 6

1.3 Logging in to CE 4 7

1.4 Main Folders in CE 4 7

1.5 Changing your personal details in CE 9

1.6 The Task Pad 9

1.7 Course Summary Page 11

1.8 Calendars 13

1.9 Changing Your CE Password 14

1.10 Customising Cecil Explorer 4 15

2 Before the Semester Starts 17

2.1 Before the Semester Starts 18

2.2 Setting up Your Course 19

2.2.1 Course Preferences 19

2.2.2 Course Details 20

2.2.3 Creating New Course Descriptions 22

2.2.4 Importing Course Descriptions 23

2.2.5 Topics 24

2.2.6 Creating a New Topics Folder 24

2.2.7 Editing a Topic Description 25

2.2.8 Renaming a Topic Folder 25

2.2.9 Creating a New Sub-Topic 26

2.2.10 Moving a Topic 26

2.2.11 Importing Topics from other courses 27

2.2.12 Setting up Course Activity Types 28

2.2.13 Setting up Course Activity Sessions 29

2.2.14 Viewing/Modifying Activity Sessions after Setup 33

2.2.15 Customising Activity Description 37

2.2.16 Switching Between Assessed and Non-Assessed 38

2.2.17 Setting up Recurring Activities 39

2.2.18 Setting up Assessment Groups 40

2.2.19 Importing a Course Structure 46

2.3 Students 49

2.3.1 Person Details View 49

2.3.2 Enrolment Status in a Course 51

2.3.3 Manually Adding a Student 53

2.3.4 Creating a Dummy Student 55

2.3.5 Enabling and Using the Dummy Student 56

2.3.6 Streaming 57

2.3.7 Setting up new Streams 57

2.3.8 Assigning Streams to Activity Sessions 59

2.3.9 Assigning Students to Streams 60

2.3.10 Self-Streaming 61

2.3.11 Assigning Staff to Streams 62

2.3.12 Stream List Reports 64

2.3.13 Stream List in Excel 65

3 During the Semester 66

3.1 During the Semester 67

3.2 Communications 68

3.2.1 Announcements 68

3.2.2 Discussion Forums 73

3.2.3 Chat Rooms 82

3.3 Putting Files Online 83

3.3.1 Making Files Available Online 83

3.3.2 Loading Files into Topics 86

3.3.3 Editing Files in Topics 89

3.3.4 Creating Web Pages in Topics 90

3.3.5 Importing Websites into Topics 91

3.4 Cecil Online Tests 93

3.4.1 Multiple Choice Question Wizard 93

3.4.2 Modifying Existing Questions 94

3.4.3 Question Editor 95

3.5 Creating Test Templates. 105

3.5.1 Modifying a Test Template 107

3.5.2 Copying Test Templates 117

3.5.3 Associating a Test Template with an Activity Session 117

3.6 Creating Feedback Templates 119

3.6.1 Modifying a Feedback Template 122

3.6.2 Copying Feedback Templates 123

3.7 Putting Your Test Online 124

3.7.1 Creating an Online Cecil Test 124

3.7.2 Tips for creating a Cecil Test 132

3.7.3 Checking Students’ Test Attempts 133

3.8 Entering Marks 135

3.8.1 Entering, Reviewing and Editing Students’ Marks 135

3.8.2 Changing Marks 136

3.8.3 Staff Streaming for Mark Entry 136

3.8.4 Creating Marking Sheets in Excel 137

3.8.5 Importing an Excel Marking Sheet back into Cecil 137

3.8.6 Mark Properties for Assessment Groups 139

3.8.7 Making Marks Viewable in the Student View 141

3.9 Running Reports From Cecil 142

4 End of Semester 143

4.1 End Of the Semester 144

4.2 Checking Enrolment Status 145

4.3 Raw Marks 145

4.4 Changing a Student’s Weighting for an Activity Session 146

4.5 Final Grade Properties for Assessment Groups 147

4.6 Final Marks 149

4.7 Grade Properties 150

4.8 Exporting Assessment Group Marks 151

4.8.1 Exporting Final Marks 152

4.8.2 Importing Final Marks 153

4.9 Aegrotats 154

4.9.1 Arbitrary Changes to Final Marks 154

4.10 Running Final Grade Reports 155

4.11 Submitting Final Grades to Examinations Office 155

Appendices 156

Appendix 1: Report Descriptions 157

1.1 Course Level Reports 157

1.2 Assessment Level Reports 159

Appendix 2 161

2.1 The Assessment Groups Functions 161

Appendix 3 163

3.1 Old Question Editor 163

Appendix 4: Description Editor 166

4.1 Editing Description/HTML Editor 166

Table Of Contents

Preface

About The Manual

This manual is a comprehensive guide containing the instructions that you will need to work successfully with Cecil Explorer.

It has been divided into four sections:

· Getting Started

· Before the Semester Starts

· During the Semester

· End of Semester

The elements of the programme appear in the section where they are most likely to be performed.

Many of the skills described in this manual are also covered in the online help pages, which can be found at: http://cecil.auckland.ac.nz/help

General Conventions

A number of conventions and terms have been used in the completion of this manual; an explanation of the meanings of the most frequent terms is outlined below.

Conventions / Meaning
Click / Move the cursor to the desired area of action then without moving the cursor, click on the left mouse button and immediately release.
Select / Decide which of a list of options is applicable by clicking it with the mouse or by pressing the appropriate keys. When selecting in a pop-up menu (from having clicked the right mouse button), keep the mouse button pressed as you move the cursor over the options. Once the desired option is highlighted, release the mouse button.
“Drag and Drop” / Click on an item with left mouse button, then, holding down the button, move the mouse to the position where you would like the items to be moved then release the left mouse button. The items will now be in the new location.
ALL UPPERCASE / Represents keyboard keys (for example, CTRL, ENTER, F2)
· / Indicates a procedure with only one step.
§ / Indicates a list of related information, not procedural steps.
Bold / Words in Bold style indicate boxes and buttons, column headings, command-line commands and options, icons, dialog box titles, lists, menu names, tabs and menu commands.

Where to get Help

Using Online Help

Cecil Explorer uses a “Context-sensitive Help feature”.

Once you have logged in to Cecil Explorer:

· Highlight the item that you would like to seek help for and press F1.
The relevant help topics will display automatically in the web browser.

· Alternatively, you can go to http://cecil.auckland.ac.nz/help.

Help Contact Details

For any questions regarding CE 4, please contact the LTA of your Department, or the Cecil Service Desk;

Cecil Service Desk Contact Details:

· E-mail:

· Phone: (09) 373-7599 ext. 85100 Option 2

· Level 3, 76 Symonds Street

· Office Hours:

· Mon - Fri: 8:30am - 5:00pm

Contact Details on the Web:

· http://cecil.auckland.ac.nz/help/contact.htm

Preface -

Section 1: Getting Started

1 Getting Started

1.1 Getting Started

This chapter is designed to provide you with general information about Cecil Explorer 4 (CE4).

Topics covered are:

· Installing Cecil Explorer

· Logging on to CE 4.

· Main folders in CE 4.

· The Task pad.

· Course Summary page.

· Calendars.

· Changing your password.

· Customising CE 4.

· Help/Contact Information

1.2 Installing CE 4

1. Open your browser. (eg. Internet Explorer or Netscape.)

2. Type in http://cecil.auckland.ac.nz/cecilexplorer in the address bar.

3. Click on Install Plug-in. (The icon under the first Cecil Explorer 4 icon) It will detect if you are using IE or Netscape and give you the appropriate plug-in.

4. Click on the plug-in icon to start the installation.

5. After the installation, close off the browser.

6. Re-open browser and type in http://cecil.auckland.ac.nz/cecilexplorer in the address bar.

7. Right click on Cecil Explorer 4 and select "Save Target As..."

8. Save the "ce4.ica" on Desktop.

1.3 Logging in to CE 4

To start Cecil Explorer 4:

1. Double click on the ce4 icon on your Desktop.

2. In the Client File Security window that comes up please select Full Access and Never ask me again. Click OK

3. A Logon to Cecil window will appear. Enter your User Name and Password then click OK. [Figure 1.1]

Note: / Your User Name is generally your UPI/NetID (e.g vlom001) and your Password is your NetPassword. You can phone the ITSS Service Desk or Cecil Service Desk (x85100) for a NetPassword reset. /

Figure 1.1

1.4 Main Folders in CE 4

Cecil Explorer 4 is an application that allows course administrators to manage resources and activities in a course using wizard-enhanced features.

You will be provided with a list of the courses that you have requested access to.

To request access, please provide the Cecil Service Desk with the following details:

· Full name

· AUID

· UPI

· Full course names - including semester and campus

Or, see your Department LTA.

Each course consists of a course folder with five sub folders: Topics, Test Setup Activities, Communications and Students. [Figure 1.2]

Figure 1.2

Topics / This section is the database for the course, and can be thought of as a library of resources. You can create sub topics (sub folders) within each topic (folder). You can upload a wide range of files into your topics folders, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat and media files as well as creating new Microsoft Office files. You can also create new web pages and even upload entire websites.
Question banks for Online tests are also stored in here.
Test Setup / This section is where all the test templates and feedback templates for the tests and activities are created and stored.
Activities / This section includes the folders for the different types of activities that you may have in a course. Folders are created as you add activity types to the course. For example: Lectures, CSL Tests, Assignments, Term Tests, and the Exam.
Communication / This section includes the different methods of communicating with students such as Announcements, Discussion forums and Chat.
Students / This section includes a list of all students that are enrolled in the course, their marks for each activity, and their final marks and grades.

1.5 Changing your personal details in CE

To change your Preferred Name, Email address or picture in CE:

1. Click on your name at the top of the navigation tree in the left hand pane

2. Click the Current User tab at the top of the right hand pane [Figure 1.2a]

3. Change your details or click New Picture to load a new picture file (jpg)

Figure 1.2a

1.6 The Task Pad

The Task Pad provides shortcuts to CE 4’s most frequently used function wizards. These can be found at two levels, Home (accessed by clicking on your name at the top of the navigation tree) and Course (accessed by clicking on the course name).

Home / This provides shortcuts for the three function wizards that function across a number of courses:
Create New Announcements
This allows you to create the same announcement for multiple courses. For example, a generic welcome message at the beginning of the semester.
Put Files Online
This allows you to make the same file available for multiple courses. For example, an essay writing guide, lecturer's contact information or marking criteria. This is especially useful for courses held in more than one campus. [Figure 1.3]
Import Course Structure
This allows you to import the structure of previous courses into courses for the current year

Figure 1.3

Course / This provides shortcuts to a number of course-wide function wizards: Create New Announcements, Put Files Online, Create New Activity Session, Student View, Course Import Wizard, Create New Test and Assessment Groups. [Figure 1.4]

Figure 1.4

1.7 Course Summary Page

The Course Summary Page provides you with up-to-date information about the course such as; Course Title, E-mail address, Web Page, Number of enrolled students, a list of Staff Members involved in the course and their Roles.

To access the Course Summary Page:

1. Click on the Course Number and Name in the Task Pad. [Figure 1.5].

Figure 1.5

2. The course summary page will appear in the right pane. [Figure 1.6]

Figure 1.6

3. If you wish to give a Staff Member access to the course, click on (add) [Figure 1.6] and in the page that appears type in their AUID or UPI, select the role that you would like them to have from the drop down menu then click on the Assign Role button. [Figure 1.7]

Figure 1.7

4. Click on to return to Task Pad.

Note: / Only Course Coordinators have the ability to add or remove staff from a course.

1.8 Calendars

As with the Task Pad, the Calendar has two display levels – Home and Course.

Home / This displays a calendar view that contains all the activity sessions occurring or assessments due in the current week for all the courses on your list. You can switch between weekly, daily and monthly views by clicking on the appropriate links at the top right hand side of the panel. By clicking on the arrows on either side of the date displayed you will jump to the next day, week, or month depending on the chosen view.
Course / This displays a calendar view that contains all the activity sessions occurring or assessments due for the selected course only. [Figure 1.8]

Figure 1.8

1.9 Changing Your CE Password

1. Click Action in the top menu bar and select Change Password. [Figure 1.9]

Figure 1.9

2. Click on the Click here to change your password link. [Figure 1.10]

3. Enter your NetID, your Old Password and then your New Password twice in the appropriate spaces then click OK.

Figure 1.10

1.10 Customising Cecil Explorer 4

You can customise your CE 4 view to a certain degree. Any changes you make will be stored as your personal preferences until you alter them again.

Customisation allows you to:

· Select which folders you wish to see.

· Select whether to view the list of courses by course numbers or by course titles

· Select which year's courses you see.
(All, current, future, past, last year’s, this year’s or next year’s courses.)

Selecting which course folders you wish to see.

· You can hide or show any of the 'course sub-folders’: Topics, Test Setup, Activities, Communications and Students.

· Click on your name then right click. In the pop-up menu, select Show and then select the sub-folders that you would like to hide. (By default, all folders will be shown.) [Figure 1.11]