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Introduction to Connexions

Module by: Mark Husband

Summary: An overview of Connexions, the Connexions home page, navigation tools, and accounts.

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Overview

Connexions is a web-based document creation and management system for education and research materials. There are two parts to Connexions: a Content Commons that contains these materials and the software tools necessary to create, manage, and access these materials. A tour of the workings of Connexions and its parts appears on the Connexions web page, under the "About" tab.
From its inception, Connexions was designed to allow the collaborative development and free availability of material. Instructors and authors can modify this material for any educational purpose. Connexions offers Free/Open Source software tools to help students, instructors, and authors manage these information assets for sharing and advancing knowledge to benefit the global educational community. All of this is accomplished through the use of the Creative Commons Attribution license.
There are three general categories of Connexions users:
  • Students - who use Connexions to access information on-line, to prepare for their classes.
  • Authors - who enter content into Connexions in document files called modules.
  • Instructors - who build courses, which are documents created by linking related modules together in a specific order.
Before you begin using the Connexions system, you should verify that you have all of the necessary software. Visit the Connexions Quick Start Guide for a listing of the software that you will need and the links to help you download it.

The Connexions Home Page

The Connexions home page is the starting point for your use of Connexions. It contains the following items: These items also appear on the other Connexions web pages.
cnxhomepg.png
Figure 1: Connexions home page

Home, About, Content, Software, and Help Tabs

On the upper left of the Connexions home page are tabs labeled "Home", "About", "Content", "Software", and "Help". Clicking on these tabs display the following Connexions pages:
  • Home returns to the Connexions home page.
  • About displays the "About" page that contains a general description of Connexions and links to more detailed information about Connexions, how it works, the people behind it, and a list of contacts.
  • Content displays a set of tabs that will list modules by title, author, or keywords, and list the courses.
  • Software displays the "Connexions Technology" page that contains links to Connexions software and tools.
  • Help displays the "Help" page that contains links to installation, reference, and other information to answer your questions about Connexions.

Search

You can search the Content Commons for a specific module or a course using the Search button and text box in the upper right of the Connexions home page. Type in a name, keyword, course title, module title, text string, or object ID in the Search text box and click Search. Connexions will display a list of all modules and courses that match your entry. To view a module or course, click on its title.

Quick Start Link

Clicking on this link in the upper right of the Connexions home page displays the "Connexions Quick Start Guide" page. This page helps authors and instructors get started creating content with Connexions quickly.

Courses Link

This link in the upper right of the Connexions home page displays a list of the courses currently in the Connexions Content Commons. You can sort the display by course title, institution, or instructor to help you find a course. To open a course, click on the name of the course.

Personal Toolbar

The personal toolbar is located under the "Quick Start" and "Courses" links. The options on this toolbar vary, depending on whether you are logged into the system or not.
If you are not logged into Connexions or you do not have a Connexions account, you can perform the following actions by clicking on the links in this toolbar:
personaltblo.png
Figure 3: Personal toolbar before login
If you have a Connexions account and are logged into the system, you can perform the following actions by clicking on the links in this toolbar:
  • Display your personal workspace
  • Specify your personal preferences for your Connexions account, such as your title, your name, your e-mail address, your homepage URL, whether or not you want form help, and whether or not you want to display names. You can also reset your account password.
  • Report a bug
  • Log out of the system
personaltb.png
Figure 4: Personal toolbar after login

Log in Sidebar

If you have a Connexions account, you can log into the system in this sidebar. In addition, there is a link to reset your password (if you forgot it), and a link to the page for requesting a new Connexions account. This sidebar displays if you are not logged into the system.
loginbox.png
Figure 5: "Log in" sidebar

Spotlight Sidebar

This sidebar features a Connexions author who is being recognized for outstanding contributions to the Connexions Content Commons. A picture of the author appears along with a description of their work and links to their Connexions content.

e-Mailbag Sidebar

This sidebar displays examples of user comments submitted to Connexions. There is a link to additional user comments.

What's New Sidebar

This sidebar contains links to news items about the latest developments with Connexions.

Workspaces Sidebar

This sidebar contains links to your personal workspace, any workgroups of which you are a member, and the Create Workgroup page where you can create a workgroup. This item only displays if you are logged into the system.
workspacebox.png
Figure 6: "Workspaces" sidebar

Account Requests

To apply for a Connexions account, use the following steps:
  1. Click on the New User link in the "Log in" sidebar. The Request a Connexions Account page displays.
    accountreq.png
    Figure 7: "Request a Connexions Account" page
  2. Type in your title, name, e-mail, and home page URL. The fields with red squares next to the field names are required.
  3. Click Continue. The "Account Request: Select Username" page displays.
  4. Type in a user name. A list of suggested usernames that are based on your entries in the First, Middle, and Last Name fields is shown.
  5. (Optional) Type in the fields of study for your contribution, indicate how you found out about Connexions, type in any comments you may have, and indicate if you would be willing to help test new features.
  6. Click Continue. The "Account Request: Confirmation" page displays.
  7. Review the site license agreement.
  8. Select the checkbox that says you have read and agree to the site license.
  9. Click Request Account. The "Account Request Complete" page displays. Connexions will send an e-mail to the address you entered in the step above. The e-mail contains directions for activating your new account.

Logging In and Out

To log into Connexions, enter your user name and password in the "Log in" sidebar and click Log in.
Once you have logged in, the "Log in" sidebar is replaced by the Workspaces sidebar. The My Workspace and My Preferences links appear in the "Personal" toolbar.
To log out, click the Log out link located in the Personal toolbar, in the upper right side of the Connexions home page.

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