CSU Interact Tools
CSU Interact became available to the CSU community in January 2008.
The tools that are available in CSU Interact subject sites are:
|
Fixed Tools (appear by default) |
Elective Tools (can be selected) |
|---|---|
 Forum |
 Calendar (= "Schedule") |
 Subject
Outline |
|
 Home |
|
My Workspace tools |
|
 Test
Centre |
|
| Grade Book |  Web
Content |
| Online Meeting | |
| CSU Replay | |
 Wiki |
Blog
The following tools are not at use at CSU.
|
Not for use at CSU |
|
|---|---|
|
Agora |
Assignment |
Discussion |
Drop Box |
Forums |
Post 'Em |
Messages |
Roster |
Page Order Tool |
Profile2 |
Profile |
Syllabus |
Section Info |
Search |
These choices as well as more information on the categories and the categorisation of the tools are explained in the Tool Selection Recommendations document (.pdf).
Brief tool descriptions
Announcements
The Announcements tool can be used to format and post class announcements about matters such as class-related events, rescheduled meetings, and/or assignments. In addition to being listed in the Announcements tool window, recent announcements also appear on the subject site Home page. There is an option to advise all class participants by email that an announcement has been posted. (back to top)
Blog
A blog is an online journal in which individuals can write entries,
ordered by date, which they can share with others. Members of the site can
comment on each others' entries. Blogs are often used in teaching and learning
as reflective journals.(back
to top)
Calendar
The Calendar tool allows subject coordinators and others with authorisation to post items in a calendar format. It is worth noting that any Calendar item can have multiple attachments; links can be made from items in the Calendar to other files – for example, link to lecture or lab notes from a calendar entry.
Scheduled events from all of the sites to which you belong appear in as a collective in your personal Calendar in your My Workspace section of CSU Interact. The Calendar can be viewed in a range of formats within CSU Interact or it can be printed as a PDF. (back to top)
Chat Room
Unlike the Forum tool which facilitates asynchronous text-based communication, the Chat Room tool facilitates synchronous text-based communication. This means that chat sessions occur in real time, therefore, arrangements must be made in advance to meet in the CSU Interact chat room at a specific time. (back to top)
EASTS
EASTS is a CSU-developed Electronic Assignment Submission Tracking System that can be used to submit assignments to the University. EASTS also allows Subject Coordinators to access electronically submitted files. (back to top)
Evaluation
The online evaluation survey system is used to administer CSU subject evaluations each time they are offered. These surveys are completed by students, and provide feedback to staff on the learning and teaching experience of these students. The surveys can be customised by staff to suit their teaching situation. (back to top)
Forum
The Forum tools enables asynchronous communication. Students and teaching staff are able to post, read and reply to messages from other members of the subject site. (back to top)
Group Email
The Group email tool allows email to be sent to the entire class using a single email address. Messages sent using the Group email tool are archived and searchable on the subject worksite. Sending messages to students via email can help to ensure that the whole class receives important communications that could be missed on a busy or lengthy Forum. (back to top)
Modules
The Modules tool is a lesson builder tool that allows authors to publish learning sequences that can be created by using a built-in online editor, by linking to web pages, or by uploading learning objects or documents of various formats. Content is created in Modules and Sections, and can contain embedded multimedia files or links to multimedia resources. Content is easily editable – from 2008 the editor will contain a mathematical equation editor. Modules can easily be exported as zip files to import into other sites, or to save to a backup location. (back to top))
My Workspace
My Workspace is an individual online worksite that functions as a private workspace for each user. When you log in, you will automatically open your My Workspace, which will display the Message of the Day and My Workspace Information boxes. By default, these boxes contain announcements and information from the system administrator. (back to top))
News
The News tool uses RSS to bring dynamic news to your worksite. RSS is a data format used to syndicate news on the web. It allows continuously updated content from a remote news site (eg ABC Breaking News) to appear in your site. You can add more than one News feed when you set up the site, or at a later time. (back to top)
Presence
The Presence tool shows who is logged into each site. (back to top)
Polls
The Polls tool is a simple tool for anonymous voting. Users can vote for one or more of any number of answer options. The structure of the vote is governed by a maximum and minimum number of options that may be selected. You can choose when results are available to voters: immediately, after voting, after the closing date, or never. Participants may only vote once per poll. (back to top)
Resources
The Resources tool provides a flexible space for lecturers to upload and manage subject resources. These files could be Word documents, PDFs, and PowerPoint slides, but may also include images, video clips, and even web links. This flexibility means that Resources can be used as more than just a repository for files. With a little creativity, this tool can be used to facilitate engaging activities. The Resources tool can also be used to create and edit both HTML and text files. Up to 10 files can be uploaded at once. New and existing files can be organised in folders. As with the Announcements tool, students can be notified via email that new subject materials have been added to the site.
Staff have a responsibility to familiarise themselves with guidelines on appropriate copyright compliance relating to the use of resources with a range of CSU Interact tools. See
http://www.csu.edu.au/copyright/quickguides.html for more information.
(back to top)
Site Info
The Site Info tool provides information about the worksite that you are currently in. If you have a role that allows it, you can use this tool to make changes to information about the site, tools available in the site, and access to the site. You can also publish the site using the Site Info tool. (back to top)
Site Stats
Site Stats is an elective tool for showing site usage statistics. The tool presents statistical information in two screens:
Overview: summary information about site visits and activity;
Reports: exportable reports about site visits, tool and resource activity. (back to top)
Test Centre
Test Centre enables staff to
create and manage a variety of assessment tasks ranging from simple online
quizzes to multi-part assignments. In this first stage of implementation
the tool is being recommended for formative assessment use only. (back
to top)
Web content
The Web Content tool allows you to display other websites inside your subject’s CSU Interact frame. You can use Web Content links for the most important or most commonly used online resources for your subject. Links to these sites will appear as buttons on the CSU Interact toolbar on the left side of the screen. These may include a link to the library reserves for the subject, or other important online resources. Online resources which are not needed as frequently can be placed in Resources instead of in Web Content items. By providing these links you add value to your subject site, and also increase its level of integration. (back to top)
Wiki
The Wiki is a tool that allows anyone with the appropriate permissions to read, create, and edit web pages (open editing). Students can use Wiki pages to work on producing a document or other projects as a team. A big advantage to the user is that Wiki pages can be quickly edited and saved, and the results seen straight away: there is no delay waiting for changes and page edits to be updated. Given this, the Wiki tool can be used to facilitate collaborative learning, group interaction, sharing and distribution of knowledge and expertise, and exchange of ideas. (back to top)