MyGateway System Help
Using the Control Panel
To modify the elements of your MyGateway site that are available to students,
add content to your course site, create online assessments, and manage users; navigate to your course site
and click on the "Control Panel" button 
near the bottom of the left-hand side of your screen.
The Control Panel screen looks like this:
The Content Areas contain tools used to make learning materials
available to students anytime and anywhere. The Content Areas allow instructors
to post course documents, staff information, assignments and more. Here
you can incorporate text, spreadsheets, slideshows, graphics files, audio
and video clips, and interactive simulations.
There are 3 ways to upload files:
- Copy and paste from documents created in Microsoft Word or another word
processor. NOTE: There is a difference in how My Gateway pages appear depending
on which browser you use.
- Create links using the following html code within the text box <a
href="URL">NAME OF DOCUMENT</a> OR place the URL in "External
Links" [template with html code added automatically -- you don't have
to use that string of symbols and letters in External Links]. If you're using IE as your browser there is a HTML editor box that has an "icon" for creating external links.
- Upload documents by clicking on BROWSE button below text box, locating file and clicking on it. Not all documents load equally well, depending on your computer and the program used to create them.
The Course Tools section contains communication and collaboration tools that enhance interaction between students and instructors with asynchronous discussion boards and synchronous chat tools. The tools allow users to:interact and learn from each other with threaded discussion boards, manage online discussions (set up a discussion forum and start new threads. Options exist for editing, allowing anonymous posts, blocking specific users, shutting down threads through "Lock" function [still readable] and "Archiving" [taking threads out of view, but saved]. NOTE: the default is for anonymous posts; you may want to change that.), share documents as discussion board attachments or hold virtual office hours or field trips through the updated Virtual Classroom™ environment with real time chat, whiteboard, and slide creation.
The instructor can manage the appearance and structure of the course from Course Options. Options include the following:
- The ability to customize navagational buttons
- Set title, description and category for your course
- Enable guest access
- List your course within the Mygateway Course Catalog
User Management allows the instructor to manage the users of the course Web site. For example instructors may: Add and drop individuals or groups of students to and from courses, create groups of student who can work together within the course site (Once set up, these groups have their private discussion board, virtual chat, file exchange and email capabilities. You can access each group's unique area as instructor.), and assign students to special roles within the class site (TA, Course Builder, Grader).
Instructors use the Assessment Area to increase
student preparedness, measure student progress and customize lessons
by creating and administering quizzes and surveys.
Within the "Assessment Manager" area you can do the following:
- Follow a simple, step-by-step process to create quizzes and anonymous surveys
- Mix and match multiple question types
- Include multimedia or other attachments with assessment questions
- Provide question randomization and re-use from assessment pools
- Provide password-protected tests, timed tests and instant feedback to students
Pool Manager is the location to develop data banks of quiz questions according to chapters or content categories. NOTE: putting questions into pools allows you to choose specific questions, as well as to create a unique quiz for each student as they access the Quiz. Pools can be exported from one course site and imported into other courses.
Online Gradebook [very popular with students] automatically enters each online quiz score for students (whose names are automatically placed in the gradebook). You can also create entries for exams and papers graded outside of My Gateway. You can use letter or number grades.
Course Statistics keeps track of each student's access, pages entered, time of day, and day of week. This tool is helpful in assessing individual participation or spotting students having problems accessing My Gateway.
Assistance allows the instructor to research the online support site, browse the online Instructor Manual, and contact support.