Tips and Tricks organized by Tool. Feel free to edit this page to include any additional Tips and Tricks you have found to be beneficial.
- The numbers following the title is the Sakai CLE version on which this tip was created. Most tips can be utilized in future versions but some options or functionality may have changed.
Lessons
Reorder the content sections within a Module? - 2.5
- Enter the Lesson tool.
- Click on 'Manage.'
- Click on 'Sort.'
- Click on the 'Sort Sections' button.
- In the 'New Sequence' box, select 1.4. Then click on the up/down arrows to position your section the way you want. (You may need to scroll horizontally to the right to see the arrow buttons.)
Resources
How can I copy select content from Resources from one site to another? - 2.7
If you don't want to bring ALL Resources from one site to another, you can move or copy select content into a site to which you have write access by:
- Go to the Sakai site in which you would like to copy FROM
- In the home of the Resources area, at the bottom of the list use the "Show other sites" link to display all of the sites in which you are enrolled
- Use the checkbox to the left of the files/folders you would like to copy and select the Copy option at the top of the checkbox column
- Paste icons should appear to the right of each folder's title (just to the left of the Add drop down box)
- Select the paste icon to the right of the site you want to paste the folders/files into
- Navigate to the TO site to confirm all content has been copied and use a similar procedure to move content to the desired location
Groups
What tools utilize the group functionality? - 2.5
- Messages – emails can be sent to just one group of people
- Resources - Only group members can view and access folders
- Discussion Forums - only group members know of it's existance
- Forums – give permissions based on group enrollment
- Announcements - set to display to particular group members
- Calendar – events can be displayed to particular group members
- Assignments
- Tests & Quizzes
- Roster - List by group membership
- Gradebook - Filter results by group
How can I setup Group (Student) Collaboration
There are several tools available that allow students to collaborate, they differ in permissions (can students outside the group see group work?) and in how information is exchanged (files, text, etc.). All of these options rely on first creating groups within your course.
Folders
Group folders can be created anywhere within the Resources area. Each folder can be set so only students in a specific group can access that content:
- Go to the folder in the Resources area you would like to limit
- Under the Actions drop down, choose Edit Details
- Select "Display this folder and its contents to selected groups only." and put checkboxes next to the group that should have access
- Select the Update Button
if you would like students to be able to contribute content to this folder as well:
- Go to the folder in the Resources area you would like to limit
- Under the Actions drop down, choose Edit Folder Permissions
- Give desired permissions by using the checkboxes in the Students row (own - only documents that student has posted, any - any document in that folder)
Discussion Forums / Forums
Discussion Forums and Forums can be limited to specific groups.
When creating or editing the Discussion Forum select "Allow Access to Selected Groups" and check the groups who should have access.
For Forums when creating or change Forum Settings select the group or role and choose a permissions template (Author, Contributor, None, ...) or create custom settings.
- Changing permissions applies to the role or group currently highlighted
- Permissions are additive so if a user is in a role and a group they will get the least restrictive (i.e. for group forums increase group permissions and reduce student permission)
Also see What's the difference between Discussion Forums and Forums?
Wiki
The Sakai Wiki tool is wide open to everyone and does not utilize groups, but is a great collaboration mechanism.
- Users can not store/share files within the wiki but can provide links to external files.
- The wiki or page(s) within the wiki can not be limited for contribution and viewing for specific students and groups.
Tests & Quizzes
How do I copy a question pool for another instructor to use? - 2.6
Question pools are tied to the user. Within a course site an instructor can "share" a pool with another instructor which allows both users access to that pool. To copy the pool for another instructor for use in another course site you will need to export the pool, send the resultant .xml file to the other user and they can then import that into their pools. To export a pool:
- Create a new assessment with a desired title (not quick create)
- Add a Question of type "Copy from Question Pool"
- Select the question pool from which you would like to add questions
- Select the questions you would like to export by checking Copy next to each question
- Select the Copy button at the bottom of the page
- Refresh the tool or return to the list of Assessments
- Export the assessment you just created in QTI format and download the file
- If the file opens in a browser window, select Save Page as to save the file to your desired location
- Email that file to the other instructor so they can import it as a pool
Assessment type settings? - 2.6
- Assessment Type Information: information on the assessment template. This can only be edited by editing the template.
- Assessment Introduction: specify assessment title, author(s), and introductory information.
- Delivery Dates: set dates for when the assessment will be active. Assessments submitted after the Due Date, if allowed, will be marked as late. After the Retract Date passes, the assessment will no longer be viewable to site participants. If a student has saved some work on an assessment but did not submit it, their work will automatically be submitted once the Retract Date has passed.
- Assessment Released To: allow anyone in the world to take your assessment anonymously (when provided with the assessment URL), restrict access to only site participants, or restrict access to specific groups within your site (Note: this functionality will work only if you have set up groups in Site Info > Manage Groups).
- High Security: security features for your assessment. Allow only specified IP Addresses access to your assessment, or create a username and password which participants must provide in order to access the assessment.
- Timed Assessment: restrict the amount of time a user can spend on an assessment. The assessment will automatically submit when the alloted time expires.
- Assessment Organization: change the navigation, layout, and numbering convention of your assessment. Note: Linear access will submit when the participant answers the last question or when the time runs out, whichever comes first. Random access will allow the participant to go back and recheck work as much as desired until the time runs out.
- Submissions: control the number of times an assessment can be submitted as well as the submission of late assessments.
- Submission Message: enter a message and the URL participants will see upon submitting their assessment. (This is optional.)
- Feedback: set the type of feedback for assessment questions and the time (if applicable) participants will be able to see the feedback. Disallowing participant access to feedback can be useful if feedback will be used for grading purposes (for example, for TA reference when grading). Note: if Immediate Feedback is selected, participants will be able to see the feedback as they are answering the questions, before they submit their final answers. Immediate Feedback can be useful for practice questions/quizzes, so participants can get hints for the questions as they are going along. Allowing participants to see correct answers immediately in a graded assessment is not recommended, as this allows them to change their answers before submission.* Grading: specify information available for graders and whether or not the assessment appears in Sakai' Gradebook.
- Graphics: give your assessment a background color or background image. Click to choose a background color from a palette. Enter the URL for your image for a background image.
- Metadata: enter metadata for your assessment and allow the recording of metadata for questions.
If you are using a template, some of your settings have default values already, and some you may not be able to edit. If you did not specify a template when creating your assessment, all of the settings are available to be changed. Even if you are using a template, it is a good idea to double check your settings and be sure everything is correct.
Modifying Published Assessments - 2.6
When publishing an assessment, a copy is created and listed under "Published Assessments". Once an assessment is published, you can make changes to the published copy only to the following settings:
- Under "Assessment Introduction": Title, Creator, Author(s), Description/Intro, and Attachments
- Under "Delivery Dates": Available Date, Due Date, and Retract Date
- Under "Assessment Organization": Navigation and Numbering
- Under "Submissions": Number of Submissions Allowed and Late Handling
- Under "Feedback": Feedback Authoring, Feedback Delivery, and Feedback Components Students Can See
- Under "Grading": Students' Identities and Gradebook Options
Reviewing Assessment Type Settings - 2.6
To review assessment type settings from Sakai:
- From your Sakai course, go into the Test and Quizzes tool
- Choose Assessment Types from the sub-menu
- Select the Assessment Type you would like to review
- Select the Open link to display all assessment settings for that type
How can I put one or more extra credit questions in a test? - 2.6
To have an extra credit question(s) in an assessment:
- When setting up the assessment, sent the points possible for the extra credit question(s) to be 0.
- After students have taken the assessment you will need to go back into each student's completed assessment and assign a point value to the question based on their response. i.e. a student with the correct answer would receive 3 out of 0 points. To do this:
- Grade the assessment
- Select the student's name
- Input desired points into the extra credit question(s)
- Select the Update button to save your changes
A student responded to my essay question but part of the response is missing? - 2.6
The Essay question response box (limited to 4000 characters) removes any HTML codes that are input by the student taking the assessment. Text with angled brackets "<" and ">" encompassing text will be removed with no option of recovery.
- Student response: P < 28 which is not the same as 36 > Q therefore your assumption is not correct.
- Instructor sees: P Q therefore your assumption is not correct.
Multiple Choice Question Scoring? - 2.6
Multiple choice questions with multiple answers gives partial credit, and takes credit away for errors made.
e.g. if A and B are the correct answers these would be the outcomes
- Select A only (or B only): 50%
- Select A, B, C: 50% (two correct but one wrong)
- Select A, C, D: 0%
- Select A, B, C, D: 0%
Printing an Assessment as an Instructor - 2.6
When Editing a pending assessment where all of the questions are displayed on a single page you can print that assessment for archival purposes by:
- Right mouse click on the title of the assessment and choose "Open in a New Window" or "Open in a new Tab"
- Print the page in the new tab or window
Assignments
Editing Assignments after Due Date has passed - 2.6
Once an assignment due date has passed an instructor can not successfully edit the Due Date or Accept Until Date. If this is attempted it will seem as if the date has been changed but students will not be able to submit or re-submit the assignment. To accept additional submissions Instructors can Duplicate the assignment, change the associated dates and Post.
Rich Text Editor
How Can I Display Math Equations in My Course - 2.6
Method 1 - For simple math symbols
There are many special characters available with the Rich Text Editor including Superscript and Subscript. Additionally any HTML Entities can be utilized by inputting ASCII code into the Source view of the Rich Text Editor.
- Symbols and Greek Letters and Math Symbols
- ASCII Special Characters or by using the special characters button on the toolbar
Method 2 - For inserting Latex (simpler setup, does not work in Test & Quizzes)
If the desired equation can not be created with html, Version 2.6.2 of Sakai includes a component called jsMath in the Wkik which takes TeX (math codes) and displays it as equations. CED3 has developed javascript which can easily be included in any area using the Rich Text Editor so TeX is displayed as formulas. To enable a Rich Text Editor area to convert TeX to formulas:
- Within the Rich Text Editor select the Source button to display the HTML code behind the source
- Copy and paste the following code before all code:
<script type="text/javascript" id="templateScript"src="https://cle.nps.edu/access/content/group/13ad9e4b-0ccf-487d-80fd-b5df975e7b80/templates/template.js?math=true"></script>
- Select the Source button again to display the resultant content
- Copy and paste from MathType or input your TeX equations surrounded by $$ (i.e. $$ y^2 = (mx + b)^2 $$)
- Equations will not be displayed until you save your changes and view your content through a non-editing display
- Feel free to modify your TeX at any time
Additional information about the CED3 script can be found on the CED3 Project Site
Warning - There are times when inserting a TeX equation has removed all content after that point in the document/page when saving, it's advisable to have an alternate copy of content before trying to insert equations.
Warning - Method 2 does not work in the Tests & Quizes area
Method 3 - For complex Math (more complex setup, works everywhere, relies on external server)
- Create the LaTex using Mathtype or by hand. Tutorial on creating Latex
- Using the Sakai editor, click the Insert/Edit Image icon.
- Paste the following into the URL textbox: http://eddy.nps.edu/tools/math.php?eq=
- Copy and Paste your LaTex at the end of the URL. If your latex has dollar signs around it, remove the dollar signs.
- Example
Warning - Method 3 does not work for Numeric Response or Fill in the Blank question type
In Assessments (Tests & Quizzes)
To use complex math equations in a site's Assessments, see the pdf for instructions.
Using Mathtype to generate TeX
Mathtype can generate TeX from equations using copy/paste by setting the Preferences > Translators to paste as "TeX -- Plain TeX"
Chat Room
How can I disable chats from being published on the home page - 2.6
Each chat room has Options that control how much chat message history is displayed and whether students can change that amount.
If set to Recent Chat History is set to "Show no message history" and the "Allow chat participants to change the chat display settings for their own chat window" is unchecked, chat items will not appear. If a person leaves the chat room, all previous chat items will not be visible.
All chat item are being retained and the instructor can re-enable visibility at any time.
Forums/Discussion Forums
What's the difference between Discussion Forums and Forums? - 2.6
Discussion Forums have better Gradebook integration but has fewer permission settings. Discussion Forums can be created so only specified group(s) can access.
Forums has more permissions options based on groups and roles. Permissions are additive so a user will gain permissions from their group and role.
Why are HTML codes showing up when posting to the Discussion Forums? - 2.7
We have improved the Discussion Forums to display all common html codes so the instructions below have been depreciated. Older posts may need to be edited and re-saved to reflect the changes.
Although the Discussion Forums topics and postings use the Rich Text Editor, only specific html codes will be utilized in the formatting while others will be displayed as input. Unfortunately when previewing a post, these limitations do not apply, it must be posted to notice the issue.
Formatting which should be successful |
Formatting which will probably result in exposed .html code |
---|---|
|
|
Students can edit their own posts at any time by using the Edit button toward the top right corner of the topic/post and Instructors can edit or delete any student's topic/posts by using the edit button or the X button.
When pasting text from MS Word, a Web Browser or another editor, it's highly recommended to use the Paste as Text or Paste as Word icon in the Rich Text Editor toolbar to transfer the text only and not any html codes.
Course site vs. Project site
What's the difference between a course site and a project site? - 2.6
Course sites are quarter specific. The site can be accessed outside of the quarter but they retain the quarter designation.
Project sites are ongoing (not designated by a specific quarter) but do not have following tools available:
- Assignments
- Gradebook
- Syllabus
Wiki
Additional Resources for Wiki formatting
Two documents are available for from another school which detail how to apply advanced formatting to your wiki pages. All of this formatting is done through the Wiki Markup area of your pages.
Detailed Wiki formatting (html) and a more{instructional guide (.pdf) to using the Sakai Wiki