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Like Mozilla's Firefox web browser, SmartSite is part of an open-source community dedicated to the success of a particular piece of software. This sense of community and collaboration allows UC Davis to participate in the development of useful tools that will help meet the rapidly changing technological needs of academic institutions worldwideour campus.
How are other instructors using SmartSite? or How will you use SmartSite?
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And for MyUCDavis users (UC Davis' legacy course management system), another, more practical reason to begin using SmartSite is because that MyUCDavis' course tools will be retired in 2008-09. But don't worry, your content will be archived and accessible past the shutdown date, but the ability to use the tools will not. We encourage all instructors to export their content from MyUCDavis and import it into SmartSite using a few easy, well-documented steps. Please If you have any questions about the campus' transition to SmartSite and the steps for importing content from MyUCDavis, please email smartsite-help@ucdavis.edu for more information.
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One of the strengths of SmartSite is the variety of tools available to instructors. But, this can also be a bit overwhelming when you are first getting started.
The tools you use will depend on tangibles such as class size, course format and subject as well as intangibles like your teaching style and comfort with technology.
Sites are scalable; so establishing how sophisticated or simple your site will be is a matter of assessing your particular needs. Picking We recommend picking one or two reasons for using a site and then finding a set of tools to match is highly recommended.us
Some general reasons for using SmartSite include:
- Communicating with students, TAs and colleagues
- Use Chat during your office hours to answer students' questions online or to stay in contact with your TAs when they are grading papers
- Use the Mail Tool to send notes to groups of students or members of your research groupcommunicate with your TA and course sections.
- Encouraging collaboration and communication among students
- Create a wiki with your courses' key terms and concepts; have students collectively create a detailed definitions like Wikipedia
- Use an online message board the Forum tool to continue a discussion after your class is over
- Promoting independent and self-paced learning
- Set-up quizzes for students to brush up on prerequisites
- Create a learning sequences that students can complete at their own pacePost example tests in the Resource tool
- Use the Wiki tool to create a detailed bibliography of articles, books and websites on a particular subject.
- Assessment, evaluation and feedback
- Give pop quizzes with the Test and Quizzes Create student groups and give them feedback on a collaborative project with the Mail tool
- Have students complete a mid-quarter teaching evaluations through evaluation in conjunction with the TRC's mid-quarter teaching evaluation SmartSite
- Collecting, grading and returning assignments
- View drafts of term papers with the Assignments Tool
- Create simple, daily assignments to increase and assess student participation
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- Automating processes and reducing paperwork
- Limit your use of ScanTrons and give an online test with Test & Quizzes
- Keep students informed of their current grade with Gradebook
- Send graded assignments from the Assignments tool to Gradebook
- Sharing and organizing classroom presentations
For instance, if you'd like to distribute your course materials electronically and improve communication with students, try using the Resource tool to store and share your materials and the Chat tool to talk with students during your office hours.
Resources
Assignments
Mail Tool
Chat
Site Info
How do I create a SmartSite?
Please visit smartsite.ucdavis.edu to learn how to create your sites.
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- Post your lecture notes and Powerpoint slides in Resources
- Use a Wiki to organize web links for your lectures
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Is there training available?
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What about my class material on MyUCDavis?
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