SmartSite Brochure

Overview

During the 07-08 transition year, the project needs a brochure to provide a first point of contact for instructors who are new to SmartSite.

Audience

All potential faculty and staff users.

Goal

Increase the number of course sites throughout 2007-08

Distribution Points

Copy

Panel 1(Cover)

Connect
how you teach
how you learn
how you work
Online

Discover
smartsite.ucdavis.edu

The Web tools that grow with you

Panel 2-3 (Overview and Intro)

SmartSite connects you. SmartSite grows with you. SmartSite is our evolving online collaboration and course management system.

Since the pilot began on campus in 2006, instructors in the <<English Department>> have discovered SmartSite tools that let them connect their students with class materials. Instructors in the <<Geology Department>> have discovered SmartSite tools that let them manage and distribute grades. And instructors across campus have discovered SmartSite common spaces that connect students with ideas and with each other.

Researchers in <<the College of Engineering>> have discovered how to coordinate cross-campus projects using SmartSite. Staff members from <<the Office of Administration>> have connected to simplify and enhance collaboration. They have discovered how to share documents, post announcements, work on drafts, coordinate committee work, track progress on projects, and communicate with team members in other departments, at any time.

SmartSite brings our community a rich and evolving set of Web tools currently in use by colleagues at more than a hundred universities. We have adapted them especially for use here at UC Davis. It's a flexible framework that over time will enable us to add new tools contributed by the higher education community around the world.

We invite you to connect with SmartSite by discovering how the default tool set outlined here can improve your academic life today, and prepare your courses and projects for what's ahead.

Panel 4 (Communicate with students)

Announcements
? Announce changes in course time or location
? Send updated versions of writing assignments

Chat
? Have real-time, unstructured conversations
? Hold "Online Office Hours"
? Answer questions during discussion sections

EmailArchive
? Find course-related messages quickly
? Use the course email address for class mailings
? Send attachments without clogging email accounts

MailTool
? Contact individuals or groups without knowing their email addresses
? Send private messages to groups working on specific projects
? Save or hide messages from site participants

Panel 5 (Encourage collaboration)

Wiki
? Create and edit Web pages
? Develop a "Wikipedia" of specific course terms and topics
? Create and monitor collaborative writing assignments

Forums
? Continue class discussions online
? Build an "answerbase" for future students
? Quantify student participation by forum entries

Panel 6 (Share course materials)

Resources
? Share lecture notes, weekly readings, slides, links, audio and video in a secure environment
? Organize and release materials by topic, lecture date, or section
? Archive important documents

Schedule
? Organize material in a calendar format
? Post readings by the due date
? Set exam dates and project deadlines

Syllabus
? Create an official course outline
? Enter and edit course outlines directly into SmartSite
? Link to an online syllabus

WebContent
? List Web links in the worksite menubar.
? Provide prominent links to departmental or personal Web pages
? Create and store links to resource Web pages

Panel 7 (Manage your course)

Assignments
? Collect and grade assignments online
? Download all student submissions at once
? Release student grades with comments

Gradebook
? Calculate and store grade information online
? Export class rosters and grades to Excel
? Submit final grades to the Office of the Registrar

Section Info
? Manage sections of lectures, labs, discussions, or studio work
? Work with other tools such as Announcements and Gradebook
? Keep track of TA participation and teaching

Panel 8 (Back)

Did you know?
Clicking the "?" icon on any page takes you directly to the help page for that specific tool

How do I get technical assistance?

IT Express

The campus computing help desk can help you set up a SmartSite account and answer questions about using SmartSite tools.
Telephone: (530) 754-HELP (754-4357)
Drop In: 182 Shields Library
Email: smartsite-help@ucdavis.edu
Web: itexpress.ucdavis.edu

IET Logo
Copyright information

Panel 9

Is SmartSite training available?

Teaching Resources Center (TRC)

The primary goal of the TRC is to improve instruction at UC Davis by enhancing teaching and learning opportunities for instructors. Visit the Calendar section of their Web site for more information and to register for upcoming SmartSite training sessions. Space is limited.
Telephone: (530) 752-6050
Drop In: 17 Wellman
Email: trc@ucdavis.edu
Web: trc.ucdavis.edu

Panel 10

Can I get one-on-one SmartSite help and support?

Education Technology (ET) Partners

Student technology advisers who are specially trained in all SmartSite tools (as well as in other common teaching applications used on campus) are available for ad hoc, one-on-one consultation. Either drop in or meet them at your office.
Telephone: (530) 754-2115
Drop In: Surge II
Email: etpartners@ucdavis.edu
Web: etpartners.ucdavis.edu

Panel 11

How are other instructors using SmartSite and new educational technology?

Faculty Mentoring Faculty Program (FMFP)

This program provides faculty an opportunity to mentor and learn from other faculty interested in instructional technology and innovative teaching. Managed by Andy Jones, a longtime user of instructional technology on campus, the FMFP helps to guide faculty through the technical and pedagogical opportunities offered by the many SmartSite tools. Visit the Web site for more information, to view videos of past sessions, and to learn about upcoming presentations.
Telephone (Andy Jones): (530) 752-3408
Email: aojones@ucdavis.edu
Web: fmfp.ucdavis.edu

Panel 12

I have content in MyUCDavis. What will happen to it?

Course content and data in MyUCDavis will be accessibly after these course tools are retired in 2008-2009. The option to use the WebSite builder, Quizbuilder and Gradebook tools will be disabled; the portal itself will continue to be available.

Content from the WebSite builder and QuizBuilder tools can be imported into SmartSite using a few easy, well-documented steps. The Gradebooks in MyUCDavis cannot be imported into SmartSite; they can however be exported from MyUCDavis.

Please email smartsite-help@ucdavis.edu with any questions or concerns about importing content into SmartSite of exporting content from MyUCDavis.