A Guide for WebCT/Blackboard VISTA

• What do you need?
• Getting started?
• Using My MUOnline
• Navigating a VISTA Course
• Directions for...
  • Sending Mail and Attachments
  • Posting VISTA Discussions and Attachments
  • Submitting Dropbox Assignments
• Tips for Success
• Office 2007 Users

• Access the Hardware/Software Check @ http://www.marshall.edu/muonline/hardwaresoftwarecheck.asp

• Use your Internet Service Provider to connect to the Internet.
• Open your Web browser (Internet Explorer is preferred). If you use AOL, minimize the AOL window after connecting to the Internet, then open the Web browser.
• Enter the URL, http://muonline.marshall.edu, into the Address bar, then press the ENTER key on your keyboard. For easy access, add this address to your Favorites.

• The "MUOnline" homepage illustrated below, will appear. Note that online program information, Maintenance Announcements, and many other resources are accessible from this page.

• Locate the section labeled "Login to My e-Courses" as displayed at the left in the illustration above.
• Enter your MU ID and PIN, then click login. Your MU ID is the 9-digit number that the university uses to identify you (901xxxxxx). The default PIN is a 6-digit number. Initially your PIN is set as your birth date in the form of mmddyy. For example, if you were born on February 4, 1975, your PIN would be 020475. (NOTE: If you have changed your PIN in MILO or myMU then this is the PIN that you should use.)

• After you enter your login information, you will gain access to the area called "My MUOnline" (a sample is illustrated below). Your name and the current date should appear in the "Welcome,..." section at the top-left of the page.
• Complete the browser check by clicking Check Browser in the top-right corner of the page. Follow on-screen directions to check your browser and make any required adjustments. If you need technical assistance please contact the Marshall University Help Desk:
  • (304) 696-3200 (Huntington, WV)
  • (304) 746-1969 (Charleston, WV)
  • (877) 689-8638 (toll free)

• The Course List, also illustrated above, includes the course (or courses) being piloted in VISTA 4.2 this semester. In addition to course title, your Course List may also include icons, such as . These icons should alert you when you have unread mail, new discussions, or new assignments. Icons indicating new grades, new assignments, and new calendar postings, among others, are also available.
• To access a course click the underlined course title included in the Course List. 

• Click icons, buttons, and text links to access the content, assignments, and communication tools within a course. A sample course is illustrated below. Take some time to familiarize yourself with the setup of each course you are taking. In this sample, Course Tools are listed in the left frame. Course content is represented by text and icons in the frame at the right.

• Pay particular attention to the Course Tools included in the frame at the left (illustrated above). The Course Content link represented by the house icon may be used to return to the homepage. Calendar will provide access to a course calendar where most instructors will post assignment due dates. Discussions may be used for online discussions with the whole class or small assigned groups. Discussions may also be used for Journals and Blogs in some classes. Mail provides access to email tools for direct communication with your instructor and/or classmates. The Syllabus will typically be available here as well. Note that additional tools may be used in some courses. The section labeled My Tools includes a link to My Grades. Use My Grades to keep track of your progress throughout the semester.
• Take note of the links included at the top-right (illustrated below). My MUOnline will return you to the main page that includes your Course List. The Help link provides access to directions for using various components within VISTA. Clicking Log Out or closing all open Web browser windows will exit the course.

• Use the Mail link in the Course Tools list to access VISTA email, as shown below. By default Mail includes four folders -- the Inbox (where messages are received), Sent Mail (stores a copy of every message you send), Drafts (where incomplete messages may be saved for completion later), and Deleted Mail (where deleted messages are stored). It is also possible to create new folders to organize your messages (using the Create Folder button). By default Mail opens to the Inbox where you may view All mail or Unread mail by using the buttons illustrated at the right.

• To begin a new message, locate and click the Create Message button. A Create Message window, as illustrated below, will appear.

• Click Browse for Recipients..., which appears at the top of the Create Message window. A list of roles and class members, similar to that shown below will appear. Locate the role or name of the person or people to whom you wish to send a Mail message. Click the appropriate checkbox that appears to the left of his/her role or name (multiple recipients may be selected), then click Save.
• The names of recipients you select will appear below the *To: field.
• Next, enter an appropriate *Subject: and type the body of your *Message: in the labeled spaces provided (illustrated above). The High Priority checkbox may be used to designate your message as high need (an emergency). The Enable HTML Creator button will provide access to a user friendly word processing interface, including: text formatting tools, spell check, etc.
• When your message is complete click Send, illustrated below. Note that Preview, Cancel, and Save as Draft are also available.

If you want to include an Attachment continue with the following steps before clicking Send.

• Locate the Attachments section and click Add Attachments.

• The Get Files window, illustrated below, will open.

• Click My Computer shown in the list at the left to access the options shown below. From this screen you will be able to "Upload Files from Your Computer."

• Click the first Browse button in the list at the right. From the Choose File window (illustrated below), select the location of the file you want to attach by clicking the down pointing arrow to the right of Look in:. Click the file that you want to upload. In the sample provided below the file is a Word document named Jones-Assignment1. Consider naming your files using your last name and some indication of the assignment you are sending. Once you have selected the file you want to attach click Open at the bottom right of the window.

• After selecting the file to attach and clicking Open, you will see the path of the file you selected next to the first Browse button. If you have additional files to attach proceed by clicking the next Browse button that appears in the list. If you are finished making your attachments, click OK.

• Wait for the attachment process to complete. The larger the file size the longer it will take for the file to attach. When the process is complete the name of the file you selected will appear below the Add Attachments button. In the following example you can see the filename, Jones-Assignment1.doc.

• Click the Send button when your message and attachment are complete.

• Click the link for Discussions included in the Course Tools list at the left of the VISTA window. Each course should include a Default Topic. Your instructor may also create assignment specific topics, as illustrated below.

• Select the desired Discussion topic within your course. In the example included below the Assignment 1 Discussion topic was selected. A Description and other assignment details may be included at the top of the topic window. If messages have been posted you will see a list of message subjects, authors, and posting dates. 

• To compose a new Discussion posting, click Create Message. The Create Message window illustrated below will open.
• Enter a *Subject: and type the body of your Message: in the space provided.
• When finished click Post. Note that you may also Add Attachments.

• If you want to include an Attachment continue by using the steps outlined in the Mail section above. Click Post when your message and attachment are complete.

• Some courses will require you to submit assignments to the Assignment Dropbox. A sample dropbox submission window is shown below. Information such as the due date and grading criteria are included at the top. Your instructor may also provide additional assignment Instructions. You may include comments in the space provided next to Submission: and Add Comment:. When using the dropbox most instructors will want you to submit your work as an Attachment. 

• To attach a file, such as a Word document, click Add Attachments. The Get Files window, similar to that shown below will appear. After clicking My Computer, the Open window will activate.

• Select the desired file from your computer then click Open. Wait for the file to upload. Note that the larger the file the longer it will take to attach.

• Once the attachment is complete click Submit (as shown above).
• You may receive the following prompt asking, "Are you sure you want to submit this assignment?" If you are sure click OK. If you need to make any corrections to your submission click Cancel.

• You should receive a Confirmation message, similar to that shown below. Click OK to continue.

• Get Started ASAP. Review course requirements as soon as possible to get a sense of what is expected.
• Pace yourself! Time management is key. Pay attention to the instructor's timeline or create your own timeline for completing assignments. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO START AND COMPLETE ASSIGNMENTS!
• Read carefully! Written content online replaces oral communication face-to-face, please read course content very carefully to avoid missing key concepts or important detail in assignment directions.
• Print materials. If reading information on a computer monitor is difficult for you, consider printing. The printed copy can also be retained for future reference. When printing content click on the content, then select the Print or Print Frame option.
• Communicate regularly with the instructor(s). If you have questions or concerns about assignments or course content use VISTA Mail to communicate with your instructor(s). Be aware that it may take time to get a response, so ask questions early.
• Check the course often. Login to the course often for general announcements, content updates, and responses to your own questions. While checking in daily is optimal, at a minimum you should check your course(s) every other day.
• Review your own work! To avoid delays in course completion, review your work to verify that it meets the content and submission specifications before sending it to your instructor(s).
• Enjoy the experience! Familiarize yourself with the online environment and what it has to offer the adult learner.

• Documents created with Microsoft Office 2007 are not accessible to users of previous MS Office versions. Unless otherwise stated, when saving your work please save files to be compatible with previous versions of MS Office. For example, after typing an assignment in MS Word please save your work using the following steps (illustrated at the right):

1. Click the Office Button in the top-left corner of the MS program you are using.
2. Scroll down to Save As.
3. Select Word 97-2008 Document, which is fully compatible with earlier versions.
4. Proceed with entering a file name and selecting the location to save your work.
5. Go to VISTA to submit your assignment.