Tips and Best Practices for Using Questrom Tools
Whether you’re brand new to Questrom Tools or a seasoned pro, these tips Best Practices compiled by Questrom ITS may make your life just a little bit easier! Click here to download a PDF of our Best Practices. Have your own tip to share? Let us know!
Use the Home page!
Questrom Tools Tutorial!
Click on the Profile icon next to the sites button on the top right of your screen to access the Questrom Tools Tutorial. The tutorial gives you a brief introduction to Sakai (the Questrom Tools platform), including tips for site navigation, the tool menu, and the refresh tool.
Get Some Help!
Need help with a tool? Just click on the Help icon (the question mark) to get help with the tool you’re currently using. The Help button is content aware, meaning that it knows what tool you’re working on, and will direct you to the Help page for that tool.
Publishing Your Site!
Your site must be published in order for students to see it. If your site is unpublished, you’ll see the words “Unpublished Site” in red to the top center of your screen. Click on the Publish Now button to publish your site when you’re ready. Learn more here.
Publish That Syllabus!
Remember when you post under the Syllabus tool, that the eyeball is set default to open (visible). If you’re not ready to publish just yet, you can click the eyeball removing visibility, but remember to publish when you’re ready. You’ll know a Syllabus item is published if the eyeball icon is open. Want to learn more? Watch our video here.
Copying From Another Site
Copying resources from one site to another can be an efficient way to help create your site layout. Check out our videos here to learn more.
Customize Your Site!
Customize your site’s homepage to better reflect you and your class. Click on the Edit icon next to Course Information on your site homepage to customize your site display. Add an image, some text, or link to a website to draw your students into your site right away.
Add or Remove Tools
Add or remove tools on your site to further customize your Questrom Tools course site.
To Delete, Or Not To Delete
Deleting isn’t always best option! Instead of deleting, use all of Questrom Tools’ hiding and draft features to remove unneeded content from student view, while still allowing you to access student data. Students can become Inactive, syllabi can be reverted to drafts, tests and quizzes can be retracted, assignments can be closed, sites can be unpublished, resources can be hidden. By not deleting, you’ll be able to access the information should you need it in the future, but your students won’t be able to access it.
So when should you delete? Files should be deleted when you want to replace or update them.
