This checklist is intended for returning instructors who do not use LTI Integration in their courses. If you do, see the quick start guide for your LMS.
Welcome back to a new term! The team here at Science Interactive is excited to partner with you once again in providing students with a best-in-class distance laboratory experience. We've created this simple checklist to help make sure you and your students get off to an excellent start.
1. Create or review your new sections in Cloud
Depending on your institution, you might create your own new sections every term, or your distance learning specialist might take care of it for you.
If you aren't sure who sets up your courses, reach out to your specialist and they can help.
If your distance learning specialist creates your new sections every term, he or she will let you know once they are ready. Then, we recommend you just do a quick review to make sure everything is ready for this new term:
- Review and update your gradebook settings: if you've elected to transfer them from last term, any custom gradebook settings you have should already be populated, but now is a great time to make any changes if you need to.
- Review and update your instructor notes: If you've elected to transfer them from last term, your instructor notes will already populated in this new section, but take a minute to make sure they're all up-to-date, and add any new ones if you'd like.
If you are an Instructor Admin or Institution Admin in the SI Cloud, you are able to clone your own sections for new terms. Follow these steps to get started:
- Clone your sections: You can find step by step instructions for doing this here.
- Review and update your gradebook settings: if you've elected to transfer them from last term, any custom gradebook settings you have should already be populated, but now is a great time to make any changes you need.
- Review and update your instructor notes: If you've elected to transfer them from last term, your instructor notes will already populated in this new section, but take a minute to make sure they're all up-to-date, or add any new ones you'd like.
2. Locate your new enrollment links
Enrollment links are unique to each section the SI Cloud, so your new sections will have different enrollment links than last term's sections.
The links can be found on the settings page for each course in Cloud. For help locating yours, see How to Find Enrollment Links.
Consider using LTI Integration for your course! LTI integration allows students to enroll in Cloud directly from your LMS (via Single Sign-On), and it enables automatic grade transfer.
3. Update and share the new enrollment link & ordering instructions with your students
Since you have new enrollment links this term, it's critical that you update the links anywhere you might have posted them last semester. Common locations to check include the course syllabus, course or lesson reminders, and instructor notes in your LMS.
The dropdowns below provide more details about start-of-term information to share with your students, plus links to relevant student help articles.
Your students will use your course's unique enrollment link to access the Science Interactive curriculum.
Think back to everywhere you posted last term's links and make sure to replace them with this term's new links. Common locations to check include the course syllabus, reminders in individual assignments or lessons, and course notes.
If your students need help enrolling, share this help guide with them: How do I access my course? (they'll use method 1 in the instructions, since your course is not using LTI)
This information won't have changed from last term, but remember to provide these new students with the appropriate instructions so they can purchase their kits and/or access course content.
| If your students will order their kits... | Provide them with these instructions |
|---|---|
| Directly from Science Interactive |
How Do I Order Through the SI Cloud? |
| Via vouchers purchased from your institution or bookstore |
How Do I Redeem A Voucher? |
| Directly from your bookstore/ institution |
I Have My Kit, How Do I Access My Course? |
4. Let the learning begin!
You should be all set for another great semester! If you need additional help, don't hesitate to reach out to your distance learning specialist, who will be happy to provide you with resources and support.