One of the more compelling features of both Respondus 3.5 and StudyMate Author 2.0 is the ability to publish an assessment or learning activity directly to an online course. Before this can occur, Respondus and StudyMate Author users must complete an initial setup so the software can connect with the institution’s course management system. The setup process isn’t complex, but it requires users to follow precise instructions for copying URLs from the course management system they use.
The following screenshot shows what a typical user sees when prompted to enter their Respondus or StudyMate Author server settings.
To simplify this process, we added a feature to the Publish Wizard in the campus-wide versions of Respondus and StudyMate Author that allows faculty to bypass this screen. Instead of each instructor entering the server settings for his/her course management system, the information is preconfigured by the institution’s license administrator. The Respondus or StudyMate Author software obtains the new server settings automatically when instructors get to this step in the wizard.
The first step of the wizard asks whether the user wants to check if preconfigured server settings are available for their institution.
If the administrator has entered this information for the institution, the wizard then has the user enter a name for the server (such as “My Online Courses”), as well as their user name and password.
That’s all the instructor needs to do. The server settings for the institution are automatically downloaded to their copy of Respondus or StudyMate Author (this step requires an Internet connection).
This new setup is especially convenient when a significant change occurs to the course management system. For example, let’s say that an institution changes the login URL for their CMS, or switches from an “http” login to a secure “https” login. The administrator of the Respondus or StudyMate Author license can enter the new server settings in the administrator area of the Respondus web site. When instructors run their Respondus or StudyMate Author software, they will see that their old server settings are incorrect and will be prompted to run the setup wizard again, thus obtaining the new server settings.
The Preconfigured Server Settings feature was an idea suggested by a user who wanted to make it easier for faculty at their college to get up-and-running with Respondus and StudyMate. This feature also makes it easier for current users to update their server settings when a major change is made to the course management system. We appreciate and welcome your suggestions. Please keep them coming!
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Source: Respondus, Inc. (www.respondus.com)
Originally Published: February 4, 2008
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