Basic Community Tools:Surveys, tasks, chat room, blogs, forums and the gallery

Objectives that will be covered:

1.Creating a survey 2.Creating a task3.Creating a chat room4.Creating a blog5.Creating a Forum Topic6.Uploading files to the gallery

IntroductionThe survey feature can be used in any community.

A survey can be set by community leaders. Community leaders will usually be teachers, although you have the option to make pupils leaders too.

1. Surveys

Objective 1: Creating a Survey

Step 1:

•Log in as a teacher.

•Click on the ‘My Class’ link highlighted on the picture.

Step 1:

•Log in as a teacher.

•Click on the ‘My Class’ link highlighted on the picture.

Step 2:

• Click ‘Survey’ button.

•Click on the ‘New Survey’ button to create a new survey.

•Type in the title and click the ‘Create Survey’ button.

Step 2:

• Click ‘Survey’ button.

•Click on the ‘New Survey’ button to create a new survey.

•Type in the title and click the ‘Create Survey’ button.

Step 3:

• To start creating your survey, click on Add Question.

Step 3:

• To start creating your survey, click on Add Question.

Step 4:

• Select an answer format for your survey.

Step 4:

• Select an answer format for your survey.

Step 5:

• Type in the question.

• Enter in the possible answers for the children.

• Click on the ‘Save and Add’ button.

Step 5:

• Type in the question.

• Enter in the possible answers for the children.

• Click on the ‘Save and Add’ button.

Step 6:

• You will be able to add in additional questions .

• Once you have completed all your questions you can click on ‘Save’.

Step 6:

• You will be able to add in additional questions .

• Once you have completed all your questions you can click on ‘Save’.

Step 7:

• Click on ‘Publish’ to share your survey with the community.

Step 7:

• Click on ‘Publish’ to share your survey with the community.

Step 9:

• Set the start and due date for your survey.

•Your task is now published.

Step 9:

• Set the start and due date for your survey.

•Your task is now published.

Step 10:

• You now also have the opportunity to set your survey as a task.

•To set the survey as a task click Yes and follow the instructions under Objective 2.

•Otherwise click No

Step 10:

• You now also have the opportunity to set your survey as a task.

•To set the survey as a task click Yes and follow the instructions under Objective 2.

•Otherwise click No

Introduction

•A tasks can be used to set homework or to set an activity for your pupils to complete in in the class.

•When you set a task, a child will be notified the next time the log on that they have something to do. First we will have a look at setting tasks.

2. Tasks

Objective 2: Creating a task

Step 1:

• Log in as a teacher.

• Click on the three dots button on your My Class tile.

•Click on the ‘Create Task button.

•Type in the name of the task and select a type from the drop down list.

•Click on the ‘Create’ button.

Step 1:

• Log in as a teacher.

• Click on the three dots button on your My Class tile.

•Click on the ‘Create Task button.

•Type in the name of the task and select a type from the drop down list.

•Click on the ‘Create’ button.

Step 2:

• Enter a set of instructions for the task.

•Select the start and due date.

•Select an icon that best fits this task by clicking on the arrow button and then click on the icon.

Step 2:

• Enter a set of instructions for the task.

•Select the start and due date.

•Select an icon that best fits this task by clicking on the arrow button and then click on the icon.

Step 3:

• Click on the ‘Save Task’ in the top right hand corner of the screen.

Step 3:

• Click on the ‘Save Task’ in the top right hand corner of the screen.

IntroductionThe chat room feature can be used in an Improver-themed or Teacher-themed communities.

The chat room is an area where users can communicate in real-time.

3. Chat Rooms

Objective 1: Creating a chat room

Step 1:

• The chat feature can be accessed from the community front page.

Step 1:

• The chat feature can be accessed from the community front page.

Please note that the Chat room can only be started by leaders of the community.

By default teachers will be leaders of a community.

Please note that the Chat room can only be started by leaders of the community.

By default teachers will be leaders of a community.

Step 2:

• Click on the open door to start or open the chat room.

Step 2:

• Click on the open door to start or open the chat room.

A community leader can temporarily stop members of the chat from contributing by clicking on the Silence All Users icon to put them in silent mode.

A community leader can temporarily stop members of the chat from contributing by clicking on the Silence All Users icon to put them in silent mode.

To end the chat for all users, click on the padlock image.To end the chat for all users, click on the padlock image.

What is a blog?

A blog is a collaborative area on which an individual or group of users record opinions, information, etc. on a regular basis.

Blogs in DB Primary•In DB Primary each user has their own personal blog which can be updated at any time. Friends and teachers can comment on this when they visit your homepage.

•You or your pupils can also create blogs within your communities – these can be used to keep pupils, staff and the wider school community up- to-date what is happening in your classroom and at school.

4. Blogs

Objective 4a. Creating a blog entry on your personal blog

Step 1: Navigate to your personal blog by clicking on the icon on your homepage.

Step 1: Navigate to your personal blog by clicking on the icon on your homepage.

Step 2: When editing your blog there is a choice of tools available. As well as the text editor, you have access to the drawing, video, audio and snapshots tools.

The multimedia tools mean that any pupil whatever their writing ability can contribute.

This example shows the user adding a picture using the drawing tool.

Step 2: When editing your blog there is a choice of tools available. As well as the text editor, you have access to the drawing, video, audio and snapshots tools.

The multimedia tools mean that any pupil whatever their writing ability can contribute.

This example shows the user adding a picture using the drawing tool.

Objective 4b. Visiting someone else’s blog

Step 1: To visit another user’s blog you will have to first be in the same community as them.

Step 1: To visit another user’s blog you will have to first be in the same community as them.

Step 2: If the People button is enabled in your community, select this to see a list of all members.

Step 2: If the People button is enabled in your community, select this to see a list of all members.

Step 3: Clicking on a user’s name will take you to their homepage where you can read and comment on their blog.

Step 3: Clicking on a user’s name will take you to their homepage where you can read and comment on their blog.

A weekly diary

Inspiration: using a personal blog

Objective 4c. Setting up your Community Blog

Step 1: To activate your community blog so that it shows on the front page of your community, click on the cogs at the top right of the community to navigate to your community administration area. Next, choose 'community blog' from the 'Available Panels' drop down.

Step 1: To activate your community blog so that it shows on the front page of your community, click on the cogs at the top right of the community to navigate to your community administration area. Next, choose 'community blog' from the 'Available Panels' drop down.

Step 2: On the blog admin panel of the community administration page, you can now also set the number of blog posts that you would like to appear. Click on 'save' if you are updating the information here.

Step 2: On the blog admin panel of the community administration page, you can now also set the number of blog posts that you would like to appear. Click on 'save' if you are updating the information here.

Objective 4d. Setting up your Community Blog

Step 4: You can also add a quick link to the blog on the left hand navigation panel. This link will take you to the full archive of the blog and show any previous entries made.

To do this, while still in the administration view, on the quicklinks panel put a tick in the check box next to the blog feature in order to enable the link.

Step 4: You can also add a quick link to the blog on the left hand navigation panel. This link will take you to the full archive of the blog and show any previous entries made.

To do this, while still in the administration view, on the quicklinks panel put a tick in the check box next to the blog feature in order to enable the link.

Step 5: You must click on the update button at the bottom of this list for the change to take effect.

Step 5: You must click on the update button at the bottom of this list for the change to take effect.

Keep children up-to-date with new topics, or any achievements or events that are happening..

Keep children up-to-date with new topics, or any achievements or events that are happening..

Celebrating Achievement

Inspiration: using a community blog

What is a forum?•A forum is a discussion area where users can post discussions and read and respond to posts by other forum members.

Forums in DB Primary

•In DB Primary, forums can be found within communities.

•You could use forums within your class, staff or governor communities.

•Children can visit a forum and comment on topics using text, pictures, audio or video.

•Children who have the Improver (KS2) theme on their accounts are also able to start their own forum topics.

5. Forums

Objective 5a: Making a post in the forum

Step 1: First visit the community where you wish to make your post.

Step 1: First visit the community where you wish to make your post.

Step 2: Click on the ‘Forums’ button from the menu list.

Step 2: Click on the ‘Forums’ button from the menu list.

Step 3: Click on the ‘New Topic’ button and give your topic a subject title.Step 3: Click on the ‘New Topic’ button and give your topic a subject title.

Step 4: The view you get next will depend on whether your community is a ‘Starter’ (KS1) or ‘Improver’ (KS2) themed community.

Step 4: The view you get next will depend on whether your community is a ‘Starter’ (KS1) or ‘Improver’ (KS2) themed community.

Starter themed communityStarter themed community

Improver themed communityImprover themed community

Step 5: You can enter text or click on the buttons to the left to use the in-built multimedia tools. These tools let you or the children draw a picture, record a short video from a webcam, record a soundclip from an attached microphone and take a snapshot from their webcam. Thus, every child regardless of their ability or age can make a contribution in their own way to the forum. Children can use all five methods to respond to a forum post if they wanted to.

Step 5: You can enter text or click on the buttons to the left to use the in-built multimedia tools. These tools let you or the children draw a picture, record a short video from a webcam, record a soundclip from an attached microphone and take a snapshot from their webcam. Thus, every child regardless of their ability or age can make a contribution in their own way to the forum. Children can use all five methods to respond to a forum post if they wanted to.

Text methodText method

Paint toolPaint tool

Video recorderVideo recorder

Sound recorderSound recorder

Camera snapshotCamera snapshot

Starter accountStarter account

By clicking on the Reply button, they can respond to the topic.By clicking on the Reply button, they can respond to the topic.

Improver accountImprover account

Children will receive a notification on their desktop that a new forum topic has been created.Children will receive a notification on their desktop that a new forum topic has been created.

5b. What children will see when they login

Example of forum use

Introduction

A gallery can be found in every community.

It can be used to share any kind of document or multimedia file.

6. Galleries

Objective 6a: Uploading a file to the gallery

Step 1: To visit the gallery of a community click on the Gallery button on the features list to the left of the page.

Step 1: To visit the gallery of a community click on the Gallery button on the features list to the left of the page.

Step 2: Selecting the upload button will let you browse your computer or server for any files you wish to upload.

Step 2: Selecting the upload button will let you browse your computer or server for any files you wish to upload.

Objective 6b: Creating a file using the in-built tools

Step 2: If you select New you will be able to create a file using one of the in-built DB Primary tools.

Step 2: If you select New you will be able to create a file using one of the in-built DB Primary tools.

The New and Upload buttons are only available to leaders of the community (usually, this means teachers).

If children wish to share work here, they must publish from their homepage and have their submission approved by the teacher before it appears.

The New and Upload buttons are only available to leaders of the community (usually, this means teachers).

If children wish to share work here, they must publish from their homepage and have their submission approved by the teacher before it appears.

Objective 6c: Sorting your files

You can sort your files into different types by using the sort buttons at the top right of the gallery.You can sort your files into different types by using the sort buttons at the top right of the gallery.

Audio FilesAudio Files Video FilesVideo Files

Image FilesImage Files

All FilesAll Files Document FilesDocument Files

Objective 6d: File Administration

Comments can be saved, enabling children to peer assess.

Comments can be saved, enabling children to peer assess.

Creating a tag is similar to creating a folder. Files can be sorted into by tags so that you can keep your gallery tidy and find files more easily. Enter your text and click on the blue plus to save your tag.

Creating a tag is similar to creating a folder. Files can be sorted into by tags so that you can keep your gallery tidy and find files more easily. Enter your text and click on the blue plus to save your tag.

Any member can rate a file.

Any member can rate a file.

Double clicking on any file will provide a number of options, as shown below.Double clicking on any file will provide a number of options, as shown below.

If you would like any more information then please click on your ‘Need help?’ button on your homepage.

Otherwise please contact our support team on:

Telephone – 01273 201 701Email – support@dbprimary.com