How To Nicenet

How To Nicenet
Table of Contents
How To Build a Nicenet Site p.2
Create a Conferencing Topic p.7
Create Link Topics p.9
Create a Document p.13
Create a Class Schedule p.14
Add Class Members to Your Class p.16
Viewing Class Members p.20
Setting Users Rights p.21
Sending Messages to other Users/Viewing Your Messages p.23
Editing Your User Profile p.26
Log In/Out Screens p.27
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How To Build a Nicenet Site
1-Go to www.nicenet.org
2-Click on ‘Create a Class’ (found on the right hand side of the screen under New Users Start
Here)
-Consider what you might want to title your class. Everyone will be able to see the class title, so
be mindful of titles and spelling.
-Create a Class if this is the first time you are creating a class. If you previously created a class,
enter your username and password under ‘Current Users Log In’ in order to access that class.
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3-Enter the required information:
Username
Password
Class name
-Make sure you write down your username and password somewhere for reference.
-If your username is already being used by someone else, you will be prompted to use a
different name.
-Optional Information (not-required, however useful as you will be sent Nicenet related class
information to the email account that you provide).
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4-Click on ‘Create a Class’
-The next page will provide you with your username and class key.
-Save the key! This key will be needed to allow others to join your class. If you entered an email
address in the set up page, you will be emailed this key to the address you provided. If you did
not enter an email address, either print this page, or write it down.
5-Click on ‘Finish Registration’
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6-Log in with the username and password you provided when creating this class.
7-Click on ‘Log in to the ICA’
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Congratulations! You have successfully created a Nicenet class.
-Notice at the top left hand side of the screen is your name.
-Class name appears in the left tan colored bar.
-The left tan colored bar has all the navigation links, and the main center screen illustrates any
new items.
-To logout, click on the link ‘LOGOUT’ found on the left hand tan colored bar.
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Working in Nicenet
Create a Conferencing Topic
Conferencing Topics allow users to read posted articles and respond to questions. Users can
read, discuss, and share points of view with fellow users of this class.
1-From the home page, click on the ‘Conferencing’ link located at the top left had corner.
2-Click on ‘Add New Topic’
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3-Add topic name and click ‘Add Topic’. For this example, we will use the topic name ‘What
words start with the letter ‘A’?
4-Now create a subject line and message text. Click ‘Post New Message’ when finished.
5-Review your entry. If you decide to change it, click on ‘Edit’ or if you changed your mind and
want to erase this conferencing topic, click on ‘Delete’.
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Working in Nicenet
Create Link Topics
1-From the Home page, click on ‘Link Sharing’
You have two options (listed below) when creating links: ‘Add a Link’ and ‘Add a Link Topic’
It is recommended that you create link topics first in order to organize all of your links into
manageable categories.
2-Click on ‘Add a Link Topic’
Think carefully about how you might want to organize your links. For example:
-Think about what subjects you teach, or what grade levels (if more than one).
-Consider different units you will be covering in class.
-You could also separate links by Homework Help, Resources, Assignments, etc.
Use the space below to list a few topics of interest:
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In the sample below, we will use ‘Secondary’ as our link topic.
3-Create the ‘Link Name’. This is the name that will be used to identify the link in your list of link
options. Name the link an identifiable name that is associated to the content itself.
4-Type or copy and paste the URL link into the URL field.
5-Add a link description. This is optional but useful.
6-Click on ‘Add Link’. You may click on ‘Clear Form’ if you’d like to start over.
Result View:
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Now you can add links
to this topic
Clickable links take
you directly to the
resource site
You can add links to previously created Link Topics.
1-Choose a link topic from the drop down menu, by clicking over the small arrow key.
2-Make your Link Topic choice
3-Type in the Link Name
4-Type or copy and paste the URL link into the URL field.
5-Add a link description. This is optional but useful.
6-Click on ‘Add Link’. You may click on ‘Clear Form’ if you’d like to start over.
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Tips on Link Sharing
1-You can always get to the link section of your website, by clicking on Link sharing in the left
tan navigation bar.
2-You can create as many link topics and links as you need.
3-Link Descriptions are useful in identifying what the link is related to.
4-Be specific and not too general when categorizing link topics as it may confuse users.
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Working in Nicenet
Create a Document
1-From the Home page, click on ‘Documents’.
2-Title the document as you see fit.
3-Type or paste your text into the ‘Document Text’ field.
4-Notice you have the following options at the bottom:
5-When finished, click on ‘Add Document’
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Working in Nicenet
Create a Class Schedule
1-From the Home page, click on ‘Class Schedule’
2-Click on ‘New Event’
3-Enter Event Name
4-Enter Event Date. Event End Date is optional.
5-Enter Event Description-also optional
6-Click on ‘Add New Event’
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Result View:
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Working in Nicenet
Add Class Members to Your Class
1-Go to www.nicenet.org
2-Click on ‘Join a Class’ from the navigation bar on the right.
3-You must know the Class Key for the class that you are trying to join. Remember the key you
wrote down when creating your class? This is the key you need to enter here.
4-Once you’ve entered the Class Key, click on ‘Join the Class’
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The information requested on this form is needed in order to create an account for your users.
All items with the exception of an email is required. While an email address is not necessary, it is
helpful in two ways: a confirmation with the users username will be emailed to the email
provided, and mail from other class users would be emailed to both the users nicenet account
and the personal email address provided.
5-Fill out the form and click ‘Join the Class!’
-Make sure you write down the users username and password for your records.
-Use users proper name so that you can keep track of your users activity while online.
-It is best for the creator of a class to add their own users and not share their class key. Sharing
your class key will allow anyone who knows the key to create their own account and remain
anonymous to you.
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Sample of a form
In this example, we are using ‘parenteducator’ as our user.
6-If you entered an email address, the confirmation page will be emailed to that account.
However, if you did not enter an email address, PRINT THIS PAGE for the user.
7-Click on ‘Finish Registration’
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8-Type in the username and password for the user’s account you just created.
9-Click on ‘Log In to the ICA’
Users Name
Current Date
Functions as an email
inbox
Any new items
added by the
Administrator will
be displayed here
Users can view the site’s schedule for
assignments, important dates, etc.
10-Log Out.
Now that you’ve learned how to create accounts, add all your users to your site.
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Working in Nicenet
Viewing Class Members
As an Administrator of your class, you can view your class roster
1-To view your class roster, from the Home page, click on ‘Class Members’
Result View
Administrator
Users
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Working in Nicenet
Setting Users Rights
As an Administrator of your class, you can set the settings for user accounts.
1-To manage user profiles and their rights, click on ‘Class Administration’ from the Home page.
Results View
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2-Make the appropriate selections below
2a. Select the user for who you wish to change their
settings.
2b. What type of user are they? Make your selection and
click on ‘Change User Type’
2c. Can this user create conferencing topics? Make your
selection and click on ‘Change Conferencing Preferences’
2d. Can this user add links? Make your selection.
2e. Can this user add link topics? Make your selection
and click on ‘Change Link Sharing Preferences’
Tips
-Only allow trusted users to make edits to your site.
-Edits made to your site are viewable to everyone.
-Be sure to modify every users account as needed.
-User accounts default to ‘Student’
-Users do not have the ‘Class Administration’ option
-Current Settings are highlighted in (RED)
If you have created more than 1 class in nicenet, you can
switch between classes by making an alternate selection
here, and clicking on ‘Choose Class’. If you have only
created one class, you will not have this option.
You may also change your class name after you have created your class.
1-Type in the new name under ‘Edit Class Name’. Notice that you cannot include and HTML
2-Click on ‘Edit Class Name’ to make the changes.
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Working in Nicenet
Sending Messages to other Users/Viewing Your Messages
Every user has the ability to send messages to other users enrolled in your class. Email capability
works just like any other email client.
1-From the Home page under the Personal Messages Link, click on ‘Send’
Results View:
2-Select who you want to send a message to. Notice that you can check off as many people as
you want to send the message to.
3-Type in the Subject line in the ‘Subject Field’
4-Type in the message you wish to send in the ‘Message Field’ and click ‘Send Message’
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In the sample below, the user TCEA Student is sending a message to the Administrator, Monica
Martinez.
Results View
Tips
-Remember that your message will be delivered to the user’s inbox on nicnet as well as the
user’s personal email account.
-You may ‘Send to All’ if you wish to send an email to all users of this class.
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Let’s take a look at how you can view your messages in nicenet.
If you have a new message, it will be
noted here.
1-To view your messages, click on
‘View Messages’
Results View
You have several options here: reply, archive, delete, or forward.
1-To reply, click on ‘Reply’, type your message and send.
2-To Archive, click on ‘Archive’. You messages will be stored and available for viewing from the
‘View Archives link.
3-To delete the message, simply click on ‘Delete’
4-To forward the message, click on ‘Forward’, select the user, and send.
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Working in Nicenet
Editing Your User Profile
1-From the Home page, click on ‘Edit User Profile’
Results View
All of the options above are customizable. You may edit as needed.
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Working in Nicenet
Log In/Out Screens
Notice that the screen below is different from the main login screen. When you logout of your
account, you will always be redirected to this screen. There are several options in this screen:
Google Search, Join an Existing Class, Create a New Class, Forgot Your Password, Login to the
ICA.
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