How+to+Use+the+Wiki

Instructions for:

 * Linking to a Website
 * Uploading a Document From Your Computer
 * Posting to a Discussion Board
 * Discussion Board Tips and Etiquette
 * Unlocking a Document in Microsoft Office 07
 * Embedding a Document Within a Document

Tip: Make sure that you don't post to the wrong content area! Check to see that you are on your designated subject page (by using the navigation menu in the left-hand sidebar) before you click the edit button to add to the Wiki page, or add messages to the disscussion board. If you need further clarification, after you have followed the steps listed below, please contact Katherine at x. 41304.

Linking to a Website

 * **If you are linking to a website**
 * Go to the page you wish to post to.
 * Click on the 'Edit this page' button next to the page name above the content box.
 * Highlight the text you wish to turn into a link.
 * Click the link button on the 'Editor' bar near the top of the screen.
 * Click the 'External Link' tab in the Editor.
 * Type your linking text (the text that will become the link) into the 'Link Text' box
 * Type (or paste) the web address of your intro into the 'Address' box.
 * Click the 'New Window' box. This will pop your link up in a new window, so fellow MIT'ers don't lose the MIT page in their browser.
 * If your linking text now appears twice, make sure that you delete the un-linked text (linked text will show up in a different color). Be careful not to delete any letters from the linked name, as that will disable the whole link, and you will have to start over.
 * Once this is done, click the 'Save' button on the 'Editor' bar, and you are finished!

Uploading a Document From Your Computer

 * **If you are uploading a document from your computer (PDF, PowerPoint, or Word document):**
 * Click on the 'Manage Wiki' link just above the Search box in the left-hand sidebar.
 * Click on 'Files' under the 'Content' heading.
 * Click on the 'Upload Files' button.
 * Browse through your computer to find your Introduction file and click open. It is a good idea to name this file using your name, so that it does not get confused with other people's work in the uploaded file list. You can change the name of your file at this stage by right clicking on the file name in the browser window as you search on your computer. Click 'Rename' and you will be able to change the filename before uploading it, without having to leave the Wiki uploader.
 * Go to the page you wish to post the upload to.
 * Click the 'Edit this page' button next to the page name above the content box.
 * Put the cursor where you want the document to appear in the web page text box.
 * Click the 'File' button in the 'Editor' bar at the top of the page.
 * Choose your file from the list (you may need to type the file name into the search box to narrow down the list)
 * A large box will pop up next to your cursor. Don't worry, this will look like a normal link once you save your edits. If the box is not where you want it on the page, please delete it and repeat the steps above, starting with making sure the cursor is where you want the link. Do not try to move the inserted box, as this can alter the formatting of the whole page.
 * Once you have completed this, click the 'Save' button on the 'Editor' bar, and you are finished!

Posting to a Discussion Board

 * **If you are posting a comment to the discussion board**
 * On Wiki pages, discussion boards are unique to each page. Therefore, the discussion board for Algebra I will only show up at the top of the Algebra I page, and it will only contain Algebra I discussion topics. If you feel that you are not finding the right discussion items, please check to verify that you are on the right content page.
 * Once you are on the correct content page, click on the "Discussion" tab at the top of the content box.
 * You can either post a new discussion thread by clicking on 'New Post' and filling out the subject and your post content, or you can comment on another discussion already in progress by clicking on the thread you would like to add to, and typing in the "Reply" box beneath the original post. You can change the 'Subject' box to reflect what you are commenting about if you wish.
 * Make sure to click 'Post,' or your comments will not be added to the discussion board.

=Discussion Board Tips and Etiquette=
 * Terminology:
 * Thread: A discussion board can cover several topics under one larger heading. A thread is one topic posted on a discussion board. Reply to a thread if you have something to contribute to the initial thread post, or response post within that thread. If you want to contribute something that is on a different topic, you can start a new thread. All comments and replies within one thread are usually on the same topic.
 * @username: This is a shorthand way of saying that your reply is directed at someone who made a previous comment. This is very useful in a long discussion thread, when your reply may come several posts after the person you are replying to. You could also just use names without the @ if you prefer. An example of @username discussions:
 * Sarah: I think that this part of the lesson was a little too advanced for my students.
 * Bob: I thought this lesson was great for introducing calculators in Geometry.
 * Jim: @Sarah I modeled steps 5 and 6 for my class, and that helped the students who struggled with the calculators.
 * Bob: I agree with Jim. Modeling helped in my classroom for this lesson.
 * Sarah: @Jim & @Bob, Thanks, I will try that next time.
 * Direct Message (DM): Direct messages are used for private conversations that you do not want to show up on the public discussion board. This can be done on the Wiki by sending someone a private message (like an email) from your Wiki account or you can use your your school email. This happens off the discussion board. You may see someone say "I would love to use that idea in my classroom. Can you send me the lesson plan in a DM?"
 * When refering to a specific comment made by someone, it can be helpful to quote the piece that you are responding to specifically. When the thread gets long, and people have made multiple comments, sometimes you need to reference more than just their name. To do this, just put their quote at the top of your post, and comment beneath it. For example:
 * Bob: This lesson started out a little slow, but the students really got engaged during the activity. The students were actively questioning each other in their groups, and the groups had fun competing against eachother in the final check for understanding at the end of class.
 * Jane: My students loved the game in this lesson.
 * Sarah: Bob said: "This lesson started out a little slow." I think it was a little slow at first too. Maybe an example round of the activity would help.
 * WRITING IN ALL CAPS is read as shouting, and you should try to avoid doing this. Comments on the discussion boards should be kept constructive and postive, and using all caps is viewed as abrasive and impolite.
 * Review the posts of others before you comment to make sure that you are not duplicating someone else's post.
 * Try to add something to the conversation. Dont' just say, "I agree," or "I liked this." Give examples from your classroom, ask for solutions to a related problem you are having, or draw on your experience to give advice and feedback.
 * Use proper grammar and puctuation. This isn't an English test; however people may misunderstand your comments if your writing isn't clear. Read over your comment before clicking 'post' to ensure that your words match the message you are conveying.
 * You can change the subject of your reply to be more specific about your comments. The more descriptive your subject is, the more interest people will have in reading your comments.

=Unlocking a Document in Microsoft Office 07=
 * = If you need to unlock a document in Microsoft Office 07 =
 * Open the document
 * Click on the colorful menu button at the very top left-hand of the screen.
 * At the bottom of the drop-down menu, click the ‘Word Options’ button.
 * In the box that pops up, make sure the word ‘popular’ is highlighted in the left-hand column.
 * Find ‘Show Developer Tab in ribbon’ and click the box next to it.
 * Click okay at the bottom of the ‘Word Options’ window
 * You should now see a tab on the top menu that says ‘Developer.’ Click on this tab.
 * Click the ‘Protect Document’ tab under the developer tab in the category menu near the top. It is around the middle of the screen with a lock and key picture.
 * Click “Restrict formatting and editing’ from the drop-down menu.
 * A right-hand sidebar will pop up on the screen. Click the ‘Unrestrict’ box in that sidebar.
 * The document should be open for your edits at this stage.

=Embedding a Document within a Document=


 * **Directions for embedding a document as an icon link within a document**
 * Open the main document.
 * Put the cursor on the spot where you want the new document to embed.
 * Go up to the ‘Insert’ menu, and click ‘Object.’
 * Click the ‘Create from File’ tab at the top of the pop-up box
 * Click the ‘Browse’ button to find your file. Search your computer for the file, highlight it, and then click ‘Insert.’
 * There are two small boxes under the ‘Browse’ button. Click the one that says ‘Display as Icon.’
 * This will bring up a picture of your icon. However the title shows the entire file path. To shorten this name, click on the ‘Change Icon’ button beneath your file icon.
 * Change the ‘Caption’ in the window that pops up. This will be the caption under your file in the master document, so give it a title similar to the name that you have referenced it as in your master document. (i.e.: Geometry Worksheet)
 * Click ‘Okay’ on the ‘Change Icon’ screen.
 * Click ‘Okay’ on the ‘Object’ screen.
 * The icon of your embedded document should now display in your master document. Click on it to verify that the link does work.