ATutor Features for Instructors

Instructors

• Instructor ATutor Handbook: Instructor documentation is linked from each section of the handbook, to the screen ATutor it refers to. A link to the full Handbook is available on every screen.
• Guest Access to Courses: Guests can be granted access to private courses through a guest URL, sent to them by a course instructor. Guests can view, but not post content to a course.
• SCORM Run-Time Environment & SCO Manager: Thanks to Matthai Kurian and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich for creating an ATutor SCORM run-time environment (RTE) and SCO package manager. Add prepackaged, interactive, interoperable, content to your courses. Initial support for SCORM 1.2 LMS-RTE3, with additional SCORM support coming.
• Course Tool Preferences: Instructors can choose from the available course tools and menu modules, selecting only those that are used in a particular course. Optionally display tools in the main navigation bar, or link them into the course home page for quick access. Tools can be located on the course home page, or moved to a separate Student Tools page.New in 1.6.2! tools can be moved onto their own separate screen.
• Course Manage Page: All ATutor tools can be accessed quickly from a central course Manage Page.
• Content Usage: Individual usage statistics can be reviewed to identify gaps in content coverage and the learning tendencies of each learner.
• Instructor ATutor Handbook: Instructor documentation is linked from each section of the handbook to the screen in ATutor it refers to (context sensitive help). The handbook can also be searched or browsed. If enabled, instructors can add their own notes to the handbook.
• Work Groups Manager: Instructors can manually create, or automatically generate work groups for a variety of purposes. Groups might be used to provide a private area where students can work, to create an assignment submission area, to asign a test to specific students, or for a variety of other possibilities. The new Work Group feature replaces much of the functionality previously found in the ACollab add-on module, which can still be used in addition to the new work group features.
• Learning Tools: Instructors have access to all the learning tools that are available to learners. Context sensitive access to the ATutor Handbook allows instructors to access the right documentation page quickly.
• File Storage: In addition to the File Manager, which contains files associated with ATutor content pages, the File Storage utility can be used to store private files, files to be shared with course members or group members, or used as a place to collect assignment submissions.
• Assignment Drop Box: Extending the File Storage, instructors can create file folders for collecting assignment submissions, collected from all course members, from group members, or from individuals. A collection of assignments can be zipped together and downloaded.
• Content Editor: Instructors can create content in HTML or plain text. This content can be imported from a local editor, or edited directly online. Release dates can be set to control when content is viewable to learners. Release dates extend to all sub pages in a content section when the release date for the open page is set. Content pages can be moved to different locations within a course. Related pages can be linked to content as references or relevant information. Use the File Manager while creating content. Click on the Insert button next to a file in the file manager to embed a link or an image in a page while authoring content. Add Latex formatted mathematical notation and multimedia objects to content pages.New in 1.6! Using the UTF-8 conversion module, instrucotrs can take old content, and easily convert from older character sets to UTF-8, the current standard. Content authors can include scripts and style sheets that appear in the HTML HEAD, to control the functionlity and appearance of content. New in 1.6.2! IMS/ISO AccessForAll support allows content authors to create adaptive content to match student needs. New in 1.6.2! Tests can be associated with content for quick access to a test after completing a learning unit.
• Visual Editor: A JavaScript based WYSIWYG editor is available as an extension of the Content Editor so content creators can format course materials without knowing any HTML. A soon to be ATAG 2.0 compliant version of the TinyMCE 3.01 WYSIWYG HTML editor assists authors in creating accessible content. New in 1.6.1! Visual editor is preloaded so authors can switch between it and the text editor without reloading the page.
• Accessibility Checker: The ATRC AChecker Web service has been integrated into the Content Editor to allow authors to review the accessibility of their content to people with disabilities who may be accessing ATutor using assistive technology. A variety of standards are available for an international audience. AChecker automatically identifies known accessibility problems, and allows authors to make descisions on potential problems that AChecker can not identify for certain. Accessibility reports are saved in the AChecker database, and allow ongoing monitoring of accessibility as content evolves. The AChecker Web service is available as a plugin for TinyMCE, so content can be assessed for accessibility directly from within the editor.
• IMS QTI Test Export: New in 1.6.2! import and export interoperable QTI 1.2 test packages. Tests and questions can be exported in QTI 2.1 packages
  IMS/SCORM Content Packaging: Instructors can export content from ATutor as IMS/SCORM conformant Content Packages that can be viewed offline in the accompanying viewer, or imported into ATutor or another conformant e-learning system. Entire courses, or individual course units can be packaged for viewing or redistribution. Content from other compliant systems can be imported into ATutor. Import and export complex content such as Java applets, Flash content, and other embedded programmed objects.New in 1.6.2! Content packages can be imported and export with QTI Tests, and AccessForAll adapted content together in a single package. New in 1.6.2!Content and tests can be imported from IMS Common Cartridges.
• Reading List: Instructors can gather a list of resources (books, papers, urls etc.) related to topics in a course, and create a Reading List based on those resources.
  Learning Objects Repository: Search the TILE learning objects repository for course related materials. Download content packages from the repository for viewing, or import them directly into ATutor. Enter a URL to a content package anywhere on the Web, and import it into your course. Export content from ATutor into the repository, login to the repository to author new content, add to, or enhance existing content.
• Backup Manager: The entire content and structure of a course can be backed up and stored on the ATutor server, or downloaded and saved to your local computer. Create a copy of a course as a master for future sessions, or move a course to a new location.
• News & Announcements: Instructors can post messages to the course Home Page to guide learners through the course. News can be used for weekly introductions, announcing important dates, or posting critical information. The announcements Demopage is always the first page a learner visits when they log into a course. An RSS feed can be turned on to display course announcements on other Web sites.
• File Manager: Instructors can upload and manage course related files. Directories can be created to sort files, zip archives can be uploaded and unpacked. A popup file manager can be opened alongside the Content Editor or test question editor. Course files can be easily linked into content pages or test items as they are being created. Text or HTML files can be created or edited online. Rename files, or batch move or delete files.
• Test Manager: Instructors can create tests with multiple choice, true/false, Likert, ordering, matching, drag and drop, and a number of open ended question types. M/C, multi-select M/C, ordering, matching, and T/F questions are marked automatically. A test release window can be created to make a test available for a certain period, feedback can be customized, and test results can be archived. Self-marking tests can be created to provide students with instant feedback. Create surveys and link them to the course home page. Select from a pool of questions to generate random question quizzes. Assign tests to groups of students. Add questions to a Question Database, then select questions from the database to assemble a test or quiz. Create image based test items, and arrange items horizontally or vertically. Questions can be arranged in any order. A test property can be set to allow guests to take tests. Add Latex formatted mathematical notation and multimedia objects to test questions.New in 1.6! A "test window" can be opened during which the test is available, and after which is locked. New in 1.6! Test questions can be presented all on a single page, or one at a time. New in 1.6.2! data from guest test takers can be collected.
• Polls: Instructors can create one question polls to quickly gather student opinions.
  Forums: Instructors can create and manage multiple forums for each of their courses. Messages can be edited, deleted, locked from reading and/or replying, and "stuck" to the top of a thread list if a message is important. Administrators can create forums shared across multiple courses. Request a shared forum to allow students in all your courses to communicate with each other. Subscribe to forums, or to topic threads to have messages sent by email. Instructors can set a time limit for editing forum posts, so messages can be corrected if errors are made in the original post. Add Latex formatted mathematical notation and multimedia objects to Forum messages.New in 1.6.2! past forum discussions can be archived.
• Course Email: Instructors can send bulk email to course members, assistants, or both. New in 1.6! and insert tokens to customize messages for each individual user.
  Course Properties: Instructors can view course login statistics, edit course properties, and send course-wide email messages. A default display language can be set for each course. Assign a course as public, protected, or private, or hide a course while it is being developed. Control student access to content packaging. Turn on an RSS feed for course announcements, and display them on other Web sites. Set the release date for a course, after which it becomes available to students. Create a custom splash page for each course. New in 1.6! Instructors can upload their own custom course icon as a visual representation of the course.New in 1.6! Instructors can add a custom course banner to give courses their own custom look. New in 1.6.1! A course directory can be customized to extend Pretty URLs (described for Administrators) creating a unique URL for each course.
• Enrollment Manager: Instructors may import a comma separated list of students to enroll in their courses, or export an enrollment list for staff keeping. Create an enrollment list online to add new students to a course. Automatically generate login names and passwords for students and send them by email when a student is enrolled in a course. Assign students as Alumni so they can participate in discussions for future course sessions. Filter by login, first or last name, or email address.
• Privileges: Through the Enrollment Manager, instructors can assign students access to various instructor tools, creating teaching assistants or co-instructors.
• Addon Modules: FAQ, Google Search, RSS Feeds, EWiki, ACollab, ATalker Text-to-Speech, and SCORM Packages modules are each available with a quick installer. Many other add-on modules can be found on the atutor.ca Module Page.