This Help window covers the following:
- Some Basic Functions Using the Mouse
- Navigating Through the Materials
- Identifying the Icons Used
- Creating French Characters
- Appropriate Window Settings and Plugins
What is a link?
When you see underlined text, it means there is additional information. To follow the link, place your cursor over the underlined text and click your mouse. If you place the cursor over an image or text that's a link, you will see a pointing hand.
How do I close a window when I'm finished with it?
To close a window at any time, move the cursor onto the X button at the top right corner of the open window and click.
How do I minimize a window if I don't want to close it yet, but just want to get it out of the way?
To minimize a window, move the cursor onto the _ button at the top right corner of that window and click. The window will close temporarily and an icon will appear at the bottom of your screen. To open the window again, move the cursor onto the icon and click.
How do I click and drag?
Some activities require you move words or images around on the screen. Move the cursor onto the text you want to move, click and hold while you drag the item to the position you want. When it's in place, release your mouse.
Opening the Material You Want
Select the subject by placing the cursor on the text and clicking. Select the stream (applied to academic or academic to applied) the same way. Enter your login information (your name and the name of the school you attend) and click Login.
You are now at the Contents window for the material that you have selected.
Reading the Contents Window and Starting
At the bottom right corner of the Contents window are three links. The Help link will always bring you to this window. The Progress link will show a "to do" list for that material you are working on. It would be a good idea to print out the Progress page, write your name and school at the top in the sections provided, and check off each item as you complete it. Then you can refer to it to find out what you still need to complete, as you work through the materials.
The Main Menu link will take you back to the start page where you select the subject and stream you want to open.
The materials are organized into Units. Within each unit there are Modules. Initially, the left side of the Contents window lists the Modules for the first unit. When you click on Module 1, its contents will appear at the right. You will see that the module contains the Activities and Assessments. Each underlined title is a link to the materials.
Click on Activity 1 to get started. A window will appear containing the text for you to read. Move through the activity by clicking on the arrow at the bottom of the window. In that way you will go through all the activities in the module. Remember to close links such as articles and assessments, when you have completed them.
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This button will take you to the next screen. | |
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This button will take you to the previous screen. | |
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This button will close the window you are viewing. | |
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This button will print the window you are viewing. | |
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This button will take you to the Contents page. | |
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This button will bring you to the Help page. |
Other helpful navigation tools:
minimize button: This button will minimize the window you are viewing. It is located in the top right hand part of each screen beside the close X'
scroll bar: This bar, located on the right side of a window is used to scroll through a window's contents.
If you have a number pad, press Alt (try each Alt on your keyboard) along with these numbers to produce the French characters:
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Screen Resolution
To view the materials, your screen should be set to 800 x 600 pixels. To check your settings follow these steps:
From your Windows Desktop screen, right click your mouse and select Properties > Settings. In the Desktop Area, slide the indicator with your mouse until 800X600 is selected > OK. If the materials still do not fit your screen, check that your Font settings are set to a normal size (i.e., 12 point) in both your browser and in Windows.
Note: Your Windows Help file can assist you in checking these setting.
Downloading Shockwave Player Software
Many of the assessments are delivered using Shockwave Player. If you don't already have it installed on your computer, you will get a pop-up message prompting you to download it from the Shockwave website.
If you would like to install the Shockwave Player on your computer before you start working, go to http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/ and follow the instructions.
Note: The Shockwave assessments do not print.
Enabling Java and JavaScript
You must have Java and JavaScript enabled on your web browser in order to view the site properly. Both are enabled by default when you initially install the most recent version of Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer. Therefore, you should not have a problem unless you have modified the default.
To check these settings on earlier browser versions, you must go into your browser settings and turn on Java and JavaScript. If you cannot locate these settings, use the Help menu of your browser.
