Course folders are password-protected spaces on the network that are shared by specific groups of users. Faculty members request course folders, and the folders may be customized in a variety of ways to match teaching style, course content, student needs, and instructional objectives. Students and faculty enter their Palette username and password to access their course folders. By default, students in the identified course or courses have read and file scan access to the folder. Students can only see folders for those courses in which they are enrolled.
To establish a course folder:
Send an email request to Marla De Soto at marla.desoto@gcmail.maricopa.edu. In the email, specify the type of course folder and name of the folder (see chart below for types and naming conventions). Course folders are persistent from semester to semester. Faculty members are responsible for maintaining their course folders. Instructors are able to create subfolders, add and delete files from the folders and otherwise manage the contents.
To access a course folder:
(note: include the "s" after http) Then, enter your Palette username and password to access the course folders.
Working with a course folder:
Faculty may add and remove documents from the course folders by going to this URL: https://gecko.gc.maricopa.edu/courses/
. Enter your Palette username/password.
Double click on a course folder name to see the contents. Above the course folder name is a menu: File | Edit | View | Help
Click on the word File and an option to create a New Folder or Upload a new file is available. If you highlight the name of one of the files in the course folder, and click on File, various options are available, including New Folder, Rename, Upload, Download for Editing, Download for Viewing, Archive, and Properties. Click on Help for a full explanation of all the features of this menu.
Types of Course Folders and Naming Conventions
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Course/Faculty Specific |
Faculty Specific |
Group Specific |
Folder Name
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Course prefix and the faculty member's name
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Faculty member's name
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Course prefix and number
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Accessibility
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Students enrolled in all sections of this course taught by this instructor.
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Students enrolled in all of this instructor's courses.
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Students enrolled in all sections of this course.
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Example
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ENG101-MDesoto
All students enrolled in MDesoto's ENG101 sections can access the folder. The teachers places materials there for students to read and download. Teacher may also create sub-folders inside the ENG101-MDesoto folder for each section.
|
MDesoto
All students enrolled in any courses taught by this teacher can access the folder. Teacher may create sub-folders inside the MDesoto folder and name them for each course taught.
|
ENG101
The English department could request a course-specific folder accessible by all students enrolled in all sections of ENG101.
|
Suggestions for using Course Folders
For data files:
- Students can copy data files to their own floppy disks or to their personal space on the networked H:\ drive by downloading the files from https://gecko.gc.maricopa.edu/courses/
- Students can drag and drop files from the source (a floppy disk or a folder on the hard drive) into the course folder. You can select and copy multiple files or subfolders at the same time. Students can also drag and drop files from the course folder to a folder on their H:\ drive or a floppy disk.
- On a palette computer on campus, students can open files by going to Courses and the specific course folder from the Start Menu.
- By default, we establish course folders so students can only see files and read them. They can open files in the course folder, but if they modify them, they must select another location to save them.
For shortcuts to web pages:
- Create a shortcut to a specific web page by right-clicking on the page when it is open. Drag this shortcut to the course folder. Students may open this shortcut directly from the course folder under Courses at the top of the Start Menu.
- You can modify the name of the shortcut by clicking on it.
For templates:
- You can place templates in the course folder. Students can either open them from the Start Menu or drag them from the course folder to their floppy disk or H:\ drive. For example, if you prefer students to use a standard format for papers, reports, or essays, you can create a template they all can use.
- You can provide spreadsheet and presentation templates as well as document templates.
For runtime versions of presentations:
- Create the presentation (in Powerpoint or another program) and save it as a slide show. Select Save As [PowerPoint] Show under the file type. Remember that you have many options as to how the Slide Show will run. Read the help files in Powerpoint for specific instructions.
- Place the .PPS file in your course folder. Students can run it from the Start Menu.
