IdeaBank Help: Walkthrough Tutorial
The IdeaBank allows you to add your own personal reflections on the items shared in the Teaching & Learning Commons as well as the Gallery of Teaching & Learning. This tutorial will provide you with a step-by-step walkthrough of the following:
- How to access the IdeaBank
- How to save interesting sites you find to the IdeaBank
- How to add your comments and reflections
- How to share your IdeaList by publishing and sending
Step #1 – Accessing the IdeaBank
Creating a New Account & Logging In
The IdeaBank can be accessed via the Teaching & Learning Commons (http://commons.carnegiefoundationorg). If you already have a KEEP Toolkit account there is no need to create another account. You may use the same log in information as your KEEP account to access all of the Teaching & Learning Commons.
If you are new to the Commons, you can create a new account by selecting the Create an Account link located in the Login box on the right. If you have an existing account, you may enter your username and password directly in the login box.
Select the "Create an Account" option to create a new account. You will see the screen below.
After you have created an account, you will receive a confirmation email with your temporary password.
Return to the Commons page and use this information to start using your IdeaBank.
Entering the IdeaBank
Once you have logged in, you will see the following page, which will direct you to the IdeaBank.
Click on the link to begin!
The IdeaBank can be accessed via the Teaching & Learning Commons (http://commons.carnegiefoundationorg). If you already have a KEEP Toolkit account there is no need to create another account. You may use the same log in information as your KEEP account to access all of the Teaching & Learning Commons.
If you are new to the Commons, you can create a new account by selecting the Create an Account link located in the Login box on the right. If you have an existing account, you may enter your username and password directly in the login box.
Select the "Create an Account" option to create a new account. You will see the screen below.
After you have created an account, you will receive a confirmation email with your temporary password.
Return to the Commons page and use this information to start using your IdeaBank.
Entering the IdeaBank
Once you have logged in, you will see the following page, which will direct you to the IdeaBank.
Click on the link to begin!
Step #2 – The IdeaBank Desktop
IdeaLists & Items
On your IdeaBank desktop are two main features. The blue field on the left, contains all of the grouped items, called IdeaLists, that you can create. The green field on the right displays all of the items contained in whichever list you select.
When you first enter your IdeaBank, both lists should be empty and you should have a default list created on the left.
When you begin to add sites to your IdeaBank, you will see them automatically added to your default list. You will be able to sort and organize them into IdeaLists later.
On your IdeaBank desktop are two main features. The blue field on the left, contains all of the grouped items, called IdeaLists, that you can create. The green field on the right displays all of the items contained in whichever list you select.
When you first enter your IdeaBank, both lists should be empty and you should have a default list created on the left.
When you begin to add sites to your IdeaBank, you will see them automatically added to your default list. You will be able to sort and organize them into IdeaLists later.
Step #3 – Exploring Sites & Adding them to your IdeaBank
Searching for Interesting Sites to Add
Now that we have reviewed the layout of the IdeaBank, it is time to explore and reflect upon the many sites created by our community members and affliates. To search for pages by topic, you can use the link located at the top of the IdeaBank to search both the Teaching & Learning Commons and the Gallery of Teaching & Learning.
The search engine will generate all pages available to your search.
Saving Pages
How do you save an interesting site you have discovered? Simple. Pages created by the KEEP Toolkit and items in the Gallery of Teaching & Learning are equipped with the following button at the bottom of each page.
Click on the button to add the page to your IdeaBank. (You can always choose to remove the page later.)
Confirmation message
When you click on the "Save to IdeaBank" button, the following pop-up confirmation will appear.
The page you have found has now been saved to your IdeaBank!
You can continue to use the search tool to find and add as many pages as you wish to your IdeaBank.
As long as you are logged in, your pages will be added to your IdeaBank without your having to visit it.
If for some reason, you are logged out, you will receive a message instructing you to log in.
Now that we have reviewed the layout of the IdeaBank, it is time to explore and reflect upon the many sites created by our community members and affliates. To search for pages by topic, you can use the link located at the top of the IdeaBank to search both the Teaching & Learning Commons and the Gallery of Teaching & Learning.
The search engine will generate all pages available to your search.
Saving Pages
How do you save an interesting site you have discovered? Simple. Pages created by the KEEP Toolkit and items in the Gallery of Teaching & Learning are equipped with the following button at the bottom of each page.
Click on the button to add the page to your IdeaBank. (You can always choose to remove the page later.)
Confirmation message
When you click on the "Save to IdeaBank" button, the following pop-up confirmation will appear.
The page you have found has now been saved to your IdeaBank!
You can continue to use the search tool to find and add as many pages as you wish to your IdeaBank.
As long as you are logged in, your pages will be added to your IdeaBank without your having to visit it.
If for some reason, you are logged out, you will receive a message instructing you to log in.
Step #4 – Organizing your collected items and adding your reflections.
Adding Your Thoughts and Reflections
Done enough collecting for the day? Ready to share your thoughts? Fantastic!
You can now take advantage of your IdeaBank’s main features. Now when you visit your IdeaBank, you will see all of your saved pages in the default folder.
You now can either sort the pages in to new IdeaLists , or you can add your reflections to each item before sorting. To add your thoughts and reflections regarding a site you found, simply click on the “My Reflections - Add/Edit” button below each item title. This will allow you to instantly add your thoughts. You can click on either the thumbnail image on the right, or on the site title itself, to revisit the site.
Creating a New IdeaList
You may either work directly in your default folder and add reflections to the sites you discover there, or you may create new IdeaLists to sort your items into. To do so, type in the title of a new list you would like to create, then click on the "Create" button. You will see a new blank list appear under your default IdeaList.
Click on your new list to select and expand. Add a description for your new list in the text field. Your description will help others understand the context and purposes of your list.
Select the blue Save button to save your new list description.
Moving and Copying Items into a New Idealist
To copy or move an item from your default folder in to a new list, click on your default list to select, then use the check boxes to select items to copy or move them into a new list . Items can be moved and copied from any IdeaList in your IdeaBank.
If you copy them, one copy will remain in your default list, which can also serve as your master list. If you move it, that item will no longer be in your default list.
Done enough collecting for the day? Ready to share your thoughts? Fantastic!
You can now take advantage of your IdeaBank’s main features. Now when you visit your IdeaBank, you will see all of your saved pages in the default folder.
You now can either sort the pages in to new IdeaLists , or you can add your reflections to each item before sorting. To add your thoughts and reflections regarding a site you found, simply click on the “My Reflections - Add/Edit” button below each item title. This will allow you to instantly add your thoughts. You can click on either the thumbnail image on the right, or on the site title itself, to revisit the site.
Creating a New IdeaList
You may either work directly in your default folder and add reflections to the sites you discover there, or you may create new IdeaLists to sort your items into. To do so, type in the title of a new list you would like to create, then click on the "Create" button. You will see a new blank list appear under your default IdeaList.
Click on your new list to select and expand. Add a description for your new list in the text field. Your description will help others understand the context and purposes of your list.
Select the blue Save button to save your new list description.
Moving and Copying Items into a New Idealist
To copy or move an item from your default folder in to a new list, click on your default list to select, then use the check boxes to select items to copy or move them into a new list . Items can be moved and copied from any IdeaList in your IdeaBank.
If you copy them, one copy will remain in your default list, which can also serve as your master list. If you move it, that item will no longer be in your default list.
Step #5 – Editing your IdeaList
IdeaList Options
Once you have copied or moved items from your default list into a new list, you may choose to rename the list, create a duplicate copy, or publish the list for public viewing or to email it. Only published lists can be emailed.
All of these options are located under the "List Options" bar in your IdeaList descriptions box.
Before publishing, don’t forget to enter a description of the contents of your list so that others can understand what your list is for.
Once you have copied or moved items from your default list into a new list, you may choose to rename the list, create a duplicate copy, or publish the list for public viewing or to email it. Only published lists can be emailed.
All of these options are located under the "List Options" bar in your IdeaList descriptions box.
Before publishing, don’t forget to enter a description of the contents of your list so that others can understand what your list is for.
Step #6 – Publishing your IdeaList
Publishing Your Idealist & Sharing Publicly
Now you are ready to share your thoughts with other colleagues in the Teaching & Learning Commons community.
Once you are ready to publish a list, it is easily done with a click of a button.
Simply click on the IdeaList you are ready to share, and select the “Publish” button in the List Options menu.
Need to make changes after publishing? Not a problem. Published IdeaLists can be edited by their author at anytime. Or, if you feel you no longer would like to have an IdeaList public, you may select the "Unpublish" button at any time.
Now you are ready to share your thoughts with other colleagues in the Teaching & Learning Commons community.
Once you are ready to publish a list, it is easily done with a click of a button.
Simply click on the IdeaList you are ready to share, and select the “Publish” button in the List Options menu.
Need to make changes after publishing? Not a problem. Published IdeaLists can be edited by their author at anytime. Or, if you feel you no longer would like to have an IdeaList public, you may select the "Unpublish" button at any time.
Additional Option – Sending an IdeaList
Sending an IdeaList to a Specific Email Address
Once you have published a list, you may choose to send the list via email to other colleagues; this method is simple.
Every published list will have the following Send List button with a text field for you to type email addresses of your intended recipients. The recipient will receive an email to the public link of the IdeaList, which will look like this.
Once you have published a list, you may choose to send the list via email to other colleagues; this method is simple.
Every published list will have the following Send List button with a text field for you to type email addresses of your intended recipients. The recipient will receive an email to the public link of the IdeaList, which will look like this.
