e-learning @ TPAS - what you need to know Welcome! Hi there, welcome to the new TPAS online e-learning environment at www.tpaselearning.org.uk. It's pretty straightforward to use but there are a few things you need to know as you begin your first online course. First things first!
Step 1: Go to: www.tpaselearning.org.uk
Online support Online support is available thoughout the duration of your course. If you have any problems or want to ask a question about the course please contact: tpaselearningsupport@me.com OK - let's go!
Step 2 - Login
When you arrive at the home page, login using the username and password in the email that was sent to you with this document. You will then be directed to your own Home page 'Over of my course'. It's important that you remember (write it down and keep safe) your username and password as you will need them to login whenever you want to access your course/s.
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Step 2 (continued): Lost password?
If you do happen to lose your password, just click on the 'Lost Password?' link on the home page .You will then be prompted to enter either your username or password, and a new password will be automatically sent to your email address.
Step 3: Your Home page - Overview of my courses
This is your personal Home page. No matter where you are on the site, when you click Home you will be taken back here The centre panel shows you a list of the courses that you are signed up to and a link to that course. Bob Learner is signed up to the 'Effective Meetings' course. The left and right columns contain Blocks with useful links and information. Ok, let's find out a bit more about you. Step 4 e-learning @ TPAS - what you need to know - 2
is very important. Please Edit your Profile.
Step 4: Edit your profile (a 'must do') - Let's find out more about you
Before you enter the 'Effective Meetings' course area, please Edit your Profile. This enables you to put up some really interesting stuff about yourself for your trainer and your co-learners. Click on your name to Edit your profile. Please, please could put up a picture of yourself, or something that represents you. This is really important. If you don't, then all your co-learners and trainer will see is a black silhouette just like Christine Learner above.
Step 4 (continued): Editing your Profile
Once you have clicked on your name you will be taken to a screen like this with your current details. Click on 'Edit Profile' to add some interesting things about yourself. Please complete the 'Date of Birth' field (at the bottom of the online form) as we need this to register you with the National Open e-learning @ TPAS - what you need to know - 3
College Network. No-one else on the course will be able to see the DOB field. Your co-learners and your online trainer will be able to see your other details. Remember to save your details by clicking on 'Update my profile' at the bottom of the form. Now, click on the big 'Effective Meetings' link on your Home page central panel to go to the course area.
Step 5: Effective Meetings - course area
Here is 'Effective Meetings' course area. You will notice this is laid out in a similar way to your Home page. All your course content is displayed in Topics in the centre panel. Click the orange triangles to open and close the topics (arrow 1). Click on 'Participants' (arrow 2) to see your co-learners. Check the activitties you have completed by clicking on Your Name (arrow 3) then Activity Reports (see Step 6).
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Step 6: Your Activity Report
The Activity Report records everything that you have done in the course you are on. You wil need to scroll down to view all the activities. Click on Complete Report for even more detail. You can see that Bob hasn't done very much yet!
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Step 7: Course content - Please complete the Topics in order from 1-8
Clicking on the orange triangle reveals links to activities and information for that Topic. There are a number of activities in the course such as Assignments, Quizzes, Forums, Presentations, Video role plasy, information and a variety of links. Once again, please complete the course from Topic 1 through to Topic 8.
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Step 8: Completing an activity and getting feedback
When you post your views to a Discussion or complete an activity such as an Assignment or Quiz, you will receive an email like the one above. Your online TPAS trainer will also receive an email letting them know that you have completed an activity. When your trainer gives you feedback on any of your Assignments, you will receive an email letting you know. Then you can go in and read what they have written.
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Step 9: Entering text to Assignments and Discussions
If you are familiar word processing software then entering text for your answers to Assignments and adding your views to Discussions should be a breeze. It's just a matter of entering your text and saving.
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Step 10: Saving your work - scrolling down the page
It's very important to save your work. You will usually need to scroll down the page to click on the save button. They all look simlar to the one above. Well that's about it for now. Please explore the e-learning environment as that's the best way to learn. Don't worry, you can't break anything!
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