Navigating CT2Learn for Students
If you have already purchased and logged in to your CT2Learn account, you have definitely noticed that your course content does Not look like a typical school textbook! Some of you will be confused. We know because we track the technical support questions that come in from new students who just made their purchase. Most of you will "get it," either immediately, or within a few minutes of looking around. For the confused ones, we're happy to help, and happy to explain how this system of course content will be used by your instructor, your classmates, and by you as you progress through your class. Hence, this blog post, an explanation for those who are confused, and some hints for all the rest to make the most of your experience with our CT2Learn Evolved Learning System.
The Basics:
Ok, let's first talk course navigation. For most of you, the course you are enrolled in is either presented entirely online, or if it is an "in-class" course, you have an online course hub your instructor uses for distributing a syllabus, or making assignments, or a place for you to participate in discussion groups and to turn in homework. For both of these course types, the instructor is using your school's Learning Management System, or LMS. For simplicity, let's assume your school uses the Canvas LMS (it's currently the most commonly used LMS). Ok, when you enroll in your course, you will be given access to the Canvas course associated with your enrollment. Pro tip: AS SOON as you have access to your Canvas course, log in to it and spend some time looking around.
Make sure to find the places where you can:
1. Read any introductory remarks and instructions from the instructor
2. Download the syllabus
3. Message the instructor
4. Find the course schedule
5. Attend class (if it's a "synchronous online" course), view, or read course lectures
6. Find daily or weekly assignments
7. Participate in required course discussions
8. Turn in your homework
9. Check your grade
Now, let's switch gears and explain how CT2Learn fits into this picture. First, CT2Learn is Not your instructor or school's course LMS. It is not uncommon for this to be a point of confusion for students who purchase their CT2Learn membership prior to logging in their instructor's Canvas page.
In the most simple terms, CT2Learn is a web based platform that contains many links to different kinds of content (ebooks, PowerPoint slide shows, videos, articles, and even other web sites). And instead of choosing one giant textbook for your course, your instructor selected CT2Learn, which offers a broad grouping of different materials for you to either read, or watch, or interact with. So, instead of your sixth week assignment being: "Read Chapters 6 and 7 in your giant textbook," you are assigned to "Read Chapter 6 in your ebook, View the Chapter 6 slideshow, Watch two short videos, and Read another article." These assigned items are contained on the CT2Learn platform and are accessible via your paid membership. And to make it simple, Each of these assigned items are specified with direct web links from your Weekly Assignments page in your Canvas course. Your instructor does this so it won't be necessary to search through all of your CT2Learn materials to find them. All you have to do is click on the assignment link in Canvas and a new browser window will open, asking you to log in to CT2Learn. Once you log in, your assigned content will open. Then you read it, or watch it, or interact with it, then close it out when you are finished and you are back to your Canvas course where you can select the next item on the list to read, or view, or interact with. Get it? Here's what it may look like in screenshots, from the perspective of your instructor's Canvas platform:
1) Log in to your course webpage. You are provided with specific instructions for how to do this after you register for the course t your school. It will look something like this:
2) As you can see here, the required "textbook" (see the bottom of the welcome message) is a CT2Learn subscription. After making your CT2learn purchase, you can access the required content for this course.
3) Back to your school's course page. Now, click on the Modules link in the lefthand menu and select Week 1. A page will open that looks something like this:
4) If you want to read the first assignment, simply click the Juvenile Offenders and Their Victims link. A new window will open on your computer and if you haven't already logged in to CT2Learn today, a login window will appear. Input your user name and password, then check your email to get (and input) the required secondary authorization code.
5) Once you are logged in, your ebook will appear. Click the Launch button and begin reading Chapter 1. When finished, you can close the ebook window and your course tab/window will still be live. And that's it!
Next Up:
How to maximize your CT2Learn subscription