Announcements

Announcements are one of the most frequently used tools in HuskyCT. When instructors create an announcement, it gets posted in the HuskyCT site, a notice appears under the course title in the “My HuskyCT Classes” box, and an email notification is sent to each student using the email address associated with their profile in the HuskyCT system. By default, this will be their uconn.edu email address, but students do have the option of changing this.

Assignments

Instructors can provide the ability for students to submit work online by creating an Assignment. An Assignment can be added to a Content Area or Content Folder or to a Learning Module. This is done using the “Assessments” button at the top of these different content posting options. Instructors set the dates when the Assignment link will be active, a Due Date, the number of attempts allowed, and the points possible. Students click on the Assignment link to access the screen where they have the option to browse for and submit a file. Instructors access the submitted assignments through the Grade Center.  It is possible to mark up the submitted assignments online and enter the grade and comments on the same screen.

Blogs / Journals

Blogs provide a place where students can post entries. They will appear in reverse chronological order. Blogs can be open to the whole class, or blogs can be created for group use. To add or view comments, the “Comments” button below the post is used. Many instructors find the blog interface in HuskyCT to be more user-friendly and easier to navigate than the Discussion Board. They can be set up as graded or ungraded.

Journals are essentially personal blogs. By default they are private and can just be viewed by the student and the instructor, but they can be set to be public and accessible to the whole class. Journals can be set up as graded or ungraded.

Calendars

Course calendar events appear to all members of the course. Common entries include upcoming tests, due dates for assignments, or special lectures. Course items with due dates automatically appear in the course calendar. Only instructors may create course calendar events.

Discussion Board

Building a sense of community among students is crucial for a successful online experience. With the discussion board tool, course members can replicate the robust discussions that take place in the traditional classroom.

Grade Center

In the Grade Center, you can provide and manage your students' grades for assignments, tests, discussion posts, journals, blogs, and wikis, and for ungraded items, such as surveys or self tests. You can also create grade columns for any activities or requirements you want to grade, such as special projects, participation, or attendance.

Tests, Surveys, and Pools

You can use tests and surveys to measure student knowledge, gauge progress, and gather information from students.