0.1 Why you should create a personal connexions account

Several good reasons

With a Connexions account you can:

• Provide feedback to authors and other users by rating modules – This feedback from all users (other authors, students using textbook collections, etc.) helps authors decide which modules need improving and helps other users in evaluating the quality of respository content.
• Have your own “My Favorites” lens and make other “Member List” lenses
  • Save your place when reading through a collection is a feature of the “My Favorites” lens
  • You can make yourown private “Member List” lenses to create the ability for you to focus on part of the repository
• I mprove the quality of instructional materials and scholarly works available to the world via the Internet – free 24/7
  • Contribute materials that you author to the Connexions repository
  • Remix or change (customize) materials provided by others that are in the Connexions repository
  • Build collections (a group of modules) that specifically serve your students or audience from modules that you either create, improve or use without changing

Often being an author, is over emphasized and pushed as the number one reason to get a Connexions account. Having authors contribute to the repository is important; however usage of the repository by users is equally important. Increasing quality content in the Connexions repository goes hand in hand with increased usage of that content . It’s like the Chinese “Yin&Yang”, both are important. We encourage all to create an personal account.

Available training

A link is provided (in the box at the upper right corner of this module’s page) to the “Busbee’s Connexions Training” lens. It contains six collections that cover:

1. Understanding the Vision of Connexions
2. How to Search and Browse the Connexions Web Site (includes rating modules)
3. Effectively Using and Creating Connexions Lenses
4. Authoring Connexions Modules using Microsoft Word Documents
5. Ideas and Tools for Improving Connexions Modules and Collections
6. Appendix Materials for a Connexions Collection used as a College Course

Each collection consists of several modules. The items appear alphabetically within the lens; however the “Lens Comments” for each item has its item position number similar to the list above. The first four items provide a natural progression for training.

You might want to bookmark the URL to the lens in your browser. The link is: (External Link)

Connexions help

Don’t hesitage to use the “Help” tab on the connexions home page at: (External Link)

It is organized differently than the above training collections, but contains ample information on how to use the Connexions Project. Don’t be afraid to click on something. Some of the menu items on the left expand as you click on them.