The following is a brief description of Catalyst tools English
faculty may find useful. For more information on how to use these tools,
see the Catalyst
site. Not only does the Catalyst tools page contain in-depth descriptions
of each tool, but it also includes links to interviews with instructors
who have successfully used the tools in their courses. For profiles
of English faculty who have used Catalyst's tools in their courses,
go to our
faculty profiles page.
- Collect It
Collect
It allows
you to create electronic dropboxes where students can submit course assignments
and you can return graded work. Students receive immediate visual confirmation
of successful assignment submission. Instructors can
use Collect It's
management page to quickly see who has turned in an assignment. They can
also download all submitted documents in a single ZIP file.
- CommonView
In a recent survey
of educational technology use, 77% of UW students contended that all
instructors should have course Web sites. CommonView is
an online workspace that allows instructors to post course descriptions,
syllabi, schedules, video, podcasts, lecture notes and links to Catalyst
tools and other online resources. Instructors upload files and type information
into
an online
template;
CommonView transforms the template
into a
published Web
page. The
process of creating a course workspace with CommonView typically takes no
longer than one hour.
- GoPost
GoPost allows
you to create a Web-based discussion board that students can access anytime
from any computer with an internet connection. The tool also facilitates
collaborative research projects.
- Portfolio/Portfolio Project Builder
Portfolio and Portfolio Project Builder are tools that allow instructors
to make course portfolios electronic and web-based. Instructors can distribute
program-made templates to students using Portfolio, or build their own
using Portfolio Project Builder. Click the title link to access a complete
one-stop Portfolio training page. This page includes links to Catalyst and
EWP resources for Portfolio, as well as links to ready-to-distribute
templates.
- QuickPoll
QuickPoll lets
you easily create a one-question survey on your course Web page.
- UMail
With UMail,
you can create an anonymous feedback form linked to your course Web page.
Students can use the form to offer suggestions for the course.
- WebQ
WebQ helps
you create Web-based quizzes or questionnaires that employ a variety of
question formats, including short answer, long answer, and multiple choice.
Instructors may consider using WebQ in lieu of a print student survey or
midterm evaluation.
- ShareSpaces
ShareSpaces is
a web-based file storage option that enables you to share files with other
members of a group. You
can give permission for members to modify files or not. This tool could
be used as a space to distribute course materials, although it does not
have as many features as a CommonView site.
- File Manager
File
Manager is an additional 1.5 GB of
online file storage space. You can also access your Dante, Homer
or MyUW.net account.
- GradeBook
Gradebook is
UW's tool for online grading and electronic grade submission. You can use
it to track course grades
all quarter (with the option to make grades available to students), or
you can just use it to submit grades electronically at the end of the quarter.
