CONTACT US

Q: How do I log in?

Each user has an account on the C-TOOLS system. You can either log in with a local account that exists solely on the C-TOOLS server. To do this, you must first create an account. See Working with C-TOOLS for information on creating a user account.

Alternatively, you can log in with your university account information. For MSU students, this corresponds to your NetID (e.g. quincyj3) and regular password. For more information on logging in with a university account, please see Working with C-TOOLS.

To the right of the USERNAME field, there is an authentication selection bar. It allows you to choose between local, msu.edu, or other authentication choices.

Q: I lost my map, where is it?!

The best strategy is one of prevention: login, and save your work frequently. If the "SAVE" button has been pressed, chances are it can be recovered; contact the system administrator with any details (e.g. interface action, time, username, ip address).

Q: How do I submit my map to my Prof?

Select the submit option from the concept map applet. Alternatively, you can visit the gallery and submit from there with a [SUBMIT] link.

Q: What is a concept map?

To learn what concept maps are all about, see Dr. Luckie's page on concept maps.

Q: Why am I doing this for my class?

The utility of a concept map is to present knowledge in terms of both hierarchy and detailed statements. One of the advantages for making concept maps is that it helps in the writing process (for example, essays).

At the level of instruction, an instructor can see which connections the class as a whole is making and use this information to focus instruction where it is needed most.

Q: How is this graded?

The grading is performed by the instructor. C-TOOLS provides a number of automated solutions to help the instructor survey the assignment information to grade with as much accuracy and precision as possible. To get a good grade, visit the main help page and look at links about designing concept maps.

Q: What is hierarchy and how is that graded?

A concept map organizes information into clusters based on the strength of their association. This clustering of information in a concept map presents a navigable hierarchy for both the maker and viewer of the concept map.

The grading of hierarchy measures how effective your organization is in terms of useability.

Q: What plugins do I need for this page to work?

Java needs to work on your web browser. For more information regarding java and C-TOOLS, see Browser Configuration.

Q: How do I make the concept map area bigger?

This is a new feature being worked on. Currently, there is not a way to make this happen.

Q: Why does the map not print correctly, it cuts off the left edge?

You are printing in portrait mode. You need to print in landscape mode.

Q: How can I create a user name for two people or a group?

Create a local account with whatever name you feel best describes your team. For more information on creating local accounts, see Working with C-TOOLS

Q: How can I change the fonts, colors and shapes on the map?

Not yet supported. Internally, the vector graphics mechanisms in the software will support this. This is a new feature being worked on.

Q: How can I import a picture or jpeg to add to my map?

This is a new feature being worked on. Currently, there is not a way to make this happen.

Q: What do the "Image Not Yet Generated" icons mean? Will the image ever be generated?
Yes. Frequently you should only have to wait at most 1 minute before image generation occurs. To see the image of your concept map, you will need to return to your "My Stuff" gallery after a few minutes and hit the browser's "reload" button. Sometimes if you hold down the shift key while clicking the browser's "reload" button, this can be a way to refresh the images seen in your gallery.

Q: Will this web site gradually improve?
Our current development cycle makes releases on to the http://ctools.msu.edu/ web site every two weeks. So far, the average rate of development is that thirty bug reports or feature requests are resolved per month. There are multiple educators at multiple institutions making a significant portion of these requests.