Editing the Homepage


The class Homepage is created when the website is set up, and the class number and title and instructor and TA names that were entered on the website request form are automatically filled in. An instructor or TA can make the following changes to the Homepage:

  1. Change the class or section title or number, and term
  2. Change the class or project term to another term or a full calendar year
  3. Add or remove an image
  4. Change the teaching staff labels
  5. Change meeting types, times, and dates
  6. Enter and edit information about the class or section

Note:

  • If an OpenCourseWare (OCW) website exists for the class, the Edit Homepage displays a prompt and checkbox for displaying a link to the OCW website in the Homepage's public view. The checkbox is selected by default. Publishing the link is a service to individuals who want to view class materials but do not have access to them on Stellar.
  • If the Class Number text box is filled with uppercase letters but more than 10 characters, it will be shown as lowercase letters on @Stellar page.

Changing the Class Title, Number, and Term


Instructors can change the class number, title, and term displayed on a class or section Homepage. The Class Name is a descriptive title for the class or section (e.g., Introduction to Linguistics). The Class Number is the course-of-study number followed by the class number (e.g., 24.900). The Class Number also appears in the breadcrumbs at the top of a page, but changing this number does not change the Homepage's URL.

The Class Term determines the range of dates displayed in the Schedule. If you are working on a project website and want the Schedule to show a full calendar year, select that year from the Term dropdown list.

Directions to Change the Class Title, Number, and Term:
  1. Display the Homepage
  2. Click the edit homepage link
  3. Edit the Class Title and Class Number if needed
  4. Select a Class Term from the dropdown list.

    You can only change Class Terms for projects sites. To create an academic class for a new term you must request a new site.

  5. Click the Submit button to return to the Homepage

Return to Top

Changing the Meeting Types, Times, and Dates


As part of the class website setup, meeting information that is already in the Registrar's database is automatically added to the Homepage. Instructors can edit and add this information on the class website and enter the information on a section subsite.

  • The Meeting Type is a Lecture, Lab, Recitation, etc.
  • The Time specifies when the Meeting Type occurs; e.g., 10-12 MWF or 9-11 TR.
  • The location is the building and room number; e.g., 20-989.
Directions to Change Meeting Types, Times, and Dates:
  1. Display the Homepage.
  2. Click the Edit Homepage link.
  3. Scroll to the Meeting Times section of the Edit Homepage.
  4. Enter the Meeting Type, Time, and Location.
  5. Click the Submit button.

The Meeting Times grid on the Edit Homepage has rows for up to five entries. For more than five entries, you can add a large text box to the Edit Homepage for entering the information.

  1. Click the Website Settings link at the bottom of the navigation bar.
  2. Scroll down the Website Settings page to the Display Options.
  3. Check the option to Show Meeting Times As Single Large HTML Field.
  4. Click the Submit button.

When you return to the Edit Homepage, the text box is displayed below the Meeting Times grid. Enter all Meeting Types, Times, and Locations as plain text or with HTML tags in the text box. For example, the following HTML statement:

<p><b>Recitation:</b> &nbsp; Thursday, 10:30 a.m. &nbsp; (9-250) </p>
produces the following output
Recitation: Thursday, 10:30 a.m. (9-250)

Return to Top

Adding an Image to the Homepage


Instructors have the option of adding an image to a class or section Homepage. However, if the instructor does not own the copyright to the image, its display is restricted to class members only.
It is recommended that the image be:

  • A .GIF or .JPG file
  • No larger than 400 pixels wide x 300 pixels high (about 5.5 inches x 4.25 inches)
    Tip: Large images make it difficult for users to see other information on the Homepage. Use a photo editor such as Photoshop or Illustrator to reduce the image size.
Directions to Add a Homepage Image*
  1. Display the Homepage
  2. Click the Edit Homepage link
  3. Scroll to the Homepage Image section of the Edit Homepage. Do one of the following to specify the image to display:
    • Click the Browse button and select an image to upload from your computer.
    • Link to an image on the web by entering the image file's URL.
    • Make sure to link to the image file itself, not to the page that contains the image.

      *A word of caution:*

      If the link is to an image file that you do not control, you run the risk of broken links and missing images.

  4. Check the checkbox if you own the copyright for the image. (If you do not own the copyright, the image will be displayed only in the restricted access view of the home page.)
  5. (Optional) Enter a caption as plain text or with HTML tags . The caption will appear below the image on the Homepage. Although not required, it is recommended that you add a caption to an image that you do not own.
  6. Click the Submit button.

Return to Top

Removing an Image from the Homepage

  1. Display the Homepage
  2. Click the Edit Homepage link.
  3. Scroll to the Homepage Image section of the Edit Homepage.
  4. Click the Delete Current Image link. The Delete Homepage Image page is displayed.
  5. Click the Delete button.
  6. Click the Submit button to return to the Homepage.

Return to Top

Changing the Instructor or TA Labels on the Homepage


The Homepage default is to use Instructor and TA as the labels for the class faculty and teaching assistants. As the instructor you may prefer different teaching staff labels, such as Professors, Lab Assistants, or Recitation Instructors.

To change the teaching staff labels on a class or section Homepage:

  1. Display the Homepage.
  2. Click the Edit Homepage link.
  3. Scroll to the Teaching Staff Labels section on the Edit Homepage.
  4. Enter the label you want displayed instead of Instructor.
  5. Enter the label you want displayed instead of TA. See example below:
  6. Click the Submit button.

Return to Top

Editing the Class Description on the Homepage

Instructors can use the Info setting on the Homepage to display a class or section description. When adding or editing this description, instructors can choose to display it in the Homepage's public view in the restricted view.
Another option is to change the Info label; for example, you may prefer Class Description or Class Overview.

Directions to Change the Class Description and Label:
  1. Display the Homepage
  2. Click the Edit Homepage link.
  3. Scroll to the Class Information section on the Edit Homepage.
  4. To change the label, enter the text of the label you want.
  5. Enter the text of the Class Info in the text box using plain text or HTML tags .
  6. Click the Submit button.

Return to Top

  • No labels