Requesting a Stellar Site

Requesting a Stellar Site

The individual requesting a class website must have an MIT Kerberos ID. Follow the steps below to request a Stellar site.

Directions to Request an Academic Site:

1. Go to the Stellar home page.
2. Click the Request a Stellar Site link.
3. Click the 'Academic Site' link.
4. Enter the Subject Number for your class; separate the course and class numbers with a period.
5. Select the class's term from the Semester dropdown list. (The term defines the dates displayed in the class calendar.)
6. Click the next button. Stellar checks the Registrar's list of classes for the class number you entered. If the class is on the list, the next page of the form is partially pre-filled with information supplied by the Registrar's office.
7. Complete the following:
   • Your Name: Enter your name.
   • Class Name: Enter the class name only if the text box is blank.
   • Instructors: Enter at least one instructor's user name to ensure that the instructor has access to the website as soon as it is created. (Otherwise you will need to add the instructor to the class.) Separate multiple user names with commas.
   • TAs: (Optional) Enter the user name(s) of one or more TAs. Separate multiple user names with commas.
   • Administrators: Your user name is automatically entered. You can enter additional administrator user names, separating them with commas.

     The Instructors, TAs, Administrators, and individual completing this form will receive a system email when the website is created, and these users will already be in their respective class user groups and able to edit the website.
   • Choose an access level for the website. (This can be changed after the website is created.)
   • (Optional) Choose a look for the website. (You can change this after the website is created.)
8. Click the Submit Request button.

If the instructor name you entered is also on the Registrar's list for this course, the site is created automatically. You usually receive an email with the URL within 30 minutes. If either the class number or the instructor name is not on the list, it may take two to three business days to create the website and send an email with the URL.

The individual requesting a class website must have an MIT Kerberos ID. Follow the steps below to request a Stellar site.

Directions to Request a Non-Academic Site:

1. Go to the Stellar home page.
2. Click the Request a Class Site link.
3. Click the Non-Academic/Project Site link. The Stellar Project Website Creation Request Form is displayed.
4. Enter a Short Name for the URL. The URL is case sensitive. It must be short and use only numbers, characters, hyphens, and underscore characters (no spaces, no special characters).
5. Select the term or semester from the dropdown list.
6. Click the 'next' button.
7. Complete the following (required fields are marked with an asterisk * ):
   • Your Name: Enter your name.
   • Website Title: Enter the title you want to appear on the Homepage. (This title can be edited after the website is created.)
   • Instructors: Enter at least one user name of an individual in charge of the website or project. Separate multiple user names with commas.
   • TAs: (Optional) Enter the user name(s) of one or more individuals who will be associated with the website and have administrative privileges. Separate multiple user names with commas.
   • Administrators: Your user name is automatically entered. You can enter additional administrator user names, separating them with commas.

     The Instructors, TAs, Administrators, and individual completing this form will receive a system email when the website is created, and these users will already be in their respective class user groups and able to edit the website.
   • Choose an access level for the website. (This can be changed after the website is created.)
   • (Optional) Choose a look for the website. (You can change this after the website is created.)
8. (Optional) Enter any additional comments for the website.
9. Click the Submit Request button. It can take a few days for the website to be created.

For each semester that you teach a class, you need a new class website. However, rather than re-creating the class content, you can import it from a prior class's website. You can import topics, documents, and/or assignments from the entire class or just a section.

Directions to Import Class Content:

1. Do one of the following:
   • Click Materials in the navigation bar. Then click the import content from another class website link.
   • Display the Homepage. Click the Website Settings link at the bottom of the navigation bar. Then click the Import Content link.
2. Select the class or section from which you want to import content.
3. Click the Submit button. The Import page now lists all the information that you can import from the selected class or section.
4. (Optional) Click the From link to display the class from which you are importing content in another browser window.
5. Select a destination for the imported documents (document = any content you import). Choose to:
   • Select this option to copy the content into corresponding Course Topics where Stellar will create new Topic headings, if required.
   • Select this option to copy the content into an existing Course Topic that you select from corresponding drop-down list.
   • Select this option to copy the content into a new Course Topic where you enter the new Topic name into the corresponding text field.
6. Select the documents to copy.
7. Select the items individually or click the Select All and Unselect All buttons to select all or none of the items.
8. Click the Import button.

   Imported documents and assignment have the schedule and due dates from the prior class. You need to edit the documents, change the dates, and select whether to post them on the schedule.

All class and section Homepages are viewable to the public, but most also have restricted access. Pages below the Homepage are usually accessible only to class members or the MIT community, but an instructor may decide to give a website world access. The instructor sets all levels of [Access Control] for a class website.

Whole World/Public Access

Anyone with internet can view a a class or section Homepage. The homepage displays the following information:

• Class name, number, and term
• Names of the instructors and teaching assistants
• Meeting types (e.g., lecture, lab), times, and locations
• Announcements posted by the faculty
• Image added by the instructor (if the instructor owns the copyright)
  

At the discretion of the instructor, the public may also view:

• Information about the class content
• A link to an OpenCourseWare website, if applicable, for the class
  

World access means that all visitors can read all course materials that are not restricted to class members for privacy and copyright protection. Restricted materials include the Participants list, discussions, homework submissions, and e-reserves from the MIT libraries. This view also displays the navigation bar, but its links are accessible only after logging in to the website.

Restricted Access

Typically a Homepage also has restricted access. This means that a user must log in to the website in order to:

• Activate the navigation bar links in order to access class content such as documents, assignments, discussions, homework, sections, and so on.
• View images added to the Homepage for which the instructor does not own the copyright.

You can request e-reserves when you request a class website, or you can complete the Electronic Reserves Request Form at any time. For more information on the program, visit Electronic Course Reserves.