Information Technology Services (ITS) is moving two years of data from the existing Vista system into the D2L system. The data being moved into D2L is course content, no student work or student information will be migrated into the D2L system from Vista.

Student accounts\will be added into the D2L system for Spring semester in January 2013.

Coursework is being moved en masse by Information Technology Services (ITS) in Athens. It will take up to 2-3 months for one entire semester's worth of data to be moved. Check this link for the dates when the data will be moved:

Yes. Check this page for more details:
http://www.maconstate.edu/d2l/trainingSignup.aspx

Where can I get step-by-step instructions on how to backup my students' coursework in Vista 8+?

It is recommended that instructors maintain their own backups of student data from their Vista 8 sections. After EACH GRADED EVENT (especially Midterms & Finals), it is suggested that all USG Vista instructors create backups of tools containing student coursework & information (including the Gradebook, Discussions, Vista e-mail, and Assessments). This is a "best practice" which comes in handy, not just to safeguard against "accidents," but to accommodate grade-challenges, and Incompletes, too.

PRESERVING STUDENT DATA & CONTENT FROM A SECTION

LEARNING MODULE

One of the most powerful tools in GeorgiaVIEW Vista is the Learning Module. A learning module is a tool where you may organize a single instructional unit, and may contain web pages, PDFs, videos, assessments, direct links to discussion topics and chat rooms. Almost any file type that may be displayed on the web may be placed in a Learning Module. Besides the advantage of organizing an instructional unit as a Learning Module, you can also export the entire Learning Module to be used in another section or used to restore the content to its original form.

To Export a Learning Module as a Content Package

1. From the Build tab, click on Learning Module link in the left side navigation menu.
2. From the list of Learning Modules, select the Learning Module(s) you wish to export. NOTE: You may select multiple Learning Modules at the same time.
3. Click the Export button at the bottom of the list of Learning Modules.
4. Your File Manager will open. Navigate to where you wish to place your exported file. Click the OK button.
5. Creation of the export file may take a while so be patient. Click the Return button once the process is complete.
6. To download the Learning Module export file to your hard drive once it has been created, click on your File Manager link and navigate to the directory you saved the export file. Click on the Action Link menu icon and click the Download link. You will now have a file that contains your Learning Module(s) that you can import into any other GeorgiaVIEW Vista section.

To Import a Learning Module Content Package

1. From the Build tab, Click on the Manage Course button in your Designer Tools area.
2. Click on the Imports link.
3. The File Manager will open. Upload your or select your Learning Module Content Package from the file listing.
4. Click Return when Import complete.

FILE MANAGER

To download all of your content files to your local computer...

1. Change your EDIT PAGING to some number higher than the number of files and folders you have in your File Manager.
2. Select the checkbox at the top left of your File Manager window (next to the word "Name") to select all of your files.
3. Scroll to the bottom of your file manager and click the ZIP button. (NOTE: You may see a yellow security bar if you are using Internet Explorer for your browser. Click on the yellow bar and choose to allow scripts to run).
4. Enter what you would like to call the file in the popup window. Click OK.
5. The named .zip file will appear in your file manager. Once it has been created, you may save this file to your hard drive by clicking on your File Manager link and navigating to the directory where you saved the export file. Click on the Action Link menu icon and click the Download link.
6. Save the file to your local computer.

QUIZZES (ASSESSMENTS)

To download quizzes & question test banks, we recommend that you use one of the third party software applications available. Either Respondus or Diploma will do this. Please check their documentation to learn how to export a quiz from Vista to your desktop.

If you do not have access to Respondus or Diploma...

1. From the Build tab, click on assessments.
2. Change the Edit Paging to a number higher than the number of assessments. Select the assessments you wish to backup, and click the Export button found at the bottom of the page.
3. Your File Manager will open. Navigate to where you wish to place your exported file. Click the OK button.
4. Creation of the export file may take a while so be patient. Click the Return button once the process is complete.
5. To download the Assessments export file to your hard drive once it has been created, click on your File Manager link and navigate to the directory you saved the export file. Click on the Action Link menu icon and click the Download link. You will now have a file that contains your Assessments that you can import into any other GeorgiaVIEW Vista section.

GRADEBOOK

The Gradebook may be downloaded and imported into Excel.

1. From the Teach tab, select Gradebook.
2. Click the Export to Spreadsheet button at the bottom of the gradebook.
3. Accept all of the default settings.
4. Click the Export button.
5. Choose to Open the file.
6. After you confirm that the downloaded information is correct, select File -> Save As.
7. Select the area on your computer where the file should be saved.
8. Name the file so that you will be able to identify it later.
9. Click Save.

DISCUSSIONS

To create a file containing all Discussion postings:

1. Go to the Discussions tool.
2. Click on the link All Topics.
3. Click the Expand All button.
4. If necessary, Edit Paging so that all posts are displayed. Do this by clicking the Edit Paging link on the upper right.
5. Click in the square box to the left of Subject to select all of the postings.
6. Click the Create Printable View button at the bottom of the list.
7. Click the Save as File button.
8. Choose to save the attachments, if necessary.
9. Select Save to Disk and click OK.
10. Select the area on your computer where the file should be saved.
11. Name the file so that you will be able to identify it later.
12. Click Save.

VISTA E-MAIL

You will need to create TWO files, one for messages received & one for messages sent.

To archive received messages:

1. Go to the Mail tool. By default, the Inbox messages will be visible. If necessary, Edit Paging so that all messages are displayed. Do this by clicking the Edit Paging link on the upper right.
2. Click in the square box to the left of Subject to select all of the messages.
3. Click the Create Printable View button at the bottom of the list.
4. Click the Save as File button.
5. Choose to save the attachments, if necessary.
6. Select Save to Disk and click OK.
7. Select the area on your computer where the file should be saved.
8. Name the file so that you will be able to identify it later.
9. Click Save.

To archive sent messages:

1. Click the Sent Mail link from the left frame.
2. Follow the above instructions from #3.

STUDENT ASSIGNMENTS

1. From the teach tab, click on the Assignments Dropbox
2. Click on the Graded tab.
3. Check the box next to title to select all submissions. (or you can select any individual submissions by selecting the box next to the assignment.)
4. Click the Create Printable View button at the bottom of the page.
5. Click the Save to File button at the top of the page.
6. Submissions are zipped up and saved in your My files area.
7. Access your My Files from either the File Manager under the Build tab or from your Content Manager tab on your My GeorgiaVIEW course listing page.
8. Down load zip file to your local computer hard drive and open with your zip program if needed.

MSC Vista will be decommissioned in December 2013. Faculty will no longer be able to teach in the system after Fall Semester 2012. On February 22, 2013 faculty and student access to the system will be disabled.

MSC faculty can log into our D2L system now. User account information will be given to faculty after they attend the D2L Overview training session.