Mahara

You can log in to Mahara using your central Viadrina account, just like with Moodle.

If you are already logged in to Moodle, click on the Mahara icon to the right of the email icon in the top navigation bar. The Mahara instance of the Viadrina will then open and you are already logged in.

You can also open Mahara yourself. In this case, you must log in with your Viadrina account. If you have any questions or problems logging in, please contact online-lehre@europa-uni.de.

There are various ways to customise Mahara to your individual requirements. To do this, click on the icon for your user profile at the top right and select "Settings / Settings" in the menu that pops up.

Edit your own profile
Edit your own profile so that your fellow students can get to know you. To do this, click on the icon for your user profile and select "Profile". An input mask for editing your personal details will open.

Mahara distinguishes between "Views" and "Collections". You can create your own content via "Views".

A view contains a selection of information in different formats to present to others. These can be texts, blog posts, videos or files. A collection represents several views that are linked to each other and have the same access authorisations.

There are three different view types:

• Your dashboard view: This is the page that only you see when you log in
.

• Your profile view: This is the page that other users see when they click on your name or profile picture.

• Views you have created yourself: Views that you have created and shared for yourself or for others
.

Dashboard view and profile view are always available and can only be edited, not deleted.

Create view
Create your own view in the following steps.

Select the "Create" menu item in the hamburger menu.
Select "Portfolios".
On the new page, you can choose between the dashboard view and the profile view.
Use "Create" to create a new view.

A new empty view opens. Here you have to define the title for the view and can optionally add a description. Now you have to confirm your entries with "Save". You can then add content to your view.

On the right-hand side there is now an icon bar with different functions:

• The plus symbol can be used to insert content into the view.

• Settings (e.g. title and description) can be changed using the cogwheel.

• The screen icon provides a preview function.

• The lock icon allows you to manage access rights.

• Clicking on the arrow takes you back to the overview of views and collections.

Add content to a view
You can add content to a view in the following ways:

• Open your view by selecting "Dashboard" in the hamburger navigation at the top right. This will take you to the Mahara homepage for logged-in users. Under "My Portfolios" you will find all the views and collections you have created.

• Click on the title of the desired view to open it. Click on the pencil icon to switch to edit mode.

• Click on the + icon to open a window in which you must select a page area in which you would like to place content. You can choose between the "Top" and "Bottom" areas.

• Select the "Top" area. An overview of the available content types now opens.

Content types are small designed content units that can be used to compile your view.

For example, if you want to provide a file for download in your view, select the content type "Files for download". An input mask opens. Click on "Files". The content type then expands and you have the option of uploading a file.

After you have clicked on "Save", a tile with your file will appear in your view.

You can freely position this tile in your view by clicking on the cross symbol in the top left-hand corner of the tile while holding down the mouse button. In this way, you can gradually compile and design a view with different elements. The screen icon can be used to preview the view as it will be seen by other users who have the corresponding authorisation.

A view can be activated for individuals, the seminar group (for peer feedback) or for the internet. It can also be activated for a specific period of time or indefinitely.

To do this, select a view via your dashboard and go to edit mode using the pencil icon. You can now use the lock icon to set who the view is shared with.

Using the "Advanced settings" menu, you can select various options, such as "Allow comments" or set a time window in which the view is available.

Use the "Share with" pull-down menu to select who you want to allow access to your view. This can be one or more contacts, which you can search for with the appropriate selection, or one or more groups, or even the entire Internet.

Delete views
Select the view you want to delete via your dashboard.
Click on the three dots on the right-hand side of the screen and select "Delete view".
If you confirm the subsequent confirmation prompt, the view will be deleted.

Multiple views can be combined via "Collections". A "collection" therefore consists of two or more views that are linked to each other.

Creating a collection
To create a collection, proceed as follows:

1. In the hamburger menu at the top right, select "Create" and then "Collection".

1. Enter the name and description for this collection in the new window.
2. Click on "Edit collection views".

 

1. In the new window, drag & drop the desired views to the right from the existing views on the left-hand side.
2. Use the arrows to define the order within the collection.
3. Clicking on X removes the view from the collection.
4. Clicking on "Done" saves the created collection.

 

Delete collection
You can access the delete function by clicking on the three dots at the bottom right of the collection tile. After confirming the subsequent confirmation prompt, the collection is deleted.

NOTE: Make regular backup copies
A deleted view cannot be restored. Make a backup copy regularly. This can be imported back into a Mahara system

All Mahara users can create groups and invite other users to work together on projects in their group. As the creator of the group, you can define the rights of the group members and customise the group via settings.

Groups can use forums for discussion, set up group file repositories and create shared views and collections. It is also possible to activate personal views or collections for a group.

Join a group
Click on the hamburger icon (top right) and select the "Engage" option in the menu and then "Groups". Here you can search for a group and join it. Enter the group name or click on the arrow to select a menu of all group filters.

The groups that match the search term are now displayed in the results list. You can join a group by clicking on "Join now".

Create a group
Use "Create group" to create a group.

First, the name of the group is requested and optionally also a description. Further settings allow you to define rules for membership, content, visibility and editability. These settings can also be adjusted after the group has been created.

Each group has its own sub-navigation. This can be used

• Members can be invited

• Forums can be created and managed

• Views and collections can be added and shared

• Blogs can be created and managed

• Tasks can be created and managed ("Plans" menu item)

• Upload files

• Use the "About" menu item to access the delete function to delete the group again.

Important: Once groups have been deleted, they cannot be restored!

Communicating in forums
Group members can communicate in forums within their group. You can access the list of forums in the "Forums" menu item of the respective group.

The "General discussion" forum is always available by default. New forums are created via "+ New forum". Existing forums can be edited by clicking on the pencil icon. This allows you to specify who can create new forum posts and whether there is moderation.

Exchange messages with users

In addition to in-group discussions within forums, you can also communicate from user to user in Mahara. You can only exchange messages between Mahara users via Mahara. You can access the message function by clicking on the letter symbol at the top right.

Groups cannot be selected as the recipient of a message. To send messages to an entire group, please use a forum within the respective group to communicate.

Tips for web-friendly text design

• Expressive (short) headings provide a better overview.

• Avoid long texts (text deserts). Divide your texts into short paragraphs that can be quickly grasped when reading across.
• Avoid PDFs: Insert text directly instead of using PDFs to make reading easier. PDFs should only be inserted if you want to provide additional text for reflection or for a project.
• If you want to enable feedback on individual sections, select the content type "Notes".
• Pictures speak louder than words. Use the power of visuals to create interest
.
• Copyright law also applies in Mahara, especially if your pages are authorised for the internet. Labelling requirements often apply to free image files.