Difference between pages "Faculty and Staff - Getting Started" and "Create a MCLA Form"

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(Step 4 - Getting Familiar with Technology)
 
(Dynamic Forms vs Microsoft Forms – Which one should I choose?)
 
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=MCLA Supported Form Platforms=
  
==Step 1 - Activate Your MCLA Account==
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If your department is looking to create a form to collect information, its helpful to understand which MCLA supported options are available to you. This brief description will help to illustrate what those supported options are and can be used as a guide to help find the right platform to suit your needs.
  
Employees will need their 'A' numbers to start the account creation process. This 'A' number is also known as the Banner ID number which can be obtained from the Human Resources office. Phone: (413) 662-5596. Once this is obtained you can use this number to follow these steps for setup:
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=='''Microsoft Forms through Office 365'''==
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Microsoft Forms is now available through Office 365. This option enables users to create and distribute their own forms using their own accounts. Designing a form with Microsoft Forms is very simple but has limited options. Distribution is restricted to internal users only. Since the forms and collected data from that form is stored on individual accounts, the retention of that information is also limited. This option would be recommended for short one-time surveys or polls but should not be used as a departmental form that requires long term availability. For an overview on how to use Microsoft Forms, please visit https://support.office.com/en-us/forms
  
*1. Go to http://techhelp.mcla.edu/banner
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=='''Event Sign Ups through Microsoft Teams'''==
*2. Enter your ID in the "MCLA ID (A#):" field (Ensure you include the A)
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If your organizing an event and would like attendees to sign up and reserve their seat, you may consider looking at creating a Microsoft Teams event with the attendee registration. This feature uses both MS Teams and Forms together so you can customize a registration form so you can gather whatever information in need from an attendee in advance. For information on how to setup a Teams meeting with attendee registration, please visit Schedule a meeting with registration in Microsoft Teams - Microsoft Support
*3. Enter your birth date (MMDDYY format) in the "PIN" (If the DOB does not work, please call our administrative systems department at 413-662-5295)
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Dynamic Forms
*4. You will then be asked to set a new PIN of your choice.
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MCLA has adopted Dynamic Forms as its official paperless workflow solution. Dynamic Forms is a fully hosted, powerful web application which also allows non-technical users to take any paper-based form and quickly build a sophisticated interactive form that can be published to the internet. Dynamic Forms provides single and multiple electronic signature functionality along with a basic workflow feature to enable document processing.
*5. Once your PIN has been setup, you will be logged in to the main menu.
 
*6. Click the 'Claim Your MyMCLA Account' link.
 
*7. Follow the account claim procedure, setting a password at the end which should be a combination of numbers as well as letters.
 
*8. Confirm activation is complete by logging into http://portal.mcla.edu with your newly setup MCLA account then open your MCLA email.
 
  
You do not have to be on campus to activate your account. The MCLA ID and password is used for authentication purposes for services such as campus computer access, wireless network access and MCLA email. Get familiar with the user [[Policies and Forms | policies]] that you must agree upon during this MCLA account activation. You can refer back to them on our [[Policies and Forms | policy page]].
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=='''Dynamic Forms vs Microsoft Forms – Which one should I choose?'''==
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Microsoft Forms are useful when there is a need to self-publish a form. We usually recommend it for quick ‘one-off’ needs that have a limited lifespan. Examples include event sign-ups, quick surveys that have an end date, or polls. Its also important to note that although form creators have the ability to share control of the form, the form is always associated with the form designer’s Microsoft account. We do not have as much granular control with transitioning a form from one owner to the other, especially if the form owner’s account is disabled due to a staff transition.
  
==Step 2 - Set up Voice Mail==
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If your need has a more official nature to it where it’s part of a ‘business process’ its important to consider Dynamic Forms.  The form is stored in a dynamic forms ‘organization’ that can be administered centrally. We also have a toolset that enables data to be captured and automatically stored in a Banner record.  DF is really good for forms that require a workflow, custom email notifications, and/or digital signatures (internal and external users). IT will also help with the form design where you can submit your design via this [https://nextgensso.com/sp/startSSO.ping?PartnerIdpId=http://sts.mcla.edu/adfs/services/trust&TargetResource=https%3a%2f%2fdynamicforms.ngwebsolutions.com%2fSubmit%2fStart%2f7a3655a7-c008-43a5-9761-4fc0fbef045d form]:
  
*Set up your telephone and voice mail. Any requests relating to the MCLA telecom system should be directed to the Help Desk at 413-662-5276. 
 
  
*A guide has been provided to help you set up your [[Voicemail_Setup|voicemail]] located in the [[Telecommunications]] section.
 
  
*By default, voicemail is sent directly to your college e-mail. If you would like to change this setting, please contact the Help Desk.
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If you have a significant amount of forms to design, there is training available so you can self publish your own DF forms. Many departments just opt to submit their requests through this form or edit requests to the helpdesk.
 
 
==Step 3 - Set up Your Computer==
 
 
 
*[[Computer Support Services | Computer Purchasing]] - Any new computer or computer related purchases for your department must go through [[Computer Support Services]]. [[Computer Support Services]] can be contacted by phone at (413)-662-5510. 
 
 
 
*Computer Installs - Computer hardware or software installs are coordinated through the [[MCLA Computer HelpDesk]]. Please contact the [[MCLA Computer HelpDesk | HelpDesk]] at (413)-662-5276 for any requests. 
 
 
 
*Setup connection to the [[Connecting_to_BlazerNet|BlazerNet]] Wireless Network– The wireless network is available in various buildings on campus. For instructions on how to configure your laptop to access the [[Connecting_to_BlazerNet|BlazerNet]] wireless network see the[[Network | network section here]].
 
 
 
==Step 4 - Getting Familiar with Technology==
 
 
 
Many answers to frequently asked questions about the computer resources available at MCLA can be found on on this site. The following is a brief list of the technology services available to you as an MCLA employee.
 
 
 
*[[Office 365 | MCLA Portal (Office 365)]] -  MCLA has a single-sign on portal site that is integrated with Office 365.  It is the gateway to email, calendaring, announcements and discussion areas. To access [[Office 365]] you must go through the account activation found on step one. The website to the portal is:
 
 
 
*https://portal.mcla.edu
 
 
 
*[[Student Information System | Banner]] (Faculty Only) – Banner allows access to the student record system through the web. This includes access to class rosters and also includes the ability to e-mail your whole class. 
 
 
 
*[[Canvas]] (Faculty Only) – [[Canvas]] is an online course area available to faculty members. Course areas are set up by faculty request at the start of the semester. This request will also enroll students who have registered for the course. This is possible only if you have had Canvas training through the [[Academic Technology]] center, or if you've had prior experience with [[Canvas]]. 
 
 
 
*[[Technology Enhanced Facilities | Classroom Technology]] – To become familiar with classroom technology please visit the [[Technology Enhanced Facilities]] section.
 
 
 
==Step 5 - Using Technology in your Course (Faculty Only)==
 
 
 
The MCLA [http://www.mcla.edu/About_MCLA/admin/academic-technology/index Academic Technology] Center is a resource to provide faculty development, consultation, and collaborative partnerships to support the use of technology in teaching and research initiatives at MCLA. Faculty members are encouraged to meet with the [http://www.mcla.edu/About_MCLA/admin/academic-technology/index Academic Technology] department. The [http://www.mcla.edu/About_MCLA/admin/academic-technology/index Academic Technology] department is located in Murdock Hall, second floor. They can also be reached by phone at 413-662-5397.
 

Revision as of 21:15, 29 September 2023

MCLA Supported Form Platforms

If your department is looking to create a form to collect information, its helpful to understand which MCLA supported options are available to you. This brief description will help to illustrate what those supported options are and can be used as a guide to help find the right platform to suit your needs.

Microsoft Forms through Office 365

Microsoft Forms is now available through Office 365. This option enables users to create and distribute their own forms using their own accounts. Designing a form with Microsoft Forms is very simple but has limited options. Distribution is restricted to internal users only. Since the forms and collected data from that form is stored on individual accounts, the retention of that information is also limited. This option would be recommended for short one-time surveys or polls but should not be used as a departmental form that requires long term availability. For an overview on how to use Microsoft Forms, please visit https://support.office.com/en-us/forms

Event Sign Ups through Microsoft Teams

If your organizing an event and would like attendees to sign up and reserve their seat, you may consider looking at creating a Microsoft Teams event with the attendee registration. This feature uses both MS Teams and Forms together so you can customize a registration form so you can gather whatever information in need from an attendee in advance. For information on how to setup a Teams meeting with attendee registration, please visit Schedule a meeting with registration in Microsoft Teams - Microsoft Support Dynamic Forms MCLA has adopted Dynamic Forms as its official paperless workflow solution. Dynamic Forms is a fully hosted, powerful web application which also allows non-technical users to take any paper-based form and quickly build a sophisticated interactive form that can be published to the internet. Dynamic Forms provides single and multiple electronic signature functionality along with a basic workflow feature to enable document processing.

Dynamic Forms vs Microsoft Forms – Which one should I choose?

Microsoft Forms are useful when there is a need to self-publish a form. We usually recommend it for quick ‘one-off’ needs that have a limited lifespan. Examples include event sign-ups, quick surveys that have an end date, or polls. Its also important to note that although form creators have the ability to share control of the form, the form is always associated with the form designer’s Microsoft account. We do not have as much granular control with transitioning a form from one owner to the other, especially if the form owner’s account is disabled due to a staff transition.

If your need has a more official nature to it where it’s part of a ‘business process’ its important to consider Dynamic Forms. The form is stored in a dynamic forms ‘organization’ that can be administered centrally. We also have a toolset that enables data to be captured and automatically stored in a Banner record. DF is really good for forms that require a workflow, custom email notifications, and/or digital signatures (internal and external users). IT will also help with the form design where you can submit your design via this form:


If you have a significant amount of forms to design, there is training available so you can self publish your own DF forms. Many departments just opt to submit their requests through this form or edit requests to the helpdesk.