Logging on

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. How do I Log On to the PDX Website
2. What does an email address look like?
3. I'm still having problems with logging on. Can you explain it some more, please?
4. I've forgotten my password. How can I get it back?

1. Q: How do I Log On to the PDX Website

   A: When logging-on for the first time, you must enter your entire email address in the space for email addresses and create a password for yourself to enter the workspace (HINT: Use the same password for the workspace that you use for your email so that you can always remember it). Every time you log on you will have to do this, unless you tell the machine you are working on to remember your address and password (to do this, you must 'check' the box underneath the log in space by clicking once inside the box. If you do, the next time you go to the webspace on this computer, beneath the log in boxes you will see a link asking if you would like to go directly to your workspace in the PDX. Click on it once and you will be automatically logged into the webspace. However, if you use a different computer from the one you first used to log on, you will still have to enter your entire email address and your password).

   
   

2. Q: What does an email address look like?

   A: An email address is composed of at least three different parts: the user's "handle" (example: kellyme, kellysmith, kme_961) , the @ sign (which tells the network to send it TO a place), the network link (examples: AOL, Juno, Comcast Cable), and the type of provider it is (example: for profits are give the designation "com", education institutions are given "edu"). Example of email addresses: kme_961@hotmail.com In the example above 'com' is the abbreviation of a for profit website versus the non-profit 'org' or educational 'edu'

   
   

3. Q: I'm still having problems with logging on. Can you explain it some more, please?

   A: Sure. I know it can be confusing, but once you have done it a few times it's a snap. When you logged on the PDX for the first time, you were asked to enter your full email address (e.g., kestrada@cheyney.edu) and a password. After you did so, you were taken to a web page that asked for some background information consisting of a password confirmation and your first and last names. You were also asked to join a project (i.e., History of Jazz). The next time you log on to the PDX, you should be taken directly to the PDX general information page. You will see 4 colored boxes: orange, blue, green and pink. IF YOU ARE TAKEN TO THE BACKGROUND PAGE AGAIN, YOU'VE LOGGED ON INCORRECTLY!!! YOU MUST USE THE EXACT SAME EMAIL AND PASSWORD AS YOU USED THE FIRST TIME IN ORDER TO LOG ON TO THE PDX. Some people fill in the wrong password or forget characters, or simply mis-type something. If just one of the characters of your email address or your password is typed in wrong, the PDX thinks you are a new user and takes you to the background page, and asks you to confirm your email, etc. IF THIS HAPPENS DO NOT FILL IN THE INFORMATION ON THE BACKGROUND PAGE AGAIN. Using the BACK button on your browser, re-enter the correct information (full email address and password that you used the first time you logged on) on the PDX log in page. Now that you are a member of a Project in PDX, every time you log on, you will be taken to a greeting web page with the 4 colored boxes. In the orange box are some general controls (editing your profile for example). In the blue box are posted any PDX website announcements. In the green box, you will see the name of the project(s) to which you belong in blue and underlined. Click on this link and you will be taken to the virtual 'classroom'. A blue toolbar will appear at the top of the webvpage with the following menu items: Calendar, Communicate, Documents, Members, and Project. Put your cursor over each of these functions and a pull-down menu of items to choose from will appear. Take a look around! Your instructor will show you how to use each for class participation.

   
   

4. Q: I've forgotten my password. How can I get it back?

   A: You can request the PDX system to email you your password at any time. Try logging in -- Enter your email address and use anything in the password field. The system will return a page that says,

   " The password you typed doesn't match what we have in the database. If you think you made a typo, please back up using your browser and try again.

   If you've forgotten your password, you can ask this server to email it to you."

   The last sentence is a link. Click on it and the PDX will send your password to the email address associated with your account.