User Guide for Students

On this screen you will see the list of assigned activities in card format:

• Filtering: Use the tabs to see "In progress", "Future", or "Past" activities.
• Access: Click on the activity name or image to enter the virtual classroom.
• Order: You can sort your activities by name or by last access date.

At the top you will find the Navigation Bar:

• Personal area: To access your personal control panel.
• My courses: Direct access to the list of activities you participate in.

In the Personal Area you will find two key tools for your organization:

• Timeline: Shows upcoming due activities (next 7 days). You can sort them by date or search by name.
• Calendar: View important events and a button to create a "New event" for yourself.

Within the edit form (top part), configure the following options:

• Username / New password: You can change your access credentials if necessary.
• First name(s) / Last name(s): Verify that they are spelled correctly.
• Email address: Make sure it is an active account where you receive notifications.
• City / Country: Select your current location.
• Time zone: Very important. Select the time zone of your actual location so that due dates are correctly displayed in your local time.

Scroll down the form to access the User picture section and additional fields. Here you can:

• Manage your photo: View your Current image. To change it, use the New image area by dragging a file or selecting it from your device.
• Additional names: Complete this optional field if you have a middle name or prefer to be called differently.
• Other fields: Fill in any relevant optional information requested in the form.

Upon entering an academic activity from "My courses", the first thing you will see is the virtual classroom main screen. This screen is divided into three fundamental areas that will allow you to navigate and access all the content of your activity:

• Top bar: Shows the Virtual Campus logo, links to "Personal area" and "My courses", notification icons (bell with red badge indicating pending items), messaging, and your user menu.
• Course navigation bar: Below the header, a dark blue strip with access to "Course", "Settings", "Participants", "Grades", "Activities", and "More".
• Left side panel: Contains the navigation tree with all the sections and resources of the activity organized hierarchically.

In the central area of the main screen, the diploma banner is presented with the activity name and a representative image, followed by the "Resources" section where the materials organized by topic are displayed. This is your welcome screen and starting point to access all contents.

• Diploma title: Displayed in a dark blue box with a gold border, clearly identifying the activity you are in.
• "Resources" section: Includes a yellow check icon indicating completion status and a "Collapse all" button to manage the display of subsections.

As you scroll down the main screen, you will find the quick access modules and the "Induction" section. The quick access modules are cards with icons, descriptions, and action buttons that provide support throughout your academic activity:

• Tracking: Allows you to directly contact the academic tracking team. Shows personalized attention hours (Monday to Thursday from 08:00 to 16:00 hrs; Friday from 08:00 to 14:00 hrs) and a button with the email of your tracking coordinator.
• Library: Access to the digital repository with information sources specialized in Social Security. Press the "VIEW RESOURCES" button to explore the available catalog.
• Tutorials: Step-by-step guides to navigate the educational platform. Press the "VIEW GUIDES" button to access visual aids and user manuals.

In the "Induction" section, all the initial activities you must complete before advancing to the academic modules are concentrated. Each sub-item shows its completion status and can be expanded by clicking on it. The elements you will find within Induction are:

• Explore the Virtual Campus: Interactive guide to familiarize yourself with the environment tools.
• Academic regulations: Normative document with rights, responsibilities, and institutional processes.
• Introduction forum: Space to introduce yourself to your classmates and teachers.
• Diagnostic assessment: Instrument to identify your prior knowledge level.
• Initial perception survey: Questionnaire about your expectations and experience.
• About the program: Detailed information about the academic activity.
• Compliance agreement: Formal commitment to the activity rules.
• Induction session: Informational welcome session to the program.

Navigation methods: To move through the activity contents, you have two main methods that you can combine according to your preference:

• Vertical scrolling: Scroll down the main page to see all resources and sections sequentially and continuously. It is ideal for getting a complete overview of the activity.
• Side navigation menu: Located on the left side of the screen, allows you to directly access any specific section without scrolling. Click on the dropdown arrows to expand or collapse each section. You can close this panel with the "X" icon to maximize the content area.

Access the "Explore the Virtual Campus" section from the side menu or by scrolling on the main page. This section offers an interactive guide designed to familiarize you with all the virtual environment tools before starting your academic activities. It is the recommended first step for new platform users.

• Click the "Start" button to begin the interactive exploration.
• You will tour the main functions: how to navigate, where to find resources, how to participate in forums, and how to submit assignments.
• Upon completion, the system will automatically mark this activity as completed.

You can view it directly at this link: View interactive presentation.

Continue with the "About the program" section. Here you will find key information about the objectives, methodology, duration, teacher profiles, and evaluation criteria of the academic activity. This presentation will give you a complete vision of what you can expect from the program and what is expected of you as a participant.

• Use the blue "Next" button located at the bottom to advance through the informative presentation.
• Read each slide carefully, as it contains details about accreditation, live sessions, and required submissions.
• Upon concluding the presentation, the system will register the activity as completed.

The "Academic Regulations" section contains the normative document that governs coexistence and academic processes within the platform. It is essential that you read it before starting your activities, as it details your rights, responsibilities, and CIESS institutional procedures. The document is presented in an integrated PDF viewer that allows you to consult it directly without downloading it:

• Page navigation: Use the left/right arrows in the viewer's top toolbar to move forward or backward page by page. You can also see the current page number and total (e.g., "1 / 8").
• Zoom: Adjust the zoom level with the "+" and "-" buttons to read comfortably. The current percentage is shown in the bar (e.g., "67%").
• Rotate: If the document appears in the wrong orientation, use the circular arrow icon to rotate it.
• Search: Use the magnifying glass icon to search for specific text within the document.
• Download: Press the down arrow icon to save a copy of the regulations on your device.
• Print: Use the printer icon if you want a physical copy of the document.

The "Introduction forum" is the first space for interaction with your classmates and teachers. Your participation is essential to build community and start the collaborative experience. Upon entering the forum, you will see a header with the title "INTRODUCTION FORUM" and a list of questions designed for you to introduce yourself:

• State your full name, academic background, and occupation.
• What are your expectations for the course/diploma.
• What are the biggest challenges you have experienced when studying online and how you have faced them.
• What are the main reasons that motivated you to enroll.
• What additional resources or support you consider would be favorable to improve your learning experience.

To participate in the forum, click the "Add a new discussion topic" button. A form will open with two mandatory fields you must complete:

• Subject: Write a descriptive title for your presentation (for example, "Presentation - [Your name]"). This field is mandatory and is indicated with a red warning icon if empty.
• Message: Use the rich text editor to answer the forum questions. The editor includes formatting tools: bold, italics, image insertion, links, lists, text alignment, and more. A word counter at the bottom will help you verify the length of your message.

Once you have drafted your message, review the content and then press the "Post to forum" button to publish your participation. If you want to discard what you wrote, you can use the "Cancel" button. The "Advanced" button gives you access to additional options such as attaching files or scheduling the post.

• After publishing, you can also reply to your classmates' presentations by clicking the "Reply" link below each message.
• Use the "Search forums" field to locate specific topics or participants.

The "Diagnostic assessment" is an instrument that identifies your prior knowledge level on the program topics. Its results do not affect your final grade; they are used exclusively for teachers to adjust teaching strategies according to the group's needs. Check the status of the assessment and, if you have been selected to answer it, follow the on-screen instructions.

The "Initial perception survey" collects information about your expectations, previous online education experience, and support needs. Like the diagnostic assessment, your answers are confidential and help the academic team improve the learning experience. It is important that you check the survey status, as in some cases a message will appear indicating if you have been selected to answer it.

Before taking any assessment, carefully read the "Instructions" page. Here, the assessment objective, important recommendations (such as maintaining concentration and using prior knowledge), and the deadlines (opening and closing dates) are detailed. Respecting these deadlines is essential for your assessment to be registered correctly.