Frequently-Asked Questions

Here you'll find answers to common questions about using MnROC. Select from the links below or simply scroll down the page to view answers to all the questions.

1. If I sign on as a guest, can I still see all of the materials in the repository?

2.  If I can see everything as a guest, why should I become a contributor?

3.  Am I entering a Course or a Program?

4.  How do I enter my course materials?

5.  Where can I get more help creating a wiki.

6.  How can I complete a course/program entry I started but didn't finish?

7.  How do I include old course materials if I don’t have an electronic copy?

8.  How do I get materials on the Internet if we don’t have tech support?

9.  Can I scan pages of a text book to include in my course materials?

10.  I just entered a course/program. Why can’t I see it in a search?

11.  How do I earn CEUs?

12.  How do I print my CEU certificate?

13.  I’m stuck! Who can I call?

If I sign on as a guest, can I still see all of the materials in the repository? 
Yes. Guests are able to search on all active keywords and see information for all active courses in the repository.

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If I can see everything as a guest, why should I become a contributor? 
Adult Basic Education and WorkForce Training needs are similar across the state. Many instructors are part-time and some centers are struggling to keep up with client needs using limited resources. It's difficult to free up those resources to create new coursework and to keep up with technology. By sharing resources, we can provide all centers with access to training materials and programs they might not otherwise be able to provided to their clients. Contributors can also earn CEUs by organizing, posting and sharing their materials online through MnROC.

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Am I entering a Course – or a Program? 
Most contributors will be entering stand-alone courses or workshops. You can enter a program when you need to create a link between more than one course. (E.g., if you have a FastTRAC grant project with several courses leading to a certificate, you will probably enter the courses individually, but then enter high-level program information to link those courses together. That allows someone looking at your material to see that these three courses are interrelated.

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How do I enter my course materials? 
You enter syllabus information into the repository, but your actual course materials will be stored locally and a URL (link to that information) will be entered along with the syllabus information. Guests will use that URL to locate your course materials. You can either get your IT support team to help you post the files to and open location on your organization's server, or you can post the files yourself to a Wiki or other online location. See the wiki information in the "Contributors Before You Start Guide" under MnROC Templates and Examples, for more information.

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Where can I get more help creating a wiki. 
If you need more help than you're finding in the McROC resource center, check with www.TheMLC.org. They periodically offer wiki workshops.

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I started to enter a course/program, but wasn’t able to finish. How can I complete the one I started? 
If you started entering a course, workshop or program into MnROC, and saved at least the first page, that information still exists in the repository. Log in with your contributor ID and select Modify Programs or Courses/Workshops.

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How do I include old course materials if I don’t have an electronic copy? 
The best way to include them - in a way that is Section 508 compliant - is to rebuild them electronically using a word processor like Microsoft Word. That will allow screen readers to read the text. You can scan the documents, but scanning a document creates a picture of the document and screen readers are not able to interpret the image.

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How do I get my materials on the Internet if we don’t have a support person? 
You can create a simple wiki and upload your documents to the wiki space. See Wiki information in the MnROC Contributors' Before You Start Guide. If that option doesn't work for you, contact the MnROC Administrator at: 651-259-7595.

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Can I scan pages of a text book to include in my course materials? 
It's not recommended for two reasons: 1) Scanned images are not Section 508 compliant - screen readers are not able to read text from a scanned page. 2) Depending on the material, you may be violating a copyright. It's probably better to provide complete information about the source material which then allows someone to track down the source and obtain the materials directly from the book. For more information on copyright and plagiarism, use these links and tools:

There are different formats for citing sources depending on the field of study. The standard for this repository is MLA. This link for the Citation Machine, www.citationmachine.net, will help you automatically format your source citations just by filling in the blanks. After you click the link, there are just four simple steps:

• Click MLA in the left column.
• Click the source type in the left column (book, magazine, online, etc.)
• Fill in the blanks and click Submit.
• Copy the citation text that is created by the tool, and paste and format it in your own resources document.

For information to help you teach students about plagiarism and proper use of citation see the University of Minnesota newsletter on plagiarism.

To help you understand what types of materials need to be properly cited and how to avoid plagiarism, see the University of Minnesota - explanation of sources that need to be cited.

Remember: graphics, photos and other images are protected by copyright and must also be properly credited.

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I just entered a course/program. Why can’t I see it in a search? 
When you finish entering information for a course, workshop or program, it is submitted in a "pending activation" status. An administrator will review the information to make sure it's appropriate material for an ABE or WorkForce Center, then change the status to "Active." If the administrator has questions about the material you entered, you may be contacted before the status is changed and the course/program is available for searching and viewing.

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How do I earn CEUs? 
After a program or course you entered has been activated, return to the repository and click "Modify Programs, Courses or Workshops." Select the course you entered. The field on the right will be activated and will allow you to request and print your CEU certificate.

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How do I print my CEU certificate? 
Sign on with your contributor ID and click the "Modify Programs, Courses and Workshops" button. Select Modify on the course for which you would like to request CEUs. Click the Request CEUs button on the right. You will be instructed on how to fill out the form and print your CEU certificate.

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I’m stuck! Who can I call? 
If you have a question that isn't answered here, or with the additional MnROC resources, contact the MnROC Administrator at: 651-259-7595.

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