POLIS

Please note:
POLIS will no longer be supported after the last day for grade submissions at the end of the Spring '08 semester. Read more ...

Description
POLIS (Project for Online Instructional Support) is an online support tool that provides an instructional resource for students on a course-by-course basis. This open source, mini-Course Management System (CMS) aids in the delivery of more effective teaching and learning through integrative and adaptable instructional technology.

Key Advantages
For instructors:

• Allows you to create course sites that offer content, quizzes and self assessments, and discussion resources
• Allows development of an online learning environment that encourages student interaction and collaboration
• Allows you to efficiently manage and coordinate administrative tasks, freeing up classroom time for more teaching and learning activities

For students:

• Allows students access to course materials anytime, anywhere
• Allows collaboration with other students
• Allows students to engage in course-related activities in a single environment
• Teaches students new technology skills

Key Features

• Content area where you can easily organize learning activities, reading materials, assignment instructions and other instructional resources for access by students
• Discussion board where instructors and students can discuss course-related material and respond to reflective questions posed by you or your students
• Quizzes created within Units on your course home site are multiple choice instruments. Each student's responses are stored and can be reviewed here
• Self-Assessments ask students to evaluate their own performance on the objectives of a unit using Likert scales

Innovative uses
Innovations for some Schedule of Classes courses:

• Using the Bibliography and Webliography tools, users can add and delete resources to the course site. The Bibliography tool simply lists resources while the Webliography tool contains links to electronic resources
• POLIS users may add a threaded discussion to their course home site. Users may use the POLIS Discussion tool to post notes to their class or group, or to create a space for discussion among students. Every participant of the class, including students, may create new topics

Getting Started
Go to POLIS, and select Build Courses under UA Instructors. If you are affiliated with The University of Arizona, select The University of Arizona. Instructors not affiliated with The University of Arizona may also use POLIS, but should select Other Institution to create a POLIS home site. All administrators, students and teaching assistants will need a UA NetID to use POLIS.

Decide which tools and capabilities within Polis will be used for your class.
You can post information about assignments, announcements and important links, such as to Word files, PowerPoint presentations and PDF files. Essay Lesson is an interactive, flexible teaching protocol that can serve as a simple drill or as a more sophisticated dialogue. Quizzes and Self-Assessments may be created within Units on your course home site. You can add Discussions, as well, and also allow students to submit bibliographic references to a common list. This tool supports forms for book, chapter, periodical and "other" references. Other tools include: Webliography Builder, Click Mail and Group WorkBench. POLIS users may use POLIS Private Reserves and/or the UA Library’s eReserve system to store and access documents