This site is rarely updated. benbrophy.com is more up-to-date. - Ben
Permission Denied in Stellar
We've added a new access denied page to Stellar for people who are successfully logged in, but aren't on the access list for the class. If they failed to log in at all, they get the old page which has tips about logging in and using certificates.
Example: Barbara teaches 5.356 with Joe and Maria on the membership list.
- Dorothy is an MIT student and has logged into Stellar but when she tries to get into 5.356 she gets the permission denied page, which gives her the option to email Barbara to request access.
- Douglas is is from Miami University and has no Stellar account. He tries to access 5.356 and gets the old permission denied page that explains about certificates and such.
- Joe's certificate is in great shape, he can log in no problem.
- Maria has an old certificate that's no good. She fails to log in and gets the same permission denied/certificate info page that Douglas saw.
The main goal for the new page is to make sure that Dorothy doesn't have to call the help desk, explain that her certificate is fine, have them check and see if she's on the membership list, and be told that should contact the instructor. Instead she can contact the instructor immediately.
The new page is live now - and it's been used to request access from instructors 5 or 6 times already.
Here's a sampling of messages I've seen going to instructors.
I was wondering if I could obtain access to the Stellar site for the class called Fields, Forces and Flows in Biological Systems. I am a Master's Student in Electrical Engineering and I am very interested in this class. I would like to see if it matches my expectations and if I should take it in the Fall. Thank you!
I pre-registered for this class for Fall of 2005 and would like to get a head start by looking at the materials available. I think it will provide a good opportunity to see what the class is about and help me make an informed decision about my classes.
I would like to request access just to understand what computational and system biology course is about. Hope that you would allow me to view this website for about a week. Thank you.
What this says to me is that not only are we saving the help desk from getting calls, but we're making it easier for students in interact with instructors, and take action further their own learning.