GSLIS Gateway: Technology Lab

TOR Info

The Technology Orientation Requirement, or TOR, is a learning tool used to familiarize incoming GSLIS students with technology skills essential to their new career path.  It is a requirement for all part-time and full-time GSLIS students. While non-degree students and those auditing courses are not required to complete the TOR, it is strongly recommended that they do so.

The TOR consists of two parts; the first acquaints you with useful online resources, search techniques, and Simmons College technology. The second requires you to build a simple webpage. A packet containing your login information for the Simmons network and e-mail will be mailed to you prior to Orientation.

Part 1 of the TOR consists of five quizzes completed through Simmons eLearning that are automatically graded. You will be able to check your results immediately within Simmons eLearning, but official confirmation of results will be sent out through Simmons email on the specified date. Please do not call or email the Tech Lab for your results or confirmation before this date.  TOR Pt. 1 will be available to complete online before orientation; reviewing TOR Pt. 1 before orientation would be helpful in case you have questions before the deadline.

To help you with TOR Part 2, the webpage portion, the GSLIS Tech Lab offers workshops specifically geared toward giving you the tools you need to complete this requirement. 

The schedule of TOR Part 2 workshops for the Fall 2007 semester will be released shortly.

For assistance with TOR Part 1, we have a workshop that will cover the basics of GSLIS specific technology. It is a good refresher and introduction for students before your classes start. Session dates for this workshop will also be released soon.

To sign up for any of our TOR workshops, please visit our workshop sign-up page here: http://gslis.simmons.edu/signup

If you have never worked with HTML, we strongly suggest that you try to attend one of these workshops. In addition, self-paced online tutorials on HTML are available through Element K (http://my.simmons.edu/gslis/communities/new/tech.shtml#training).

And if you'd prefer a little additional assistance, the Technical Reference Assistants (TRAs) at the GSLIS Tech Lab can help you as you work on your webpage. TRAs staff the lab at all times, and there is no need to make an appointment. You can find Tech Lab hours here (http://my.simmons.edu/gslis/techlab/hours.shtml). The Tech Lab staff recommends that you begin TOR Part 2 early. The Part 2 Assessment will not be available in Simmons eLearning until after the deadline for Part 1 has passed, but everything you need to know to get started with Part 2 will be covered in the workshops or in the materials within Simmons eLearning.

Please remember that you must finish and turn in (via Simmons eLearning (http://my.simmons.edu/elearning/) both portions of the TOR on or by their respective due dates. If you do not, you will not be able to register for the following semester. For Part 1, you have five attempts to pass Assessments 1-5 and one attempt for Assessments 6-9. For Part 2, you have one attempt to complete Assessment 10.

If you do not complete the TOR on time, send an email to gslis_tor@simmons.edu and ask for access to the TOR so you can complete it. After you finish, you must send another email to gslis_tor@simmons.edu to notify staff that you have completed the requirement. If you have completed the TOR successfully, you will be allowed to register 10 business days from the date that you sent the second email.

Useful TOR links:

http://my.simmons.edu/elearning/ (Simmons eLearning home page)
http://my.simmons.edu/gslis/communities/new/tech.shtml#y (New Students Community – Technology page “Using Your Y Drive and Your Network Space” section)