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This Help document addresses the FirstClass Desktop which provides a summary view of all FirstClass features that you have been given access to.
There are two ways in which you can access FirstClass:
The Client Interface – for those that want to send and receive a lot of emails, can be accessed via Email: FC Client at http://intranet.bso.ac.uk or via the Intranet link at www.bso.ac.uk. It gives you full access to all of the features of FirstClass, including its many personal preferences. However, before it is available for you to use outside of the BSO, it requires a special program to first be downloaded and
then correctly installed, and configured, on whichever computer you want to use it on. It can be accessed via the FirstClass Client Download Area link within the ICT Resources link at http://intranet.bso.ac.uk.
The Web Interface – for those mainly interested in reading what others have sent, can be accessed via Email: FC via Web at http://intranet.bso.ac.uk or via the Intranet link at www.bso.ac.uk. It gives you easy access to many of the features of FirstClass from any computer anywhere without requiring you to have to install any software, but it can be cumbersome to use.
The FirstClass Suite of Applications
FirstClass has several applications within it. The main ones are a personal MailBox (for personal emails), a Calendar and a collection of Conferences (or Forums) for collaboration within specific groups. These are presented to you via what is called the FirstClass Desktop.
The Conferences on your FirstClass Desktop enable you to access all relevant information about a particular topic, or to communicate with a group of colleagues. These are of two main types: firstly, ones that function essentially as electronic noticeboards (they contain news, announcements or other essential information); and, secondly, ones that invite you to participate in discussions with your peers. The BSO does not email you personally with information that is more appropriately posted in a Conference where one has been provided specifically for the purpose of communicating with all of your colleagues simultaneously.
The FirstClass Client Desktop can be viewed in a number of different ways. The default desktop view is view by icon. In this view, FirstClass applications are visible at the top and to the left of the main part of the screen, while the screen below and to the right of these contains the conferences that have been provided specifically for the purpose of communicating with all of your colleagues simultaneously.
These conferences are arranged in columns. The left-most column is the most general and the further you move to the right the more specific the conferences become. So, for example, information relevant to all BSO staff and students will be found in the left-most column while information relevant to a particular category of staff or a particular student year group will be in a column nearer the right-hand side of the screen. (You may re-arrange these icons to locations of your choice, or view them as a list, but the above logic will then no longer apply). For example a Mixed Mode Year 1 Desktop:
The FirstClass Web Desktop contains the same information but it is presented via a different interface. For example a Mixed Mode Year 1 Desktop:
Conferences
A Conference can be described as a public or group mailbox, a place where users can exchange information online and where group discussions may take place on one or many topics. Conferences, as well as containing Messages posted by other users, may also contain topic specific areas known as Subconferences. Alternatively they could contain other FirstClass elements such as Calendars or Folders.
You must open a conference to be able to read the messages posted to it. Only staff who are responsible for Conferences are permitted to delete messages that appear in them (since a message may not yet have been read by all of your colleagues) although you can delete messages that you posted there.
Folders
FirstClass allows you to organise your Desktop via the use of Folders. Like Conferences, Folders may be divided into Sub Folders.
Common Desktop Elements
All BSO FirstClass Desktops contain the following elements:
Note: A red flag indicates that an element contains unread items. It will NOT show unread items in subelements (see Create Shortcuts). You must open an element to read the items within it.
My MailBox
My MailBox contains your Personal incoming and outgoing Mail. Click on MailBox on Desktop to access Personal Mail.
Contacts
FirstClass remembers the addresses of all BSO staff and students in the Directory (see below), but for other addresses you may use an Address Book. Click on Contacts on Desktop to view your Personal Addresses.
Calendar
A Calendar is a personal electronic calendar which acts like like a personal diary; it records events and tasks that you need to remember. Click on My Calendar on Desktop to view your Calendar.
Documents
The Documents folder is an area where you are allowed to store files (e.g. to transfer to another location).
Bookmarks
The Bookmarks folder allows you to store shortcuts to favourite Web Sites and FirstClass Conferences.
Deleted Items
The Deleted Items folder is where deleted items are stored. You may retrieve and undelete messages up until 7 days after you have deleted them.
BSO News
The BSO News electronic notice board conference is used to announce news items that are important to both staff and students. Please check this conference regularly. Click on BSO News on Desktop to view News items.
School Calendar
The School Calendar contains Term Dates, Holiday Dates, Access and Mixed Mode Course Dates and Library Opening Hours. Click on School Calendar on Desktop to view these.
Vacancies
The Vacancies folder contains details of relevant internal and external jobs that staff or students may be eligible for. Click on Vacancies on Desktop to view these.
Directory
The FirstClass Directory contains a list of all Users, Conferences, Personal Addresses, Mail Lists and Calendars on the system. Select Collaborate, Directory… to view your Directory or click on the Directory icon in the Desktop ToolBar.
Specific Desktop Elements
Users of FirstClass will see different Desktops containing Shortcuts to items particularly relevant to them.
Screen image of a Standard Pathway Year 1 Desktop
The Student News conference is used to announce important Student News items. Inside the Student News conference are further folders and conferences, including the Student HandBook and Student Standard Forms folders. Please check this conference regularly.
The Student Forum conference is used for student debate. Note that messages sent to this conference are moderated before being made visible.
The SP Yr 1 Notices conference contains important messages for SP1 students as well as SP Yr1 Program & Module, Exam and Timetable Information.
The SP2009 conference provides a forum where the SP2009 cohort of students can discuss issues with each other.
Screen image of a Academic Faculty Desktop
The All Staff Conference is used to announce news or information relevant to all BSO Staff including the Staff HandBook, Policy Statements and Standard Forms for Staff folders.
The Announcement Locations folder contains links to Student News as well as to Student Notices and Student Exam Information conferences organized according to each cohort of students.
The Faculty Forum conference allows members of BSO Academic Faculty staff to communicate with one another and also contains conferences related to specific academic matters.
The Clinic & Tchg Vacs conference is used to advertise teaching vacancies at the BSO.
Customising the Desktop
FirstClass allows you to customise your Desktop to suit your personal needs.
Shortcuts
Each element only exists once in FirstClass but, for ease of access, it is possible to have Shortcuts to elements on your Desktop. Shortcuts may be used for frequently accessed FirstClass subelements or to show that there are unread items in subelements.
Create Shortcuts
Right click on element and click on Add to Desktop.
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