ThinkingGear Help

This section of the ThinkingGear site provides help and tips on the technical aspects of using the ThinkingGear site. For help with the content of any specific tool please look at the tool Web pages themselves or get your question answered in one of the ThinkingGear forums in the Community area.

Navigating the Web site

The ThinkingGear Web site is fairly simple in structure. The six main area of the site:

1. Home
2. About ThinkingGear
3. Tools
4. MyGear
5. Community
6. Publications
7. Contact Information

can be all be directly accessed via the main menu which is located directly under the ThinkingGear logo at the top of every page.

The ThinkingGear Web site also provides you with a "trail" of links that shows you how "deep" you are going into any one of the main areas of the site. This trail appears directly below the main menu and can be used to navigate your way back to the top of the site.

In addition to these two methods of navigation you are also supplied with links that provide quick access to particular areas of the site or links that provide contextual help or tips. These area accessed via the "boxes" that appear on the right-hand side of the screen.

Account Help

How do I get a ThinkingGear Account?
If you are not already logged in you will see a box on the right-hand side of the screen labeled "Register". To register for an account enter you email address in the box provided and then press the "Register" button. You will then be directed to a page that asks you a few simple questions to finish the registration process.

If you are already logged in as someone and you wish to create your own account please be sure to click on the "Logout" link that appear at the top right of your screen.

Please note that ThinkingGear will in no way share or sell any information gathered.

I've forgotten my password. How do I get a reminder?
If you are not already logged in you will see a box on the right-hand side of the screen labeled "Login". In this box you will see a link labeled "Forgot your password?". Click here and you will be directed to an account help screen. Here you can enter your email address and have your password automatically emailed to you.

Forum Help

The ThinkingGear forums are located in the community area of the Web site.

How do I start a new topic in the forums?
Follow the following steps:

1. Go to the community area of the Web site.
2. Here you will be presented with a list of the available "forums" within which you can post your topic. Click on the forum that is most appropriate for your topic.
3. You will then be presented with a list of previously entered topics. At the bottom of this list is a form that you can fill out to start a new topic.
4. Be sure and give your topic a name that fully described the contents of your topic as this is the first thing another forum user will see.
5. If you wish to attach a project that you have created with one of the ThinkingGear tools you can do so by selecting the project from the drop-down list provided.
6. Enter the contents of your message. This will be the first message posted to your new topic so be sure to clearly express what the topic is about and what you would like to obtain from follow up messages.
7. When you are done filling out the form press on the "Post Topic" button.
8. You will the be automatically directed to the topic's main page where you will see your posting and be given the opportunity to post a follow-up message.

How can I be notified when someone posts a follow up to my message?
You can receive automatic emails from the ThinkingGear site whenever someone posts a message to a particular forum. If you would like to receive an email when someone posts a message to a topic you have created in the forum follow the following steps:

1. Go to the community area of the Web site.
2. Here you will be presented with a table detailing the list of available "forums". One of the columns in this table is labeled with a button titled "Subscribe". Click on the check boxes that appear in this column for the forums you would like to subscribe to.
3. When you are finished selected the forums you want click on the "Subscribe" button at the top of this column.
4. You will now receive an automatic email whenever someone posts to the forums you selected.

You can "unsubscribe" from the forums by following the steps above and unchecking the boxes of the forums you want your subscription removed from.

How can I start a completely new forum?
Only site administrators have the ability to start new forums. If you have a request for a new one please contact David Grogan at david.grogan@tufts.edu.