Based on a free, open-source software platform called Elgg, Connect aims to make it easier to learn more about everyone. Complete your profile by clicking on the "Your Profile" link in the top left corner to get started. You can also create groups and invite people to join you for discussions, document sharing and more.

RES Personal Contact Information

You can receive notifications via e-mail and/or via the message system built into Connect (internal messages will be visible by clicking the envelop icon in the top bar).

Click on Settings at the top of the page, then click on "Notifications" on the page that appears to manage how you get notified of site changes.

To enable or manage notifications for groups you belong to, click on "Group Notifications" and check the boxes next to the groups you want to be notified about.

You can add additional widgets to to your Dashboard by clicking on the "Click to add new widgets" box. Click on the name of a widget, then move it around to where you want it to be.

In order to get the most out of Connect, you should complete your profile. Log-in with your Onyen and then click the "Your Profile" link in the upper left-hand corner of the page, this will take you to your profile page. Once you are there, click the "edit profile" button. Simply fill in the boxes on the next page with information about you.

Separate any lists of skills and interests with commas and these will link you to other people who list those same skills and interests. It's a great way to discover things you share in common with others across you department and the Division.

You can upload a photo that will be used to represent you in the site. Click the "edit profile image" link. Follow the easy steps to upload a photo. I recommend you use an actual photo of yourself rather than a picture of your dog or a flower. Having a real picture of you helps people learn who you are and helps new staff quickly learn faces and names.

Groups are a great way to share documents and discussions with anyone in the Division. You can use them for project work, committees, whatever your needs might be. To create a group, click on the "Tools" menu at the top of the page and then click on "Groups". The page that appears will show you all the groups currently on the site. You should first check to see if someone else has already created a group you can join. If not, click on "Create a group" and follow the prompts. Click save and you are ready to go.

Groups can be open or private. If you create an open group, anyone can join in the conversation. For a private group you invite your friends. To do that, once you finish creating the group and have saved it, click on "invite friends" and select who you want to invite by checking the box next to their name (names are arranged alphabetically by first name). Click on "invite" and the system will send them an e-mail invitation with a link they can click to join your group.

When you create content for a group, you can set the access level for that content. If you set it to Group:<group name> only people who are in the group will be able to see it.