This document provides a tutorial on how to use the Aluka online research platform. It outlines the main features and navigation options, including how to create a user account, browse and search for content, view materials, save tags and comments, use the book viewer, and share tags with other users. The tutorial contains over 20 exercises for the user to try out the different functions of the Aluka platform.

1. Aluka
Struggles for Freedom
in Southern Africa
Training
3.14.2008
Copyright 2008 Ithaka Harbors 1

2. I can change the language to
English, French, or
Portuguese by clicking here
Public pages provide general
information such as Help and
background materials
Menus link to related pages
Exercises:
1. Explore the Menu options
2. Go to Help Copyright 2008 Ithaka Harbors 2

3. Log In allows you to
create an Aluka User ID
and log in
Getting Started Guide is
available in PDF format so
you can save or print it.
I can find information on
how to search and view
materials in Aluka
Exercises:
1. Go to Log In
Copyright 2008 Ithaka Harbors 3

4. If I log in, I can save and
share all the materials in
Aluka. I can also save and
share measurements,
views, browses and
searches.
Aluka Passwords are
case-sensitive
I can create my own User
ID by clicking here
Exercises:
1. Go to Create User ID
Copyright 2008 Ithaka Harbors 4

5. I can see that my access
is through my institution
I can create an Aluka
User ID with this form
I can see the benefits of
logging into Aluka
Exercises:
1. Create User ID
2. Go to Homepage Copyright 2008 Ithaka Harbors 5

6. I can find training materials,
including short videos, under
the About Aluka>Resources
menu
I can access all three content
areas directly from the
homepage
I can see a list of Partner
institutions from About Partner
under the Content menu
Exercises:
1. Go to Regions>Africa for the Struggles for Freedom in
Southern Africa content area
Copyright 2008 Ithaka Harbors 6

7. I can add another category to
my browse at any stage
I can click the number of
objects next to the name to go
directly to those results
Exercises:
1. View Results for Namibia
Copyright 2008 Ithaka Harbors 7

8. I can see my Browse Path. I
can return to any part of the
browse simply by clicking it
I can Search in these Results.
This will further limit my
search, but I have to be sure
to click Search in Results first.
In this case, I will search for
“divestment” in these 916
results
Exercises:
1. Search in Results for divestment
Copyright 2008 Ithaka Harbors 8

9. I now have 143 results
I can view the object in many
ways, including Download
PDF, Text Pages, Larger
View, and Viewer. I want to
see the metadata so I click
Metadata
Exercises:
1. View metadata
Copyright 2008 Ithaka Harbors 9

10. I can information that I can
use to cite this source
I can see the same viewing
options to the left. I want to
save this object so I click
Add/Edit tags
Exercises:
1. Go to Add/Edit Tags
Copyright 2008 Ithaka Harbors 10

11. A tag is a word or phrase that
you use to remember the
object; in this case, I save this
report with the tags Namibia
and report
I can see the tags that I have
used before
I can add comments if I want.
Comments can help me
organize my research further
Exercises:
1. Add tags and comments
2. Save Copyright 2008 Ithaka Harbors 11

12. All my saved materials can be
found in My Aluka
I can click the Tagging Bar to
save multiple objects at the
same time
Exercises:
1. Go to Advanced Search
Copyright 2008 Ithaka Harbors 12

13. I can isolate my search in one
content area
Wildcards (*) can be used
in your searches to produce
results with related forms of
words
Boolean operators can be
used (AND, OR, NOT) in
the Search field
I can see the range of
materials available by using
the Resource Type dropdown
menu
Exercises:
1. Limit search to Struggles for Freedom
2. Search for Tempo magazines from 1975-1976 Harbors
Copyright 2008 Ithaka 13
3. Open result in Book Viewer

14. For multiple page
documents, I can open the
Book Viewer. The Book
Viewer will also open in a
separate window, but it has
many different tools
I can turn the page by
clicking here
I can see an index of all the
pages in this magazine
Exercises:
1. Explore Book Viewer tools
2. Zoom on image Copyright 2008 Ithaka Harbors 14

15. I can zoom in and Save a
Region as I did with the other
Viewers
To return to the original two-
page view, I can click here
Exercises:
1. Save zoomed Region
2. Close Book Viewer Copyright 2008 Ithaka Harbors 15

16. I can always refine my search
by clicking Edit search
I can View my Search History
to go to a previous search or
browse from this session
Exercises:
1. Go to My Aluka
2. What information has been saved there? Ithaka Harbors
Copyright 2008 16

17. I can see all my tags and the
number of times I have used
them
I can share tags, but first I
have to choose which one to
share. So I choose the
University of Ghana tag
I can see all the objects
associated with my tags
Exercises:
1. Click University of Ghana
Copyright 2008 Ithaka Harbors 17

18. I can share my tag by clicking
here
Exercises:
1. Go to Share this tag
Copyright 2008 Ithaka Harbors 18

19. I can enter up two 20 email
addresses or I can copy and
paste the URL into something
else, like a class assignment
or a syllabus
I can change the message
any way I would like
Exercises:
1. Share tag with classmate or michael.gallagher@aluka.org
Copyright 2008 Ithaka Harbors 19

20. I can see this is a different
person. This is the person I
sent the tag to
My colleague can see the tag
in her Community Tags. It will
not interfere with My Tags
She can see who shared the
tag with her
Exercises:
1. Explore Community Tags tab
2. Go to Homepage Copyright 2008 Ithaka Harbors 20

21. If you have any questions,
take a look at the Help
menu or contact Aluka User
Services at
user_services@aluka.org
Any questions?
Copyright 2008 Ithaka Harbors 21

22. Exercises
1. Create your own User ID
2. Save an object and add comments
3. Open the Book Viewer and Save a Region
4. Use the Advanced Search to search for magazines from
Mozambique
5. Save your Advanced Search
6. Share a tag with (michael.gallagher@aluka.org) or a
colleague
Copyright 2008 Ithaka Harbors 22