New SIS, No Worries: A Primer on Thesis SM Help Resources

Posted on Friday, June 21st, 2024

Two women sitting side by side are comparing their notes.

Some people learn by doing. Some learn by reading. Some like to watch experts at work and copy what they do. And believe it or not, some people even enjoy preparing for and taking tests.

What kind of learner are you? When Algonquin College rolls out its new Student Information System (SIS), Thesis SM, how would you like to approach your learning journey?

Mastering Thesis SM

Learning new software can be nerve-racking—especially if you’ve been using GeneSIS, the old SIS, for years—but rest assured! However you want to learn, when it comes to Thesis SM, we’ve got you covered.

Well before Thesis SM goes live, our team will release a comprehensive suite of help resources to fit everyone’s learning preferences. We’ve tailored these resources to the needs of three groups of users:

  • Core Users: Employees—many in the Registrar’s Office and some in other departments—who perform complex business processes (BPs) and create new data and reports.
  • General Users: Employees across the College who perform specific tasks in Thesis SM, review reports, and look up student information to assist or advise.
  • Learners: Students enrolled in all types of programs who will need to complete tasks in the Thesis Student Portal.

Training units

Help resources are organized into units. Each unit covers a task that you’ll need to complete in Thesis SM. Here are some of the materials you’ll find in these help units:

  • Video Tutorials use simple terms and a well-paced voice-over to show you exactly how to complete a task.
  • Guided Simulations are interactive modules that put you in the driver’s seat, showing you where to click and what to type to complete a task.
  • Practice Exercises give you a task to complete on your own in a simulation of Thesis SM. And don’t worry about making mistakes; these exercises are not connected to the College’s student database, so they’re 100% risk-free.
  • Business Process Recordings are visual maps that illustrate Business Processes for Core User training units. They describe BPs from start to finish, highlighting checkpoints where you’ll make important decisions. These recordings also show how BPs in Thesis SM differ from GeneSIS.

Reference materials

We know it’s tough to sit through a video sometimes, especially when all you need is a refresher about a task that you’ve done in the past. This is why help units will also include:

  • A one-page task guide with brief instructions to get you going quickly.
  • A more thorough and fully searchable how-to guide with detailed instructions, screenshots, and notes.

We’re here to support you

Oh, and one more thing: we’re here too. When Thesis SM goes live, we’re not going anywhere. When you feel the need to reach out to a fellow human being, contact us. We answer every single question we get!

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While you’re here, consider registering for the next R3 Showcase Event. In the meantime, check out our FAQ page to learn more about the R3 Project!


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