Located near the top left of your screen, the Lessons tab will probably be one of the most popular tabs you will use in P.L.A.T.O. When you click on Lessons, a dropdown menu appears and lists six options: Content, Discussions, Dropbox, Grades, Quizzes/Exams, and Syllabus.
Each of these options will be important for you to keep track of your grades, upload assignments, take quizzes or exams, and interact with your classmates or professors among other options. Some of the options on this list were already discussed on previous pages--popular links like Grades or Dropbox can be accessed from multiple places in P.L.A.T.O. While that might be confusing at first, once you figure out where the different links go, they can be very helpful.
Like the Table of Contents page that lists the chapters in a book, P.L.A.T.O.'s Content lists out the content areas of your course. In Content, you can find links to many resources including your course's syllabus, assignment rubrics, links to website and reading materials, and links to Dropboxes. Clicking on Content will give a great overview of the different aspects of your courses and can help you to manage your coursework.
Discussions can be wonderful ways to explore new topics and get to know your fellow classmates. In some classes, discussion forums are used to discuss readings or as places to ask questions, either of your fellow students or your professors. As stated before, discussions are used more often in some classes than others. If your professor does not chose to use discussion forums, don't worry; you can interact with your classmates in many other ways.
The Dropbox is the place where you upload your assignments on P.L.A.T.O. While the act of uploading your assignments might feel like a lot of pressure to place your shoulders, uploading your paper to Dropbox is quite simple. You click on Dropbox, click where you want to upload the assignment, upload your file, and click submit. Then your paper is uploaded for your professor to grade.
Grades are probably one of the most important options within P.L.A.T.O. Whether you did not do as well as you could have on your last assignment or if you went to the Writing Center and aced your last paper, grades are a vital part of your college career. Grades can help you figure out areas where you need more study time and can show you that the effort you put into a project paid off. When you click on Grades, your grades will be displayed in a table.
The Quizzes/Exams option is directs you to the Quiz and Exam section within P.L.A.T.O. When you click on Quizzes/Exams you are taken to the Quiz List within your P.L.A.T.O. course. Most often quizzes or exams are scheduled to be open for a specific window of time. During this time frame, you can take the quiz. Depending on your professor's specifications, each quiz will be different. But, be aware, not every class uses the quizzes/exams tool. If your class does not have a quiz or test in P.L.A.T.O., do not worry. If you think that you have a quiz/test in P.L.A.T.O. and you cannot access it, contact your professor and make sure.
The last option under the Lessons tab is Syllabus. Your Syllabus is basically the schedule, explanation, and requirements of the class. Often, the syllabus will include your professor's name and contact information, the classroom and building information, course outcomes, and brief or extensive descriptions of the assignments. Though it may seem like boring reading, reading the syllabus is greatly encouraged because it will help you to have a greater understanding of your classes. Although the syllabus is a great guideline, it can be subject to change. As you professors go through the class, if they realize they need to extend a due date or focus more on a specific aspect of the course, some aspects of the syllabus can change.