SAO Course Content

All SAO course content is hosted online via a Content Management System (CMS) and this webpage will help you access the course material for your Unit.

How do I access the online course content?

The course material can be accessed directly from Blackboard. Follow the Course Content tab from your Unit's homepage. This should automatically transfer you to the "SAO Viewer", which allows you to access to course content via Blackboard.

NOTE:

1. If you click on the Course Content tab and get taken to a login page, this means that your webrowser's cookie settings need to be reset. If you are using Internet Explorer to view the course content from within Blackboard, you may need to reset your browser's privacy setting to "accept all cookies". (For Internet Explorer users, go to Tools, Internet Options, Privacy, Accept All Cookies.) For other browsers the same type of reset is applicable.
2. If you are seeing the course content from previous semesters, simply click on this link: SAO CMS - force logout, which will force a logout of the SAO Viewer and allow you to login again afresh. You should then be able to go back to the Course Content link from your Blackboard unit and see the course material.
3. Please ensure you are using the compatible operating system and browser for Blackboard. Check the SAO guide to Using Blackboard for more details.

The online course content can also be viewed directly from the CMS (rather than embedded in Blackboard) via the SAO Viewer. Please follow the login instructions and you will be provided with access to online course material for the Units you are enrolled in. (Note that the SAO Viewer now uses your SIMS username and password for login.)

Can I view the course content without the internet?

We realise that many SAO students need to work offline at times and quite a few of you like to print the course notes, so the CMS dynamically produces PDF files that you can download and either print or view while disconnected from the internet. You can view the downloadable PDF files with the free Adobe Reader program, which you can download here.

Where are the PDF files?

Within the CMS (either accessed within Blackboard or directly via the SAO Viewer), each Activity index has a "Slides" box in the top, right hand side of the page. Here you will find a link to "Downloadable PDF".


What is the best way to print the PDF?

The PDF will contain identical content to the online material, in a 'one page per slide' format. You can either just use the default print options, or if you wish to safe paper you might like to choose two or four pages per sheet (depending on your eyesight!)

What about links and movies in the PDF version?

The PDFs have both internal links (which take you to other pages within the one PDF documents) as well as active external links (which will take you to a website via your default web browser). Where there are movies in the online content, you will need to access these directly in the SAO Viewer. However, animated GIFs will look like static images in the PDF documents.

If you have having trouble with the CMS content, please contact the SAO helpdesk.