Session Setup & Management Guide

Quick Access

Manage Students & Sessions

Open the instructor workspace to select a session, view the class code, monitor participants, remove a student, or delete a test session.

Manage Students & Sessions

After the workspace opens: sign in with your instructor password, then expand Manage Students & Sessions at the top of the page.

Quick Access

Instructor Login and Session Controls

Use the C3 Workspace to sign in as the instructor, create or reopen a session, copy the student invite link, monitor participants, and manage the session.

Open Instructor Login / Session Controls

At a glance

The session workflow

Instructor sign-in→Create session→Share class code→Students join→Verify groups→Manage session

Instructor password vs. class code: your instructor password is private and is stored in c3/config.php. The class code is generated automatically for each class session and is the code you share with students.

Step 1

Sign in as the instructor

Open C3 Inquiry Studio → Workspace. Expand Instructor access, enter the password you placed in c3/config.php, and choose Enter instructor workspace.

Example of the Instructor access area with the instructor password field highlighted

The instructor password is never the student class code. Students should not receive the instructor password.

Successful sign-in: the workspace identifies you as the instructor, session creation becomes available, and the instructor-only Session Guide and Manage Students & Sessions become visible.

Step 2

Create a class session

Enter a recognizable session title, such as EDU 5120 • Dimension 2 Jigsaw, and choose Create class session. You do not type a class code. The PHP system creates a unique class code for you.

Example of the instructor new session title field and Create class session button

Testing recommendation: before the first class meeting, create a separate session with “TEST” in the title. Join it once as a dummy student and practice the workflow. You can delete the entire test session afterward.

Step 3

Share the generated class code

After the session is created, the workspace displays the class code. Give that code to students. A student joins by entering a first name or initials and the class code.

Example class session showing a generated class code highlighted

The code shown in the screenshot is only an example. Each session generates its own code.

Important student message about recovery codes: The first time a student joins a session, the workspace creates a personal recovery code. This is not the class code and it is not the instructor password. Tell students to copy the recovery code, save it in a safe place, or take a screenshot. Students need that code if they switch devices, change browsers, or lose access to their saved identity and work.

Code type	Who uses it	Purpose
Class code	All students in the session	Join the shared class session
Recovery code	One student only	Return to that student's saved identity and work later
Instructor password	Instructor only	Access instructor tools and manage sessions

Suggested directions to students: “Enter your name and the class code. When the site gives you a recovery code, save it right away. Keep it private. You may need it if you use a different computer or browser later.”

Instructor	Student
Uses private instructor password	Uses generated class code
Creates and manages sessions	Joins a session and saves group work
Can remove a test student or delete a test session	Cannot access instructor controls

Step 4

Verify student and group setup

As students join, confirm that names appear in the session. For the Dimension 2 jigsaw, each student needs three assignments:

Discipline: History, Geography, Economics, or Civics
Expert group: the discipline-specific group they work with first
Home group: the mixed group they return to after becoming an expert

Current workflow: students can set or change their discipline, expert group, and home group in the workspace. Before the jigsaw begins, verify the assignments so each home group has the disciplinary representation you intend.

A student should know both assignments before beginning, but they work with the expert group first. After the expert-group reading, synthesis, and land-use application, they return to the assigned home group to teach what they learned.

Step 5

Use Manage Students & Sessions to manage the session

Once you are signed in as the instructor, Manage Students & Sessions appears above the workspace. Select a session to see its class code and participants.

Example Manage Students & Sessions panel showing participants, Remove Student, and Delete Test Session controls

Refresh: reload the current session participant list.
Remove Student: useful for a dummy student or accidental duplicate. Shared expert-group and home-group records are preserved.
Delete Test Session: permanently removes the selected session, participants, and saved work. The system requires you to type DELETE before it proceeds.

Before students arrive

Instructor readiness checklist

Confirm c3/config.php has your instructor password and is in the same folder as api.php.
Sign in successfully as the instructor.
Create the actual class session.
Copy or display the class code.
Remind students to save their personal recovery code when they join for the first time.
Decide student discipline, expert-group, and home-group assignments.
If you created a dummy student, remove it before class.
If you created a separate test session, delete it when testing is complete.
Keep the workspace open during class so you can monitor participants and shared work.

Troubleshooting

If instructor login does not work

Make sure config.php and api.php are both in /cpp/history/c3/.
Use an instructor password of at least 12 characters.
Do not use the class code as the instructor password.
If you made many failed attempts, wait for the temporary login limit to clear.
Open c3/hosting-check.php to check PHP sessions and private writable storage.

Instructor sign-in required

Set up and manage a C3 Inquiry Studio session

Manage Students & Sessions

Instructor Login and Session Controls

The session workflow

Sign in as the instructor

Create a class session

Share the generated class code

Verify student and group setup

Use Manage Students & Sessions to manage the session

Instructor readiness checklist

If instructor login does not work