Creating An Identity (Overview)

Creating An Identity (Overview)

The first time you log in to MySciLife, you’ll be asked to create an identity. It’s like creating an online profile for your new science role. You need an identity to be able to make posts or comments in a community or in the Main Stream. Follow the onscreen prompts to create an identity. Once you’ve filled out all the details, hit “Create Identity,” and you will see a confirmation that your new identity has been created. 

Identity Name

Choose a name for your identity. Remember: DO NOT include any part of your real name, location, or any hint as to who you really are. Your teacher may assign or suggest what kind of identity you should make, but you can give it a creative name like Mighty Mitochondria. Identity names must be unique, so you may have to add a number, middle initial, or other variation if your first choice is already taken.

Identity Avatar

Each identity has an image that shows along with all posts and comments created with this identity. Your teacher may assign you to create a special image or to find one that is copyright safe (Creative Commons). Once you have the image ready to upload, click the “Choose File" button and choose the image from where you have it saved. You will need to have the image saved locally, not on a web page somewhere. If you don’t have an appropriate image, there are some resources for copyright-safe images (and a video for how to find them and give proper citations) located in the MySciLife Resource Library. You can also draw one and take a picture of it or take an actual picture out in the real world (no copyright concerns there!). You can log in to MySciLife on a mobile phone to upload images you take yourself.

Identity Bio

Use this space to write a short biography for your identity.

Reminder: Write as if you ARE the identity. Write in first person, using “I and “me.” Stay in character! Don’t include information connected to your “real” identity. Think and write AS your identity. Your teacher may give you specific challenges to write about.

Avatar Citation

If you did not draw or take the image yourself, you must give credit for it. Copy/paste the actual URL to the copyright-safe image you found online. A search URL is NOT a correct citation! See the video in the MySciLife Resource Library or ask your teacher for help.

You can share a link about yourself (your identity) or to another page you created about your identity. Click the “+Add Link” button and type the title and the URL for the link (or copy and paste). The title can be an explanation, such as “A look at my ancestors” or “My favorite food.” You can always add this later.

Video

Each MySciLife identity can have one video clip associated with it. If you’d like to use a YouTube video, go to the URL for that clip. The URL will look like this:

Copy the entire URL, then paste it into this field, and you’re all set.

If you have a video that you made and would like to associate with your identity, click the “Choose File” button here. A system dialog box will open, allowing you to choose a clip you have saved locally. You can always add this later.

Additional Image

You have an identity image, but another one is even better. To add an image to your identity’s page, click the “Choose File" button and a system dialog box will open, allowing you to choose an image you have saved locally. Why not take an image of your own using your camera?

Additional Image Citation

If you did not draw or take the image yourself, you must give credit for it. Copy/paste the actual URL to the copyright-safe image you found online. A search URL is NOT a correct citation! See the video in the MySciLife Resource Library or ask your teacher for help.

Once you’ve filled out all the details, click the “Create Identity” button at the bottom of the form and you will see a confirmation that your new identity has been created. 

Tip: If you click Create too soon, you won’t be able to re-access the page to edit it! Your teacher must approve an identity before you can re-access it to edit. You might want to write up your bio ahead of time and collect links, etc. before you start creating an identity so you don’t “lose” anything if the bell rings before you are done. You can always come back and edit your identity to add things later (subject to teacher approval).

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