You will want to give this new homepage a unique name to set it apart from other homepages available in the course.

If using only one custom homepage in the course, many instructors simply name the homepage with the course department and number abbreviation.

For the purpose of this lesson we will name this homepage with the abbreviated department and course number.

Enter "VM100" in the Name field of the Edit Homepage screen.

Note: Fields marked with a red asterisk () are required.

You will also want to provide a short description of this homepage so that you can identify which widgets you have used on this homepage.

Note: Homepages are comprised of various widgets from within Carmen. Widgets are customizable objects that can be placed in a course homepage to display information, links, and other course functions.

You will also want to add a Description to this homepage listing what special items you have placed on this homepage.

Description Examples:

• Homepage with standard left and middle panels and course image in right panel.
• Homepage with news in left panel and custom widgets in middle panel which display after modules have been completed.
• Homepage with standard left and middle panelss and NYT Science News and Google Search widgets in the right panel.

For the purpose of this lesson we will use the third example.

Enter "Homepage with standard left and middle panelss and NYT Science News and Google Search widgets in the right panel" in the Description field box of the Edit Homepage screen.

Click the Save () button to save your current changes.

You will see a blue Saved Successfully notation at the top of the screen indicating the date and time the changes were saved.

Additional settings are available that override the normal operation of a homepage within Carmen.

• Make this homepage a tool
  • Redirects students to one of the tools available within Carmen instead of the normal course homepage.
  • Students will always be redirected to the tool when clicking the Course Home link in the navigation bar of the course.
• URL
  • Redirects students to a web site outside Carmen instead of the normal course homepage.
  • Students will not have access to any features within Carmen.
  • Useful if you utilize a web site other than Carmen where students access your course materials. Gives students a single point of entry for all their courses (Carmen) even though you may not utilize Carmen for delivery of course content.

Clicking the Set my homepage as a tool or URL checkbox () will enable you to choose to redirect students to another location within Carmen or to a web site outside Carmen.

Note: Use the Tool/URL option sparingly, if at all.

• Specifying a Tool will always direct students to that tool. News, calendar and other information will be unavailable to students. 
• Specifying a URL will not you to utilize any other tools within Carmen but will require you to have a separate web site for your course materials.

If you have enabled Homepage As A Tool/URL, click the Save () botton to save your changes to this homepage.