Getting Started
Thank you for visiting the CORE Platform by ReCODE Health!
Our platform is here to support researchers, developers, participants, and institutions to conduct digital health research by connecting network members, hosting discussions, and sharing resources through our resource library.
Creating an account
You can sign up for a new account on the top right on the menu bar. We will ask you for some personal details so other network members can see your affiliation on the CORE Platform.
Managing Your Account
The account menu on the menu bar will let you keep up with notifications, browse your saved items, and manage your account.
Search
Using the search bar, at the top, you can search all of the CORE Platform, including users, topics, tags, resources, and more.
Exploring the CORE Platform Categories
By Default, you will be shown the latest updates, posts, and topics on your home page. You can further explore the site through Categories.
On the CORE Platform, topics and resources are categorized under:
- Community Forum - This is the main discussion forum where you can connect with other members on the platform by creating new topics and starting discussions on existing topics.
- Publications - This is where you can create discussions around one or more publications that interest you.
- Resource Library - Here you can browse the CORE resource library where we host documents from our members on consent, protocols, and guidance.
- Opportunities - Let other members on the platform know about any new opportunities that are coming your way!
- FAQ - Here you can find the guides for using the CORE platform, including this one!
- Feedback and Support - Here you can get help with using the site or give us feedback about features and issues.
Creating Topics
Steps to creating a new topic on the CORE forum
- Add a descriptive title
- Select the appropriate category
- Add any related tags
- Format your main text content. You can also upload images, files, code, and more (for uploading resources to the library, learn more here).
Formatting
Your reply can be formatted using simple HTML, BBCode, or Markdown :
This is <b>bold</b>.
This is [b]bold[/b].
This is **bold**.
For more formatting tips, try this 10 minute tutorial .strong text
Sending Private Messages
You can send other members or groups private messages through the messaging feature on the CORE Platform by clicking on the chat icon on the menu bar.
Basic Terms Used on the CORE Platform
The CORE Platform uses Discourse to host our forum and resource library.
Here are some very basic terms that will be helpful to keep in mind as you use Discourse or read this guide:
- Topic: The collection of messages grouped together in a meaningful conversation, with a title, listed in a category, beginning with an Original Post, and including all replies in chronological order.
Elsewhere this might be called a ‘thread’ but Discourse uses ‘topic’ since thread is used for linked elements that can go off in many different directions (and be confused with programming terms).
- Post: Each element of a topic is referred to as a post. Each post has its own author and can be moved to a different topic if necessary, or even become the start of a new topic.
- Original Post (or OP): The first post in any topic. This is key since it determines the focus of the topic and is what the title and tags will link to.
- Category: The primary means of organizing topics. Each topic is placed in exactly one category. Categories have permissions which can restrict which users can create, reply, and see its topics. You can also configure notification preferences per category or even mute them as explained below. Categories are a similar concept to a ‘forum’ on other sites.
- Tag: A marker placed on a topic to describe it. While a topic can only have one category, it can have multiple tags. New tags can be created by some users. You can read more about the differences between tags and categories .
- User: Discourse sites may be private or public for anyone to read, but you will always be required to register in order to create posts and record any actions such as bookmarking, liking, tagging, and flagging. Most site activity, therefore, is based around registered Users