Instructions: Creating a Track in Trackstar

Instructions: Creating a Track in TrackStar

Go to the TrackStar website ( and click on “Make or Edit a Track.”
If you haven’t used TrackStar before, scroll down the page to “New users, register here.” Enter your personal information, and then click on Register and create a track. Don’t forget to write down your password.
Before beginning your Track, take time to read and think about the information on the "Preplanning Your Track" ( in the Tutorial section of the TrackStar site.
After reading "Preplanning Your Track," click Home. Then click "Log in to make or edit a Track." Since you are already logged in, you’ll then have a choice to “Make a New Track” or “Manage my Tracks.” Click on “Make a New Track.”
Enter the requested information about your track. When you get to step 4, you’ll need to decide between creating a Resource List, a Worksheet, an Extended Learning project, or a Demo. Here’s a brief description of each format:

Resource List: These provide resources for research projects, thematic units, presentations, or independent reading. They are sometimes not annotated.

Worksheet:These provide sites to answer factual questions that are listed in the annotations.

Extended Learning: These encourage higher order thinking such as projects, webquests, comparison/contrast, analysis or synthesis. These are usually annotated.

Demo: Made in workshops or in-services to test TrackStar. Tracks with this designation are deleted after one week.

For this course, it is recommended that you create your track as an annotated Resource List.

Step 5 asks you to decide whether you want to create your track using frames or as a text document. If your computer is fairly new and can handle frames (most relatively new machines can), go ahead and select that option. Be aware, however, that some sites "jump out of the frame", that is, they are designed to use the whole screen. These sites take the user out of the Track and in some cases will not allow the user to use the back button on the browser to return to the Track. You'll need to use a different site or provide instructions for your students

Use the Track Template you created earlier in this session to add information to your track. For each resource, type in the title of the site, the URL, and notes about the resource (or questions for students, as you saw in the sample tracks). Repeat this process for each of your resources. After they’ve all been added, click on “SAVE”at the top of the page.
You should now see a screen that says “Created Track”along with an assigned Track ID number. It is recommended that you either print this page or make note of the track ID.
To view your track, go back to TrackStar’s main page at Enter the ID number of your track to access your track. (Submitted tracks must be reviewed and approved before you can access them in a keyword search)
If you want to update your track, go back to step 1. Click “Make or Edit a Track.” Enter your email address and password, and make any changes you want. Congratulations, your resources are now accessible on the Web!

Last revised 2/1/05