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Getting Started as an Administrator

Welcome to the HyperStudy platform's administrator guide. As an administrator, you have full control over the platform, including user management, system settings, and oversight of all experiments. This guide will help you get started with your administrative responsibilities.

Administrator Responsibilities​

As an administrator, you're responsible for:

  • Managing user accounts and permissions
  • Overseeing experimenter applications
  • Managing media resources
  • Monitoring system health
  • Configuring system settings
  • Managing experiment rooms
  • Handling data storage and exports

Admin Dashboard The admin dashboard showing monitoring, user management, and system controls

Accessing the Admin Dashboard​

  1. Log in with your administrator account
  2. Navigate to the Administrator Dashboard via:
    • Direct URL: https://[your-installation-url]/admin
    • Navigation menu: Click your profile and select "Admin Dashboard"
  3. Verify that you see the full admin interface with all control panels

If you don't see admin controls, your account may not have administrator privileges.

Dashboard Overview​

The Admin Dashboard consists of several key sections:

Users Panel​

Manages all user accounts on the platform:

  • View, create, and edit user accounts
  • Assign and modify user roles
  • Reset passwords and manage account issues
  • Approve or deny experimenter role requests

Experiments Panel​

Oversees all experiments on the platform:

  • Browse all experiments, regardless of creator
  • View experiment details and configurations
  • Monitor active experiments
  • Manage experiment permissions and sharing

Media Panel​

Controls media resources:

  • Manage the video library
  • Organize and categorize images
  • Review and approve media uploads
  • Monitor storage usage

Initial Administration Tasks​

When setting up or maintaining the platform, prioritize these tasks:

1. User Account Setup​

  • Create accounts for key administrators
  • Set up authentication policies
  • Configure password requirements
  • Establish account recovery procedures

2. Role Configuration​

  • Review the default role permissions
  • Adjust role capabilities if needed
  • Create any custom roles required for your organization
  • Document role definitions and permissions

3. Storage Management​

  • Configure storage locations for recordings
  • Set up backup procedures
  • Establish retention policies
  • Monitor storage usage

4. Email Configuration​

  • Set up email notifications
  • Configure email templates
  • Test email delivery
  • Establish notification preferences

5. Security Review​

  • Review access controls
  • Check authentication methods
  • Verify data encryption settings
  • Test backup and recovery procedures

User Management Basics​

User management is one of your most important responsibilities:

Understanding User Roles​

The platform has three primary roles:

  1. Administrator: Full system access and control (you are here)
  2. Experimenter: Can create and run experiments
  3. Participant: Can join experiments they're invited to

Each role has different permissions and capabilities.

Managing Users​

To view and manage users:

  1. Go to the Users panel in the Admin Dashboard
  2. Use the search and filter options to find specific users
  3. Click on a user to view their details
  4. Use the action buttons to edit, disable, or delete accounts

Approving Experimenter Requests​

When users request experimenter privileges:

  1. You'll receive a notification in the dashboard
  2. Go to the "Pending Approvals" section
  3. Review the requestor's information and stated purpose
  4. Click "Approve" or "Deny" based on your organization's policies

Set clear criteria for who should receive experimenter privileges.

Experiment Oversight​

As an administrator, you can monitor and manage all experiments:

Viewing Experiments​

  1. Go to the Experiments panel
  2. Browse the list of all experiments on the platform
  3. Use filters to find specific experiments
  4. Click on an experiment to view details

Managing Experiment Settings​

For each experiment, you can:

  • View the complete configuration
  • Monitor participant assignments
  • Check synchronization settings
  • Review data collection configuration

Handling Problematic Experiments​

If you need to intervene with an experiment:

  1. Contact the experimenter first, if possible
  2. Temporarily disable the experiment if necessary
  3. Make required changes or request the experimenter to do so
  4. Document the issue and resolution

System Monitoring​

Keep an eye on system health:

Performance Tracking​

  1. Review the system dashboard regularly
  2. Check server load, memory usage, and storage
  3. Monitor network traffic, especially during peak usage
  4. Look for performance degradation over time

Error Monitoring​

  1. Check error logs regularly
  2. Investigate recurring errors
  3. Prioritize user-facing issues
  4. Document common issues and their resolutions

User Activity​

  1. Monitor login patterns
  2. Track resource usage by user
  3. Identify unusual access patterns
  4. Review session recordings if suspicious activity is detected

Best Practices​

Follow these guidelines for effective administration:

  1. Regular Backups: Ensure all data is backed up regularly
  2. Documentation: Keep records of all system changes
  3. User Communication: Inform users of important changes or maintenance
  4. Principle of Least Privilege: Grant only the permissions users need
  5. Regular Audits: Periodically review user accounts and permissions
  6. Stay Updated: Keep the platform and all components updated
  7. Testing: Test major changes in a non-production environment first

Getting Help​

If you encounter issues:

  1. Check the administrator documentation
  2. Review known issues in the system logs
  3. Consult the troubleshooting guide
  4. Contact technical support at [support email]

Next Steps​

Now that you understand the basics, explore these topics in depth: