FAQ

Here we’ve included a couple of general frequently asked questions. If you don’t see your question here, please visit our User Support Center or Contact Us.

Who can become a member of CN?

Anyone! Students, instructors, professionals, employers, or anyone interested in creating an ePortfolio, or learning and sharing throughout the world is welcome to create a free CN account. No academic affiliation is required for a learner or an instructor to participate. Minors younger than 13 will need to secure their parents' permission before joining the system. For information on securing parental permission, please contact us at help@thecn.com.

I did not receive a CN account activation email. What should I do?

It is possible that you have overlooked the email, so go to your inbox and search an email titled “Welcome to CN,” in which, you can find your CN user information and the activation button. If you cannot find this email, check your SPAM or JUNK folder. If the activation email still cannot be found or if you need further assistance, contact help@thecn.com.

I forgot my password, what should I do?

There is a “Forgot Password” option under the password field on thecn.com/login. Enter the email address associated with your CN account for further instructions.

How does CN protect user information and security?

The CN gives users complete control over the flow of the information that they decide to post, allowing them to decide how restricted or open any information or pieces of intellectual property should be. This is done through our "visibility settings" feature which allows users to choose who is allowed to view your content. Upon writing or uploading messages or personal information, members will be prompted to select how the information should be shared--whether to classmates only, to members in similar courses, all members within the entire CN network, etc. See Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for additional information.

In addition CN is FERPA and GDPR compliant and is continually improving security features for both individual users and institution admin who license CN.

Can I access CN from mobile devices?

Yes, you can access CN from any device. As of 2019, CN is completely mobile responsive. You can add CN to the home screen of your phone. The hassles of installing or updating an app are no longer a problem. With CN, you always have access to the most up-to-date features. Your experience is consistent across devices--desktop, tablet, iPhone, and Android phones.

CN has low prices. Is the company sustainable?

We actually get this question often. CN is different than typical ed-tech vendors because we are rooted in education. With seed-funding from Indiana University and initial investment from Professor Jafari and other educators, CN is not tied to typical corporate spending, sales, and marketing standards. See our About Us page to learn more. While many competitors spend large amounts of revenue on sales and marketing, CN doesn't. All of the CN revenue is put back into R&D of thecn.com, hosting, etc.

Your site says there are free options for individuals to use ePortfolio and LMS courses. What are they?

It is part of the CN business plan to maintain free options for individuals, and CN believes that ePortfolio should be free, lifelong to any individual worldwide. We understand students, especially those living in developing countries, may not have funds to purchase an ePortfolio, and often the values of having an ePortfolio for reflective learning, self-branding, and job application take time to be understood and explored. We also provide individuals with the option to upgrade their CN account to a premium account to receive advanced features and services.

Beginning the summer of 2020, CN offers limited free course options: each user is allowed to create two free personal courses (one with the Classic LMS and one with the new Pathway LMS). Each course can accommodate 35 members and remain active for 6 months. The free courses are for instructors and institutions to explore the various CN LMS features. Individual instructors may upgrade their free courses to paid courses to include up to 75 members and remain the course active for longer period of time. Institutions may sign up for an institutional license starting at $2,000 for unlimited courses and additional services.

Individual use cases of Classic LMS or Pathway LMS: