One of the requirements for enrollment in this course is that each student
be familiar with use of e-mail and a World Wide Web browser as well as
adequate access to these capabilities. In addition, editing capability
is required - - Activity One (in the WebQuest) includes some instruction
in the use of an editor to make web pages. Ask for help, if you need it.
I will not be offering elementary instructions in using common tools
and programs of computer usage. However, your questions regarding specific
uses of the programs needed for this class are appropriate and welcomed.
I previously indicated to some you that I was adding a text this year.
I am not. Just for your information.
All the materials you need for the course are being offered via the
Internet again.
Instructor as Facilitator and Coach
The instructor will function as a true coach and "facilitator of information processing," and not as the "font of all knowledge" as in an old-fashioned lecture class. (This is actually true of all my classes, whether in the classroom or via the Internet.) In the nine individual Learning Modules of this course, I will be supplying reading materials, some links to supplemental information, and then requiring that three-part assignments be completed in each. Assignments include a variety of processes and responses. Do be alert to follow these assignments carefully and specifically. Reread this paragraph!
To facilitate this process, I recommend that as you begin each Learning Module that you first skim through the material, to get a general idea of what is there. Then, read each of the assignments, carefully, to get a feel for the actual requirements of that Module. Finally, read the materials carefully and begin to carry out the various assignment requirements. After you have done this much, if you are still unclear about what to do, send me an e-mail message and ask. Be sure to reread each assignment, before you send out your response, to be sure you have done exactly what you were asked and expected to do. Thank you.
Unless otherwise specified in the specific Assignment, responses will be sent in the body of email messages. If more convenient for you, please prepare the assignment in a word processor and copy and paste the text into the body of your email message - always include your name at the end. Save your word processed answer so you will be able to send it again, should there be a techology failure (they DO happen - always when you least expect it, of course!). You should have one (at least) disc containing all materials generated by this course.
Assignments which involve creating a web page will be sent to me
with each individual file (html -web page - or gif or jpg - images) attached
to the email. Please do not use a zipped file (with the possible exception
of the EJA). Generally, do not send more than three images per web page
assigned. Thank you!
(Assignment 1-1 teaches you how to make a web page - fear not!!)
Due Dates are assigned to encourage you to keep up with the readings and assignments. Assignments will be considered late if not received by midnight, on Sunday, the last day of each week, per the Course Outline (Wednesday of the final week).
Assignments will be graded "Excellent," "Acceptable" and "Unacceptable." When you get my reply to each assignment, if it does not say otherwise, you may assume it was "Excellent." "Unacceptable" assignments can be resubmitted. The assignments are included in each Learning Module. However, due to the limitations of our communications medium, and the ease with which we can communicate directly, do not hesitate to request clarification or additional information.
Student answers will generally not be objective, like true-false or multiple choice questions are. Rather, they will be subjective and require synthesis and/or analysis on the part of the student.
Each assignment to be submitted will receive a specific reply.
Your course grade will be based on an overall evaluation of all timely participation elements of the course.
E-mail can be both formal and informal. In "formal" e-mail, e.g., a message to the Governor, it is expected that correct protocol and spelling be utilized. However, in "informal" communication, the message itself is most important and incorrect keyboarding (pre-computer, this is called a "typo" or "typewriter error") is acceptable as long as the message is understandable. However, as in face to face class interaction, I do want you to address me as "Dr. Smith" and I will appreciate a closing name (very important for those of you sharing a username or computer account). By this I mean, do put your name at the end of the body of the message every time. I will generally use your first name, unless you indicate otherwise to me. I expect our interaction in this class will be "business-professional" - that is, toward the formal end of the "informal" style of communications.
Each assignment MUST have the class designation and the assignment number/title in the subject of the message header. Example: MG 476, Assignment 4-1, or MG 423, Assignment 3-2. And, your name in the body of the message.
Generally, you will have two choices of how to send e-mail. One is to send regular e-mail using your e-mail account. Second, and probably best, you should be able to send e-mail directly from a "mail-to" link on the web pages for the course. You will want to determine how to use each of these options early in the course, or, before the course begins, if that is feasible. I will try to assist in any way I can. Most importantly, if you are sharing a computer, be sure to always "Set your preferences" before you begin. (Otherwise, someone else's name will show up where you expected yours to!).
It is my belief that none of us have to create "attractive" and skillfully done web sites. The "message" or skills that we are practicing are far more important than any "flashiness." And, parts of the web are absolutely awash with "nifty" graphics, complex index pages, and many superficial techniques (the latest are termed "rockin" sites). But, for instructional purposes, the substance of the class will certainly prevail over complex web development that will have little or no educational value.
The WebQuest Tutorial in Assignment 1-1 will teach you the basic elements I want to see on each of your web pages. Please stick to them and you will be fine.
Course Development use of Materials
All materials used and/or gathered as a part of this course, by the instructor or by students, are, and will be, available for use in other courses and/or academic writings and assessments for the purpose of course development, academic research and class instruction.
- You may find that a site gives an error message similar to "no DNS" entry, which should mean that a location could not be found in the "domain name server," however, this is a common message that could also mean that the system is busy or that that particular try failed. I suggest you try again right away and about 90% of the time it magicaly "finds" the DNS lookup it could not find just a few seconds before. However, if indeed there is a dead link or one in error, please notify me. If anything technically can go wrong, at some point it surely will.
- If you expect to do something out of the ordinary, with technology, for instance, for an assignment, please let me know your intentions early so we can test it, to see if it will work, first, before you spend a lot time that will have been wasted. I don't expect this to happen very often, but, let me know early. Thanks.
- Dedicate one floppy disk to this course and this course alone...at a minimum. This is especially true if you are working in a computer lab where you can't save to your own hard drive. In that case, create a single directory dedicated to your work in this course. You will want to have such things as copies of message you send. You should create your Netscape Bookmark file, for instance, so you can quickly get to, and go back to, sites that you will use over and over. If you save that on your disk each time, before you log off, you will have it ready to go, the next time. Start right, from the beginning.
- Relax, and enjoy the course. If you are not enjoying it, please talk to the instructor. :-) Really! Thanks!
Course Content: There are 9 Learning Modules to this course, one for each week, PLUS, two activities. These two activities are designated as: WebQuest (in week one), and, Electronic Journal Article (EJA). The EJA instuction will be included at the end of Learning Module 4. You should begin on it no later than the fifth week. It is the equivalent of the term paper in other classes and represents a large portion of your grade for the course - perhaps as high as 20-25%.
Send me a note, right now, telling me you read the Class Directions. Assumes you have, of course! Thank you! ;-)
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