Am I Ready for an Online Learning Environment?

Please be aware that the Internet can sometimes be very slow or unavailable due to a variety of reasons that are beyond any single institution’s control.

1. Your Internet service provider’s connection may be out of service.
2. You may be experiencing phone line problems
3. The WebCT server may be experiencing problems or down.
4. The online traffic between your workstation and the WebCT server may be high and cause a slow connection or no connection at all.

Avoid, becoming frustrated and falling behind in the class!

• Access the assignment,
• Access needed information
• Submit projects

How well would online learning fit your lifestyle and life long goals? Take this survey to see if online learning is right for you.

http://www.elearnersadvisor.com/advisor/step1.asp

The instructor plays an important role, but this is a different role than most instructors play in the physical classroom. You'll see a shift in the way classes work. However, some things don't change: the practices of courtesy and respect that apply in the ordinary classroom also apply online, and require even more attention.

Here are some guidelines:

1. Participate.

In the online environment, it's not enough to show up! We need to hear your voice to feel your presence, and we especially need your comments to add to the information, the shared learning, and the sense of community in each class.

Remember that we're all working in a fairly new environment. If you run into any difficulties, don't wait! Send a note immediately to the instructor. Most problems are easily solved, but we have to hear from you before we can help.

For many of us, taking online courses is a new frontier. There are no dumb questions, and even if you think your solution is obvious, please share it! Someone in the class will appreciate it.

Did you say just what you meant? How will the person on the other end read the words? While you can't anticipate all reactions, do read over what you've written before you send it.

5. Remember that we can't see the grin on your face when you make a sarcastic comment, we can't see the concern on your face if you only say a couple of words, and we can't read your mind and fill in the gaps if you abbreviate your comments.

So help us "see" you by explaining your ideas fully. Use emoticons once in awhile. A winking emoticons looks like this ;-)

Ask for feedback if you're not sure how your ideas and comments will be taken. If you disagree with what someone has said, practice all your communication skills as you express that disagreement. "Flaming," or flying off the handle and ranting at someone else is unacceptable; it's the equivalent of having a tantrum, something most of us wouldn't do in an onsite, face to face classroom.

If you have concerns about something that has been said, please let your instructor know.

8. Plagiarism, cheating and other violations of ethical student behavior are serious actions in a learning community.

You should expect to be treated accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions about Quizzes

Browser Tune-up

Browser Tips and Troubleshooting

Student Access Codes

Need help finding or using Access Codes for your online course? 

• Purchase a Student Access Code
• Visit our Student Access Code Help Center for usage guides, troubleshooting, and technical support.

• LinkWebCT for Palm Datebook
• PowerLink for Microsoft Office

This course will use a variety of communication tools including E-mail and Discussion Boards to share ideas and provide instruction.

Using Websites cited in the required text "147 practical tips for teaching online groups; essentials of Web-based education". We find a tip # 9 "Recognizing the absence of physical presence."

Netiquette Home Page

Frequently UNAsked Questions about WEB Netiquette

When you log into WebCT/Blackboard, the My PCC screen will look different from the my WebCT screen in WebCT 4.1.

Your instructor may have arranged your course a little differently than you have seen before, so you need to give yourself some time to explore your courses at the beginning of the term.

Once your course opens up, you will probably see icons in the middle of the page and a course menu on the left side of the page.

Click on the item you want to open. Most course tools such as the Discussion and Email tools are on the course menu. You can access them from anywhere in the course by clicking on them on the course menu.

Flash Tutorial Instructions

You will need to have Adobe Flash installed on your computer to access these videos. Also note that the terms "WebCT" and "Blackboard" are used interchangeably throughout the videos.

 

San Diego Community College District's WebCT Student Tour: Describes Many WebCT Tools

Email Flash Tutorial [http://staff.bcc.edu/distance/ce6mail.html]

Participating in Discussions Flash Tutorial [http://staff.bcc.edu/webct/ce6discuss.html]

Learning Module Flash Tutorial
Learning Modules contain your course lectures, assignments, testing information, etc...

http://www.csus.edu/webct/student/tutorial/learning_modules/ce6_learning_modules.html

Using a Chat Room

These tutorials explain chat room basics.
This document exists in the following formats. All formats open in a new window; formats other than Web Page may require plug-in software.

ChatTool.pdf Acrobat (PDF)

ChatTool.swf Flash

Follow this procedure to enter the self paced Orientation to WebCT Tour titled:

AIT-INTRO 101 - Try WebCT

Try WebCT

Access http://online.csus.edu

Click WebCT 6 Login

Type wctstart for username and wctstart for the password

Click the Login button

Click AIT - INTRO 101 - Try WebCT

Explore the course and its navigation and see if online courses may be a good learning experience for you.

Click Log Out when you have finished