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Important Links
Online Orientations
BOT Online Instructors
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Introduction
This orientation will introduce you to the course content
and expectations for BOT 120, 121, and 122 online. You'll also have a chance to make sure everything is set
up and ready to go. Your first quiz (to be taken after this orientation)
will include questions about information found on this web page,
syllabus, and Blackboard. Please review all items carefully. While you
work through this orientation, jot down any questions you might have and
post them to our course Help discussion board. I recommend that you
print this page, and check each item off as you complete it. Don't
forget to take the 20-point quiz to complete this orientation. The Orientation quiz is found in
Blackboard at the "exams" link. If you score less than 20 points, please
take it again. You are allowed multiple attempts until you successfully
score 18 out of 20 points.
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What to do for this assignment
- Print this page
and mark each item as you
complete it.
- Enroll in the course. You enroll for this
online course the same way you enroll in any other Cuyamaca College
course. You will need to be enrolled in the course before you can
access the course Blackboard site.
- Buy the textbook and install the software. You
can buy the book at the campus bookstore, or from another source. You
will need the book and software on the first day of class. This course teaches Microsoft Word 2010. If you already have Word
2010 on your computer, you're ready. If you have an older version of
Word, you need to upgrade as Word 2010 is significantly different. (See below for
more details about the required course materials.)
As a student enrolled in an online class,
you are responsible to login and begin working on the day class starts.
- Login to Blackboard.
The following are the first day of class
for each course:
BOT 120, section 5068--January 28, 2013
BOT 121, section 0870--March 11, 2013
BOT 122, section 9345--April 22,
2013
Enrolled students will
be able to access the class in the Blackboard system the day before the class
starts. If you enrolled successfully in
the class, you should be able to access the class. If you want to add the class after the start date, you need to contact
your instructor for an add code.
- How to login to Blackboard
A. Go to
http://gcccd.blackboard.com (click on this link or the
Blackboard Login link in the web page navigation at the left side of this page)
B. Click the Login button
C. For Username enter your name as firstname.lastname
(all lower
case)
D. For Password enter your birthday (mmddyy)
E. If you cannot login successfully the first time, try it again.
Your login information is the same as when you login to any computer
on campus. If you still have trouble logging in, STOP and contact me
(pat.newman@gcccd.edu). Do not panic, we'll get it fixed. Do not click
the create an account
button as this will only complicate
matters and delay your first login.
- Successful login! Now that you have logged in,
welcome to the course. Read the Welcome announcement. This
announcement contains helpful information on how the course works and
where to start.
- Update your personal information
(if applicable).
I regularly send class announcements and email through Blackboard. It is
very important you keep your email address current in order to receive
these communications. Please login to WebAdvisor, click on STUDENTS,
then UPDATE PERSONAL INFORMATION and list your preferred email address
and the telephone number where I can reach you if needed. WebAdvisor
updates BlackBoard nightly, so it's important to keep current
information in WebAdvisor.
- Print the syllabus. In the Blackboard course
site, click on the Course Information
button. Click on the
syllabus link. Print the syllabus and keep it with your textbook. You
may need to save the syllabus and then open it to print it. READ
the whole syllabus (you will need to answer questions on the quiz).
- Familiarize yourself with the course web site by
clicking on all of the links (buttons) in the course navigation on the left side of the
course website.
There are also several links on the web pages that display. Browse through
them thoroughly to familiarize yourself with the entire course
website.
- Take the online orientation quiz
in Blackboard.
After
completing the steps above, you can take the quiz (worth
10
points and due by Wed the first week of class).
Login to Blackboard, click on the Exams
link, and click on the
Online
Orientation Quiz. The quiz will cover information from the
syllabus and Blackboard.
- Begin on the course assignments. Turn to page
5 in your syllabus and begin on the assignments in the order they are
listed. You can turn in assignments early, but please submit an entire
chapter at one time. You are encouraged to work ahead as the class
moves at a fast pace. Assignments will be submitted online in Blackboard
using the chapter link in the Assignments section. Do not email any
homework. It will not be accepted. The due dates for each assignment are listed
in the syllabus. Most assignments are due by midnight on Sunday, but
be sure to check the syllabus. The weeks of the midterm and final
exams, I need your work earlier (by Wed) so that I can grade everything and return feedback before you
take the exam.
- If you still have
questions AFTER completing all of the items above,
email me at
pat.newman@gcccd.edu
and tell me exactly what you need help with. Be very
specific with your question. I will ask you if you completed
the orientation items listed above. Include the COURSE AND
SECTION NUMBERS in the Subject Line of your email, as email
can get filtered as junk and this will help me to recognize
your email message.
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Course textbook and software
NOTE: If a book kit
is listed, you will need all components included in the kit. If
you purchase your book online other than the Cuyamaca Bookstore, you may not
receive all items in the required kit. Also, you should verify that access
codes are valid if you purchase your book online from another seller. Read information carefully below.
You will not be able to use the BOT lab to take an
online BOT course. As an online student, you must provide your own computer
with the required minimum specifications prior to the class start date.
- Access to a PC/Windows computer with the following requirements:
- Computer/Processor: 500-MHz or higher
- Memory: 256 MB of RAM or higher
- Hard disk: 2 GB of available hard-disk space
- Monitor: 800 x 600 minimum monitor
resolution; 1024 x 768 recommended
- DVD drive
- Operating system: Windows XP with
Service Pack 2 or later
- Internet access:
Internet Explorer 6.0
or higher
- Sorry, no Macintosh as the Office 2010 program is very different on a
Mac.
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Advice from BOT online students
- Keep up with the class. The biggest problem online students
have is gradually falling behind. You lose points when assignments are
late, and you may be dropped from the class if you get behind. These
classes are only 5-6 weeks in length and all work must be completed by
the class end date. The Comprehensive Word 1-3 classes are scheduled in
short blocks so that you can complete all three classes in a single
semester, as requested by students.
- Schedule at least 10 hours per week to focus on the class.
Some students may need more or less time, so you can make adjustments
based on your skill level in Word.
- Don't wait until the last minute to start an assignment. If you run
into a problem, it may take time to get help.
- Contact your instructor
as soon as you begin to have problems
or if you decide to drop.
- Check e-mail and online discussion several times a week.
- Have a
back-up plan in case your computer crashes. You can
always use the Open Lab in E-121during
open hours.
Good luck and let's have fun!!!
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