Guidelines for Online Interaction/Web-based IS Courses
As a web-based, independent study, the course you have registered to take this semester depends upon your connection to and use of several facets of Blackboard (Bb) in online interaction. As a participant in this class, you are expected to use all of these forms, as assigned. Each portion of your work counts toward your final evaluation in this class and participation is a key part of that evaluation.
Take a look at the various components that will be part of your course experience:
à Navigating your Bb connection for this course
à Accessing information using the links on the Bb main page for this course
à Using Weekly folders for assignments and directions (in the Assignments link on the Bb main page)
à Submitting assignments due in Bb on either Assignment Links (on the Assignments link) or Digital Drop (on the Tools link), when noted.
à Using Bb links, including External Links, for course handouts, web links, and other resources, as assigned
à Participating in Discussion Board (assigned journal focuses) and possible group forums, depending on the number enrolled in the course.
à Using DSLCC email to relay questions, concerns, or other information.
à Participating in Elluminate online class sessions, when/if assigned.
For this orientation, you need to read the remainder of this document, with its highlights of basics for the course and then do some navigating in your Bb course link to explore a bit and make sure you can access each component. If you are doing the Online Orientation, you will find specific instructions on completing this orientation at the end of this document.
Here are a few specifics:
Assignments (Folders/Other Assignments/Assignments Links/Study Guides): This section of Bb holds your weekly assignment folders as well as other writing assignments. To check these weekly guides, login to Bb and click on the “Assignments” link. Your weekly assignment folders will be listed by number throughout the semester and will hold expectations for the week’s readings as well as writings and due dates. Each new week’s folder will be available the Friday/Saturday before that week.
The majority of your essays/responses/other assignments will be submitted on this link as well in a folder entitled “Assignments Links”—the link will be titled/dated specifically for the assignment. After submitting your work at these links, you should get a confirmation page that your submission went through successfully and you will see an “!” for that assignment in your gradebook until I have graded the work. Once graded, you will be able to see your grade and click on that grade to view your paper with my comments.
Please be awareà Bb will only open MS Word (not Works) or Rich Text Format files. You are responsible for making sure your file is in one of those formats at the time of submission; your work will be considered late if I have to email you and request a resubmission in the correct format or in the correct link.
**NOTE: If an assignment is due in Assignments Links and you submit it in Digital Drop, you will receive a grade penalty. Pay close attention to where your assignment is to be submitted.
Discussion Board: This portion of the course in Bb offers an arena for you to react to specific areas of your subject as well as to fellow “classmates.” At various times through the semester, I will post a journal question in the Discussion Board and will make you aware of that question by noting it in the weekly assignments under the “Journal” portion on that page link. To access this question, login to Bb and follow these steps:
Ø Click on the “Discussion Board” link.
Ø Read the posted question and think about it for a bit. (You can log out at this point and come back when you’re ready to response—or if you’re good to go, follow the next step…)
Ø Click on the title of the question—this link will take you to the posting board.
Ø Click on the “Add New Thread” button in the top left side of the page.
Ø Add your subject title and then click in the message space and type your response.
Ø BE SURE to click the “Submit” button in the bottom right corner of the page when you have finished. Otherwise your response will not be posted and you will lose your work.
If there are other persons enrolled in your course, you will see their responses as well, and you can respond to them. At times, I will require you to do so, but that expectation will be noted on the weekly assignment page. Feel free to add a response to someone and keep good “netiquette” consideration in place. It’s fine to disagree with someone—just be nice telling them and give support so everyone can benefit from where your ideas have originated. The discussion board will be a significant part of your experience and it is NOT an optional assignment.
Other Info:
~~Take some time to browse around your account and if you feel a bit hedgy on using Bb, go to the “VCCS Help” tab at the top of your page and browse the topic links there for more information. There are two great links to have a virtual tour of using the Bb system.
~~On the “External Links” button of your Bb page for this course, I have linked a resource page for your course. This page is also available outside Bb on my faculty webpage. Go to the DSLCC faculty pages link (click on “Faculty and Staff”) on the DSLCC homepage at http://www.dslcc.edu. Click on my name and then on the “Course Links” link that appears on the left side of my main page; then click on your course link. Be sure to click on the right course link—I have several on-campus as well as web-based courses, so make sure you’re clicking on the one listed as the Web-based Independent Study for your course.
~~If Bb should be offline for any reason, the DSLCC IT department makes faculty aware of the problem. Should there be any interruption of service that coincides with paper due dates/times, I will make adjustments to the due dates by extending them until to the next day after the due date. This extension applies only in the case of a DSLCC or Bb related outage.
~~Due dates will be posted either by “mid-week” (Wednesday of that week) or “end-of-week” (Saturday of that week) designation. Please remember that these dates are the latest you can submit an assignment—early submissions are always welcomed! At times, such as take-home essay exam responses, there may be a specific day/time listed. Be aware that these due dates/times are firm.
For weekly assignments, if late, grade penalties apply if the work is not posted on the date due—so you actually have until midnight of the day due.
For exams, you will have until the assigned time and then the link will no longer be available and your grade will be a 0 if not submitted. THERE ARE NO MAKE-UP EXAMS in this course. If you miss a proctored exam and/or a take-home essay exam, you will have a 0 for that test.
**If you are out of the DSLCC service region and will be taking your proctored exams at a designated testing site, you are responsible for setting up those times, contacting the testing site, and having them contact me with information on where to send your exam. I will be glad to send those exams electronically to a specific individual, but that individual must then print off the exam and snail-mail it back to me.
à**Please be aware that reliable computer equipment is YOUR responsibility. If your work is not submitted at the required time, it is late, regardless of circumstances or what gremlin created havoc. Do not wait until the last minute to submit your work. If your work is late for any reason other than a Bb/DSLCC system-related glitch, your paper will be assessed a late penalty of 0.5 up to 1.0 per day of lateness. No late essay exam submissions will be accepted.
à**I do not take papers via email or snail mail. DSLCC has several computer labs available for your use should your personal equipment be unusable.
àOnline Orientation Assignment Only: You have five steps to complete: 1) READ YOUR SYLLABUS, POSTED UNDER COURSE DOCUMENTS ON YOUR Bb PAGE for your course. Note any questions or concerns you have for this guide to your course; 2) Access the External Links option in Bb and select one of the reference websites (your choice) listed for your class. Give the site a good look and in your response speak to the various components of the site; 3) Access the “Course Handouts” site on the External Links and read all of the guides for this course; 4) Write a brief reaction to the syllabus information, including your understanding of proctored tests and the information on plagiarism, a brief description of the website you chose, including basic information (name of site, site address, sections reviewed), and acknowledgment of reading the Course Handouts for this class. This response/reaction should be in completed form (as any submission should be—not draft form), 1 page minimum and in MLA standard format, which includes your name, date, class designation, and my last name, in standard 12 pt font.; 5) Post your written reaction in Assignments Links by 9 pm on Thursday of Week 1.
**Be sure to access information for Week 1 assignments IMMEDIATELY, complete the intro email to me from your DSLCC account, and get started on a great semester in your course!! J **
Please do not hesitate to let me know if you have questions or concerns. I check my campus email frequently (tvanlear@dslcc.edu) and my office voicemail often (Office #: 540.863.2854). You are welcomed to get in touch with me either way or both ways. During regular semester sessions, I have office hours that are posted on my faculty homepage and on my office door. You are welcomed to come see during those times or take advantage of the virtual office time I have in which I meet students online using the Elluminate connection you can find on my faculty page. Just log in using your full name—no password is necessary. During summer sessions, I do not have regular office hours on campus, but I will be happy to meet with you on a scheduled basis during normal college daytime hours. Just email or call to set up that time.