Table of Contents
- How will I find the course online?
- How is the work organized?
- How will I get help if I don't understand an assignment?
- Do I have to go online at a specific time each week?
- How often will I have to go online each week?
- What kind of workload can I expect?
- Can I see a course outline?
- Will there be a textbook?
- How will I turn in my homework and assignments?
- How will I be graded?
- What computer skills do I need?
- What are the advantages of online learning?
- How do I succeed in an online course?
How will I find the course online?
If you are reading this, then you are already logged into the course website and you have used your USER NAME and PASSWORD. You will need to give your user name and password each time you log on to the class web site. PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE YOUR USER NAME OR PASSWORD FOR THE DURATION OF THE COURSE.
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How is the work organized?
Each module should last about two weeks (much less in the summer). The modules are connected to three stories (with sometimes a film thrown in instead of a story). There is an easy mini-quiz for each story. There will be several discussion boards for each module. There is also a paper due for modules two, three, four, five, six, and seven. Your final paper will be due at the end of the course. See the course projects section (under general information) for more details.
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How will I get help if I don't understand an assignment?
You can check this FAQ, or the Student Manual (in Student Tools). Or you can email me. Or (first choice) post your question in the Q and A discussion board.
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Do I have to go online at a specific time each week?
No. This is an "asynchronous" course. YOU decide when to log on and do your work when you have time and/or want to. You do have to take responsibility for your own schedule and make sure that you set aside enough time to get the work done.
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How often will I need to go online each week?
Sometimes students are surprised to find that an online course actually takes more time than a face-to-face course. You can work on this course at any time, day or night, but don't forget to schedule time--there is no way to succeed in this course if you leave the work until the last minute.
You will probably need to spend a good amount of time online at least 3-4 times a week. A quick check every day is the best way to keep up and not miss anything, but you should plan on spending at least 1-2 hours online at least 3-4 times each week.
If you let more than one or two days go by without logging in at all, you're probably going to have too much catching up to do, and you'll fall further and further behind. Don't let this happen to you
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What kind of workload can I expect?
Students report that they do MORE work in online courses than they do in face-to-face classes. This is because, in addition to reading and writing assignments, all the communicating you do with your classmates and with your instructor are done in writing. You will definitely be writing more than you did in other courses. However, you are also NOT spending four plus four hours a week to attend class and to go to college , so it probably evens out. And don't forget, you'll never be stuck on a subway with a sick passenger, or stranded because your little sister had to stay home sick from school.
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Can I see a course outline?
There is a syllabus posted in the General Information section, as well as information about the course goals, materials, a schedule, and so on. You can certainly print this out. You can even frame it as a nice wallhanging and put it in your living room.
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Will there be a textbook?
There is a textbook for the class. It is The Ascent of Wonder. You can see the link in the Course Materials section under General Information. You must buy it. You may also need to buy one novel of your choice later in the semester for your final paper.
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How will I turn in my homework and assignments?
The COURSE WEBSITE has a special facility called the "Drop Box" for exchanging files between computers. You will send me your assignments and I will mark them and return them to you. All the mini-quizzes can be taken online.
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How will I be graded?
Your grade will be a combination of all your assigned work, exams, projects, and postings to the Forums. See COURSE INFORMATION FOR SPECIFICS.
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What computer skills do I need?
You do NOT need to be a computer expert to succeed in an online course. Pre-requisites are given in Course Information (Syllabus).
You DO need to be able to:
1. Use an Internet browser to log on to web sites.
2. Send and receive email.
3. Copy and paste text between documents and between applications.
4. Use word processing programs for your assignments.
NOTE: No matter how much or how little you know about computers, technical problems will invariably come up that defy all reason and logic. If you are unable to log on to the class web site for more than one day, and if you can't send me email from somebody's computer (on which you can also receive an answer), use an older technology. CALL ME ON THE PHONE so I know you are still alive. I will return your message, and we will plot your return to cyberspace together.
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What are the advantages of online learning?
The advantages of online learning are many. You don't have to commute to school (no subways!), you don't have to wake up early, you don't have to worry about being late for class, I can't see you fall asleep in class, and you can log on at 2 a.m. if that's what you want. Also, since you have to be very disciplined about logging on, online learning is good for exercising your self-discipline and getting out of the habit of cramming. Some students also feel more free to speak their mind when they are writing posts and their classmates can't see them.
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The Number One key to success in this, or any other, online course is taking personal responsibility for keeping up with the work. You have to go to the internet to find the course. It won't come looking for you. You can't sit at the back of the room and learn from "just being there."How do I succeed in an online course
This document is based on one created by Professor B. Bernhardt of College of Staten Island/CUNY.