|
|
|
|---|---|---|
Orientation Packet
Jim Mucci
phone: (562) 546.2604
e-mail jmucci@lbcc.edu
_______________________________________
Hardware and Software Requirements
Preparing for Your Distance Learning course
Overview of the e-Learning Environment and Course Features
_______________________________________
1. Add the email address de@lbcc.edu to your contacts list in your email account.
(This is to avoid the new password ending up in your spam folder. Even if you have received e-mails from de@lbcc.edu before, you may still need to add it to your contacts list.)
2. Launch your browser (e.g., Internet Explorer. FireFox) and Access the LBCC e-Learning Zone at the following URL: http://ezone.lbcc.edu Under Password, do not use your PeopleSoft password; instead, click on “New User? Obtain your password.” Enter your 7 digit student ID and your email address (the address you provided on PeopleSoft). (If you have not yet updated your e-mail on PeopleSoft, follow the instructions on the e-Zone page. Be sure Email Type is set to “Home” in PeopleSoft.) Your new e-Zone password will be emailed to you.
3. You can access the course between the official LBCC Begin Date and End Date of your course. (Check the e-Courses schedule for dates.)
To access the course, log in at http://ezone.lbcc.edu and enter your ID and the new password that was sent to you. Once you enter the course portal, change your password on the "My Profile" option and save your password in a secure place.
4. Direct Course Access can be achieved by going to URL http://www.ewhcorporatesupport.com/IBUS75a/index75a.htm User Name: IBUS75 Password: 0609
4. Use your Internet Service Provider’s e-mail account (e.g., AOL, Earthlink) to e-mail messages to your instructors and your fellow students. If you don’t have an ISP e-mail account, get a free e-mail box at Yahoo.com or Hotmail.com
Instructions for getting an e-mail account are available on “S.I.D.E.Road” at: http://de.lbcc.edu/resources_tools/techhowtos.html
5. You may also come to the LBCC Open Access Lab (LBCC Open Access Lab (LAC- downstairs in the E building, E07L or PCC- GG113) and get assistance in obtaining a free e-mail account with Yahoo or Hotmail.
6. To send practices / assignments with your e-mail, attach the documents to your e-mail message using the interface of the e-mail program you use. For proper delivery, make sure you add an extension after the file’s name when naming it (for Word documents use .doc and for Excel documents use .xls extensions).
Instructions for attaching a file to an e-mail account are available on “S.I.D.E.Road” at: http://de.lbcc.edu/resources_tools/techhowtos.html
7. If you need technical help with your e-mail, contact the DL Student HelpDesk at (562) 938-4818.
(See Technical Support below for details).
Hardware and Software Requirements
8. Computer:
Pentium PC with at least 128 MB of ram, 56.6k modem and Internet access OR
Power Mac with at least 128 MB of ram, 56.6k modem and Internet access
On either platform, more memory and a fast line (DSL, or cable) are highly recommended.
9. Internet browser. The preferred browser for this course site is MS Internet Explorer. It is recommended that you download the latest version of the browser before you start working on this course.
10. Microsoft Office - CHANGE / ADD SOFTWARE REQUIRED FOR YOUR COURSE. Change or delete items 11 & 12 below as necessary for your course.
11. Acrobat Reader is necessary to read .pdf files (usually instructions/ manuals, etc.).
Instructions for downloading and installing Acrobat Reader are available on “S.I.D.E.Road” at: http://de.lbcc.edu/resources_tools/techhowtos.html
12. To view the instructional movies included in this course, you’ll need to any Microsoft capable vidoe viewer.
13. For best viewing, set your monitor resolution to 800 X 600, 72Hz or higher.
14. If you need technical assistance with any of the above, contact the HelpDesk at (562) 938-4818. HelpDesk technologists are available Monday - Thursday 8 A.M. – 7 P.M. and Friday 8 A.M. – 7 P.M.
Preparing For Your Online Course
15. Preparing for learning online can be tricky. While you might think that as long you have the technical skills / requirements the rest would be very easy, the truth is far from being so. In addition to the technical skills, you will need excellent time-management skills and goal-setting skills. You will need to learn how to independently control your studies so you don’t procrastinate and fall behind to a point that it is too late to complete the course successfully.
16. “S.I.D.E. Road: Success in Distance Education” (http://de.lbcc.edu/sideroad) includes Web-based resources to help prepare you for everything you need to achieve a successful online experience. “S.I.D.E.Road” assists you in acquiring the skills you need to be a successful Distance Learning student, as well as avoiding typical hurdles that many Distance Learning students experience such as procrastination and poor time management. This includes learning to be independent, taking responsibility for your own learning, and getting familiar with online resources available at LBCC. You will also learn about other types of Distance Learning courses offered at LBCC and their technical requirements. “S.I.D.E.Road” also includes interactive simulations in which you will meet students who are about to fail in their distance learning course and help them make better decisions throughout their course that ultimately will result in their success.
17. Technical “HOW TOs,” time management tools, and many other online resources are available in the Resources section of “S.I.D.E. Road.”
18. The LBCC Distance Learning program Home page (http://de.lbcc.edu) includes additional information and resources for you to use throughout your distance learning course experience.
19. Access this course FREQUENTLY (preferably every day or two). Expect to spend at least the same amount of time in a distance learning course as you would in an on-campus section of the same course. Schedule your “class time” the same as you would if you were physically coming to class.
20. Get familiar with your e-learning environment. Click on each feature to explore the content included in it, and to get used to learning in this environment.
21. Do your part in forming a solid community of learners. Upon entering the course for the first time, access the Student Bios page and follow the instructions to add your bios. This will enable you to communicate individually with other students throughout the course.
22. Check the Announcements section for updated course news.
23. The Calendar section can be thought of as your learning guide for this course. Work the modules sequentially; new lessons build on material learned in previous sections, so it's important to follow the calendar. To complete a section, do all the items listed including the readings, study guides, practices, Web links, discussion forums, polls, and graded assignments.
24. Make sure you complete all the assignments in a timely manner based on the due dates for each assignment. For due dates, check the Calendar sections of the course. Read the assignment instructions for each section carefully. Some assignments need to be e-mailed to the instructors, and some need to be reported on in the forums. There are also some self-assessment practices -- these are for you only. There is no need to e-mail or share the results with anyone. If you have questions about these practices, e-mail the instructor. Always e-mail your assignment on time! It is very easy to procrastinate -- don’t fall behind. Always let your instructors know what you are working on, and let them know when they can expect your assignment.
25. Do the practices provided in your course before you do the graded assignment for that module. It would be wrong to think that because practices are not graded, you don’t need to access them. The practices, sometimes referred to as Activities or Self-Assessments, are invaluable tools for you to see what you don’t know and learn from your mistakes without letting these mistakes affect your grade.
26. Be active! e-mail your instructor and your fellow students every time you need to obtain material, ask a question, or share thoughts and information. Participate actively in the discussion forum. Post your responses to the instructor’s topics and respond to other students' posts as well. The forum is another way of learning, and it is very important for your success in the course. If I do not hear from you on a regular basis, you will be dropped from the course.
Overview of the e-ZLrn e-Learning Environment and Course Features
27. Your e-learning environment, called e-ZLRN©, is a student-centered, friendly e-learning environment. All the features available in the course are listed on the left frame. Using e-ZLRN©, you cannot be “lost” somewhere in cyberspace. If at any point, you are not sure where to find an activity or a practice, look for the appropriate feature on the left, click on it and start your way again from there. In some modules, content pages are opened as new windows (instead of in the main frame). When you finish working on these pages, close the window to return to the course (you will be prompted to do that at the end of such pages). The course features are arranged in three zones:
The Blue Zone includes Information features.
The Red Zone includes Learning features.
The Gold Zone includes Communication / Collaboration features.
28. When you click on a button, its content is displayed on the main frame (the larger area on the screen). The content of the first feature, Announcements, is displayed on your screen upon launching the course, so that you are able to get course news immediately. To prepare for your course, click on each feature and explore the content included in it. The features included in this course are as following:
Information Features |
Learning Features |
Collaboration Features |
• Course Information - General information about the course including course orientation and syllabus. • Instructor's Information - Instructors contact information. • Calendar – Class schedule and important dates, including assignment due dates. • Grades – Check your current grade and performance data “anytime, anywhere.” |
• Tools & Resources – Links to “S.I.D.E.Road” useful DL technical and academic resources and tools. |
• Discussion Forums - Weekly discussions (asynchronous). • Announcements – Important messages for the entire class. |
29. All graded assignments need to be e-mailed to the instructor by the specified due dates. Forum posts are required as well; due dates are posted next to each forum.
30. Join an Online Groups for IBUS75 and learn how to use the discussion forum. Always respond to the originating posts and to messages posted by other students. You are required to post to the forums at least twice per each topic posted (once in response to the oringinator’s topic and at least once more in response to another student.) I look forward to reading your forum posts. Good luck!
32. Various LBCC online resources are available for you to access and use. Some of them include:
• Online Bookstore - LBCC Online Bookstore: Order your course material online at http//www.lbccbookstore.com/lbcc/main/
• Online Library - Visit LBCC Library online (http://lib.lbcc.edu/) to access electronic databases, online catalog and other useful tools and resources.
• Online Counseling - LBCC Online Counseling (http://onlinecounseling.lbcc.edu/) are available for you “anytime, anywhere”.
A complete list of LBCC online resources is available on S.I.D.E.Road at: http://de.lbcc.edu/sideroad
33. For technical assistance or questions, call the LBCC Distance Learning HelpDesk line at (562) 938-4818. The HelpDesk is available Monday through Thursday 8 A.M. - 7 P.M. and Fridays 8 A.M. - 7 P.M. If the line is busy, the voicemail message will come up. However, DO NOT leave a message on this voicemail; hang up and call again a few minutes later. The HelpDesk staff will not be able to return your calls.
34. For all content-related questions, please contact the instructor at (562)546.2604 or by e-mail at jmucci@lbcc.edu