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Welcome to my Online Orientation!
English 120: Section 723
Fall 2010
Catherine Gillis
Professor of English
Office- Room 1765G
(2nd floor of the McCarthy Library)
cgillis@napavalley.edu
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Upon Completion of this Orientation,
you should be able to:
• Understand the expectations of this Online course
• Acquire knowledge of expectations for Online courses in
general
• Feel comfortable that this is the format for you
• Understand the difference between WebAdvisor and
Blackboard
• Understand how to set up your computer to use the
Blackboard platform
• Understand enough Blackboard basics to begin this course
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Blackboard Versus WebAdvisor
What is the difference?
Blackboard
Blackboard is the hosting
platform for the college’s
Online classes.
WebAdvisor
WebAdvisor is where you
register for admission to the
college and thereby enroll in
classes.
NOTE: You will have different
User names and Passwords for
both WebAdvisor and
Blackboard.
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Before logging into your Online Class,
you will need:
• Your Student ID number- This can be found on your
registration receipt or in WebAdvisor.
•
Access to a PC or Mac computer with:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Microsoft Word 2003 or 2007
Internet Explorer 7 or later; Mozilla Firefox 3.0X or later; Apple
Safari 2 or later with Mac OS 10.4 or 10.5
Java 1.5.0 or later
All pop-up blockers disabled
• An Internet connection, ideally broadband like DSL or Cable
• Good computer skills
• An environment where you can focus on your school work.
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Step 1: Open your Browser and type in the Napa
Valley College Website Address at
http://www.napavalley.edu/
Click on
Online Education
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Step 2: Click to Log In to the NEW section of
Blackboard!
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Step 3: In the new window, click on Log In
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Step 4: Be sure you have the latest Java update and
your pop-up blocker MUST be disabled for this
site.
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Step 5: Log in!
Your User name was created
using the first two letters of
your first name, followed by
the first two letters of your last
name, followed by the last four
digits of your Napa Valley
College student ID number
(WebAdvisor number).
For example, if your name is
John Smith and your ID
number is 2341343, your User
name would be JOSM1343
(letters in all CAPS. If you do
not know your student ID
number, check your
registration receipt or log-in to
WebAdvisor. Your initial
password is STUDENT (caps)
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Step 6: Yeah! You’ve successfully logged in!
IMPORTANT! NOW
CHANGE YOUR
PASSWORD
IMMEDIATELY!
Be sure to change
your password to
something easy for
you to remember, but
hard for someone
else to guess.
You can change your
password in Personal
Information.
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Step 7: Click on Change Password
Once you’ve
changed your
Password, click
Submit to return to
your class Home
Page.
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Step 8: Accessing your course
To access your Online
class, click the
underlined title to enter
the course.
For example, this user
has two sections: ENGL
120
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Congratulations! You’ve successfully
logged into your Online course and are
ready to learn more about Online
learning!
Problems?
If you have questions, or need additional
help, please email me first, then fill out a help form on
the online education page
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Role of Online Instructors
• Online instructors have a rather different role
in Online classes versus a traditional
classroom. They are no longer lecturers
standing in the front of the classroom, they are
in a virtual world.
• “Instructors are no longer sages on the stage,
but they become guides by your side”!
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Online Etiquette & Chat
• Online courses are based on the premise that
students learn best in a community. 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.
• Therefore, please use common courtesy and
socially acceptable behavior in all e-mail
communications.
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Online-Class Etiquette Guidelines
• Participate to share and be heard—create a sense of
community.
• Be polite, respectful, and honest.
• Do not type in UPPER CASE. This is considered “shouting” on
the Internet and is hard to read.
• Don’t be inappropriate. Avoid “flaming” or sending heated or
abusive messages. Think BEFORE you decide to reply or not!
• Be clear! Help us to see you by explaining your ideas fully.
• Always enter a subject and your name in your e-mails to your
instructor.
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Online-Class Etiquette Guidelines
(Continued)
• If sending large attachments, please inform the recipient.
• Be persistent—when stuck, e-mail or call for assistance
or help right a way.
• There are no dumb questions—share tips, helps, and
questions.
• Ask for feedback—agree to disagree if necessary.
• Remember, e-mail is a permanent type of document. It
can be retrieved and shared by many persons.
• Think BEFORE you push the “Send” button.
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To Online or Not to Online!
Words of Encouragement!
• Online classes are NOT easier than traditional classes.
• They require at least as much time as on-campus
courses.
• Self-motivation; self-discipline; time management;
communication and organizational skills; and patience
are all necessary traits to be successful in any Online
class.
• In this regard, please plan to fully participate and give
this class the amount of time and attention needed to
learn the material to be a successful Online student!
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Academic Honesty
You must abide by Napa Valley College’s
Academic Honesty Policy (S6330 Napa Valley College 20082010 Course Catalog, p. 37).
Know the consequences of cheating and plagiarism
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Congratulations!
This Completes the Online Orientation part
of the class. Now, let’s move on to a few
more tips on how to be successful in
navigating around this Online English class!
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Welcome to English 120
• Regardless of your major or career goal, it will always
be important to communicate intelligently and clearly.
Despite how smart you may be, if you apply for a job
or send out a company email with errors in it, people
will and do judge your competence.
• When you have successfully completed this class, you
will be able to find and proofread errors in grammar,
learn the MLA format requirements for research
papers, learn research techniques, and utilize critical
thinking skills to analyze and approach topics.
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Step 1: Go to the main Course
Content (Home)Page
• Feel free to click on EVERYTHING you see to familiarize
yourself with the class.
• Notice the folder (assignments) which will contain each
week’s assignments. This is on the course home page.
• Send an email to me which contains an alternative email
just in case. You may also inform me of any special
needs or questions you may have.
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Step 2: Click in the Assignments
folder on your home page
• Open the first week’s
assignments and review the
list for that week.
• You should upload
something about yourself
from this area.
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Step 3: Click on the Mail link on the lefthand side of your screen
NOTE: All e-mails between the students and your
instructor must go through the English 120Website!
• To send a e-mail, click on the email link and then “create
message.”
• Click on the “TO” box (and cc or bcc if desired) in #1.
• To send an email to me, scroll to find Catherine Gillis To
select other classmates, be sure to select all or individual users.
• In the #2 box, be sure to place a subject in the Subject box,
then write a message.
• To attach/upload files, click on “browse.” Browse to the file
you want to attach, select it, and click Open. Pop-up blockers
must be turned off and Java must be on!!
• Once your are finished, click Submit. That’s how easy it is!
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Step 4: Go to your dashboard each time
you log in and check for announcements,
recent posts, and other messages
• Announcements- Check each time you log in.
• I may also post important messages at the top of the
Main Home Page.
• Discussion Board- Check the Discussion Board
each time you log in. Collaborative student learning is a
great way of gaining information.
• The Discussion Board will be monitored to ensure it is
used appropriately. Be certain that all posts pertain to
this class only.
• To use the Discussion Board, click on any underlined
topic to reply or click CREATE FORUM to start your
own thread. Type your message and click Submit.
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More!
• Assignments- All written assignments and instructions will be
in the Assignments Folder on the home page.
• Assessments- This area is for timed quizzes and essays only
(including the final). You will be required to come to campus for
Essay #3.
• On the Syllabus link, you will find the entire syllabus with an
outline of important dates and assignments, but specific weekly
assignments must be checked in the home page folder.
• IMPORTANT! Any technical problems with your computer or
passwords, etc., that you are responsible for maintaining do not
count as legitimate excuses for missing due dates.
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Time Commitment
• You will need to log on to the Website at least three
to four times weekly to check for any important
messages on the Home Page, Announcements,
E-Mails, and to read and post discussions on the
Discussion Board.
• Approximately six to eight hours per week of
computer use is recommended for successful
completion of course requirements.
• Each week’s assignments are due typically at the end
of the week and the next weekly assignment list will
usually be up by Sunday evening at the latest.
• All assignments must be completed to satisfactorily
complete the requirements of this course.
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What Next?
Read the Syllabus AGAIN
from Top to Bottom…Why?
• Contact information/Office
Hours
• Required textbooks & other
materials
• Requirements of the course
(the same as a face to face
class). You must also write
one essay on campus (#3)
• What to do when your
computer or connection
doesn’t work
• Grading information
Understand the Course
Objectives, Evaluation & Grading
• Catalog Description
• Course Objectives & Student
Learning Outcomes
• Evaluation & Grading
Standards
• Grading Policy
• Academic Honesty Policy &
Consequences of Academic
Dishonesty
• Withdrawal Dates
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!