Welcome Eco-Healthy Child Care Participants!
On November 2, 2015, we will begin to explore the question: “How can we improve the health of
the children we care for every day?” The answers to this question not only lie in the examination of our
environment for our children, families and staff, while at the same time implementing a high quality, ageappropriate environment and ecology curricula that can be used to educate children. I wanted to give you a
quick introduction, give you your first assignment and make sure that you know how to get to the
blackboard course so we are all ready to go!
My name is Denise Madzik and I am the Coordinator for Reibman Hall Children’s Center and a
Professional Development Instructor for Community Education at Northampton Community College. During
the past 29 years, I have worn many “hats” in the early care and education field including classroom teacher,
center director, consultant and trainer. I am also a wife, mom of two beautiful and brilliant daughters, 25
and 21, mom to a dog and 3 cats, and a “phanatical” baseball fan (hopefully, you get the intentional
misspelling).
A first assignment for you is to go login to your blackboard account and click “Eco-Healthy Child
Care” link. Hopefully, you're in! You can begin to explore the buttons on the left-hand side of the page,
including the “course home” button, which lists any new announcements and places to go if you need help.
Now go to the "start here" button and explore the documents that explain the Blackboard system, technical
requirements, student responsibilities and assessment criteria (please remember that this is not a graded
course, but your participation is required to obtain and earn your professional development certificate at the
end of the course.
When you are ready, you can begin to navigate the “discussions” button, where you will be sharing
ideas and exploring questions. Please also click on the “Learning Content” button to view the content of the
session and the “Eco-Healthy Fact Sheets and PA Reference Pages” button to view research and facts
regarding the 16 checklist items (you will learn about the checklist during this session).
The idea behind this 24/7 professional development session is to be able to access it at your
convenience. Please do, however, check back often on discussion boards so you have an opportunity to see,
respond to and interact with other’s responses. Ideally, you can have a conversation with other participants
through the discussion board. P.S. Don’t wait until the end of the session schedule. Think of how difficult it
might be to join a face to face conversation just as everyone is about to wrap up and leave.
Your participation will be recorded in the PA Registry after the course ends on November 16th. In
the world of online learning, that translates into participation in discussion boards and assignments. I can
also monitor the things that you click on within the session. Please do more than just click on buttons…have
fun!
You will not have access to Blackboard or your course until the session begins on November 2, 2015.
When you have access to your course site in Blackboard, the objectives and other information will be
available to you through Blackboard.
Your course uses Blackboard for your course site. You may access Blackboard from the NCC home
page at http://www.northampton.edu by clicking the ‘logins’ area and then choosing ‘Blackboard/Online
Learning’ or you can go directly to http://northampton.blackboard.com.
Blackboard Login Procedure:
Your Blackboard logon is your Lifelearn student ID#. That ID# begins with ll (two lower case Ls) and
then usually 4 or 5 digits. Your initial Blackboard password is your Lifelearn ID #. If you previously used
Blackboard and changed your password, use your current password instead.
When you logon to Blackboard, you may change your password if you desire. Also, please
verify/change your e-mail address. Instructions on how to do this are in the Blackboard Manual accessed
from the NCC Online Learning website. You can access and print a manual by going to the NCC Online
Learning website at http://northampton.edu/admissions/online-classes/online-studentresources/blackboard-student-information.htm.
You can email requests for technical assistance to helpdesk@northampton.edu.
Here are some tips for success in an on-line class:
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Time matters. Set up a schedule for reviewing class assignments, including time for reading,
researching, writing and participation in discussion forums.
Feedback systems. You will get feedback directly through discussion forums. If you feel you need
additional feedback, please email or call me.
Networking. Sharing knowledge with each other is a valuable experience and an opportunity for
even more meaningful and enhanced learning.
Savor the differences. This online training will have value-added features that you would not
experience in a traditional face to face workshop, such as access to the internet, the use of
technology and practice in communication skills when you’re working in groups from a distance.
Please feel free to contact me at any time if you have a question about this training or specific
assignments. I welcome your questions.
Please reply to this email so that we are sure that email communication systems are working.
I look forward to working with all of you in our journey of exploring new ideas. Thank you and have an
outstanding rest of your day!
Denise Madzik,
Coordinator,
Reibman Hall Children’s Center
dmadzik@northampton.edu