W
ELCOME
L
ETTER
Hello Students:
My name is Ron Woods, and I am delighted to have this opportunity of being your instructor for
Intermediate Accounting, Summer Quarter 2009. This class begins on June 29, 2009 and ends on August 21, 2009.
Online learning can be an incredibly rewarding and exciting adventure. It provides flexibility and an opportunity for students who for whatever reason elect to take college courses online.
However, you should be aware that self-discipline, self-motivation, and attention to detail are required to successfully complete courses in this format. More than most, online students must be committed to meeting deadlines for reading and homework assignments. In addition, they should be ready to participate in the online discussion forums, and can expect to spend a minimum of 4 hours per week online.
Online students should already have:
1. Basic knowledge performing tasks such as using word processing programs and the ability to use Excel and PowerPoint to prepare and view online presentations
2. A basic knowledge of web browsers, and be able to send and open emails with attachments.
3. Basic knowledge of organizing file folders
Please note that your grade in this course is not based, per se, on the three points above.
However, some knowledge of the three points above will help you navigate the course much easier. In any event, now is a good time to either, familiarize yourself with these skills or, to reinforce the skills you already have. Remember, I’m here to help so let me know early in the course if you are having difficulty with your basic computer skills.
The experience of taking an online course is quite different from that of taking a traditional on campus in classroom course. Instead of attending a regular classroom, you will be sitting in a virtual classroom (web room). You will log onto the web site on a regular basis to either, read lecture materials, watch video speeches, or view class notes. You will also use the web site to obtain assignments, read announcements, and communicate with the instructor and your fellow classmates. You will not normally be communicating with the instructor in real time, as you would be in a traditional classroom setting; however, an advantage of an online course is that you can attend class when it is most convenient for you. Be advised that you do not have total flexibility in attending the virtual classroom. Occasionally you will be required to log on at specific times in which you will need to read certain lecture materials, complete online assignments and quizzes, etc. For example, you may be required to log on a certain number of times per week or log on during particular days in order to evidence that you are successfully participating in virtual classroom discussions.
You might be required to click on the Discussion Board after logging on to the web site and type in your responses to posted questions. Class participation is important and online postings serve in part, as a substitute for traditional in-classroom discussions. I will review student online participation and keep individual records on the level of student on-line participation.

This class is completely on-line. All Assignments, Quizzes and Exams are on-line. Therefore, good communication between student and instructor are important. Prompt response to emails and student questions is a top priority of mine. However, it is not always possible to respond to emails as quickly as one might expect. It is my goal to make every effort to respond to most, or all, of my emails within 48 hours or sooner. On those rare occasion in which I may fail to do so, I ask your patience because as the student, you are most important. You can get more information regarding class-communication, from your Syllabus .
The online platform that we use for this class is WebCt.
If you have not had a class using
WebCt, you should review the online orientation. If you have used it before, then you may need a reminder for your user name and password. This reminder is located at the online orientation site. The virtual door to the Angel classroom will be open by the first day of class However it is sometimes open before that date. Either way, when you can access the site, please do so, and follow the instructions.
The Textbook for the class is Intermediate Accounting, 16e., Stice –Stice & Skousen .
Publisher: Thompson Southwestern . The text is available from the campus bookstore.
You can start your online class by going to www.virtualcollege.org
Click on “Registered
Stud ents” and follow the step-by-step instructions. It might take a couple of days for some students to see their names added to the course. When you are able to log on to the site, you will be able to access the syllabus for the class, obtain your assignments for the first week, and review the course requirements.
For the first few days of the course you may contact me at rwoods@sccd.ctc.edu
to clear up and problems you might be having accessing the course site. After the first week, please direct all communications through the “WebCt” site.
I have included a list of the information and activities you can find at the WebCt site
Class information:
1. Course Website
2. Syllabus
3. Class schedule
5. Lecture Notes
6. Video Lectures (When and if Available)
8. Discussion Board
Activities:
1. Weekly assignments
2. Quizzes
3. Exams
4. Discussion Topics
I sincerely appreciate you taking this course and I look forward to a fun and productive quarter.
Best regards,
Ron Woods
Accounting Faculty & Department Chair