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Important Links
Online Orientations
BOT Online Instructors
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Introduction
This orientation will introduce you to the course content
and expectations for BOT 123, 124 & 125 online. You'll also have a chance to make sure
everything is set up and ready to go. Your first quiz (to be taken after
this
orientation) will include questions about information found on this web
page, syllabus, Blackboard, and Snap. Please review all items carefully. While you work through this
orientation, jot down any questions you might have and post them to our
course Help discussion board. I recommend that you print this page, and
check each item off as you complete it. Don't forget to take the 20-point
quiz to complete this orientation. The Orientation quiz is found in
Blackboard at the "exams" link. If you score less than 20 points, please
email me at
annie.zuckerman@gcccd.edu and I will reset the quiz for you so that you
may re-take it.
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What to do for this assignment
- Print this page and mark each item as you
complete it.
- Enroll in the course. You enroll for this online
course the same way you enroll in any other Cuyamaca College course. You
will need to be enrolled in the course before you can access the course
Blackboard site.
- Buy the textbook and install the software. You
can buy the book and Snap code at the campus bookstore, or from another
source. You will need them on the first day of class. In the package for
Snap is a password, not software. This course teaches Microsoft Excel
2007. If you already have Excel 2007 on your computer, you're ready. If
you have an older version of Word, you should really upgrade as there are
some new features that are covered in the textbook. (See below for more
details about the required course materials.)
- Login to Blackboard. The following are the first day of class
for each course:
BOT 123--August 20
BOT 124--September 24
BOT 125--October 29
Enrolled students will
be entered into the Blackboard system on the Saturday prior to the start
of class. If you enrolled successfully in
the class, you should be able to access the class. If you register for
the class less than one week prior to class starting, you must contact me
to be entered into the Blackboard system. If you want to add the class after the start date, you need to contact me for an add code.
- How to login to Blackboard
(available one week before class begins)
A. Go to http://bb.gcccd.net (click on
this link or the Blackboard Login link in the web page navigation
at the left side of this page)
B. Click the Login button
C. For Username enter your name as firstnamelastname (all lower
case)
D. For Password enter your birthday (mmddyy)
E. If you cannot login successfully the first time, try it again. Your
login information is the same as when you login to any computer on campus.
If you still have trouble logging in, STOP and contact me (annie.zuckerman@gcccd.edu).
Do not panic, we'll get it fixed. Do not click the create an account
button as this will only complicate matters and delay your first
login.
- Successful login! Now that you have logged in,
welcome to the course. Read the Welcome announcement. This
announcement contains helpful information on how the course works and
where to start.
- Update your personal information. The first time
you login to the course (or anytime you change e-mail address), click on
the Tools button, select Personal Information, and update
the e-mail address that you prefer to use for this class. When I send
class e-mail announcements, it will go to the e-mail address in your
profile. Save any changes.
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Print the syllabus
(available one week before class begins). In the Blackboard
course site, click on the Course Information button. Click on the
syllabus link. Print the syllabus and keep it with your textbook. You may
need to save the syllabus and then open it to print it. READ the whole
syllabus (you will need to answer questions on the quiz).
- Familiarize yourself with the course web site by
clicking on all of the links (buttons) in the course navigation on the
left side of the course website. There are also several links on the web
pages that display. Browse through them thoroughly to familiarize yourself
with the entire course website.
- Test your Snap account. Turn to page 3 in
your syllabus and follow the instructions to login to Snap. Once
you login, take the "Practice Quiz - To Test Snap" which is not
graded. This is to test your browser setup to make sure the online Snap
quizzes display correctly. There are instructions in your Snap
booklet to configure your web browser correctly. If you have problems
please e-mail me right away. I will respond as soon as possible. You can
always use Snap in the BOT lab because it works correctly on those
computers. If you are taking BOT 123, 124, 125 online with me, then one
password will work for all three classes.
- Take the online orientation quiz.
After completing the steps above, you can take the quiz (worth
20 points and due by Wed the first week of class). Login to
Blackboard, click on the Exams link, and click on the Online
Orientation Quiz. The quiz will cover information from the syllabus
and Blackboard.
- Begin on the course assignments. Turn to the
"Assignments and Deadlines" section
in your syllabus and begin working on the assignments in the order they are
listed. You can turn in assignments early, but please submit an entire
chapter at one time. Assignments will be submitted online via ftp folders.
Do not email any homework. The due dates for each assignment are listed in the
syllabus.
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Course textbook and software
The textbook bundled with Snap, and Snap by itself, are
available in the
Cuyamaca College Bookstore.
- Required:
1) Textbook: Benchmark Excel 2007 by Nita Rutkosky
2) Assessment password: Snap Single-Pin Package
3) Software: Excel 2007 (software
purchasing information)
Purchasing Options:
If you buy your textbook online, make sure you purchase the 3 items listed
under "Required" above. Two different bundles are available in the
Cuyamaca
College Bookstore:
1) Textbook with Snap and 180-day license of Office 2007, ISBN-13:
978-0-76383-297-7 (If you don't have Excel 2007, buy this bundle.)
2) Textbook with Snap, ISBN-13: 978-0-76383-159-2 (If you already have
Excel 2007, buy this bundle).
3) Textbook only, ISBN and Snap Single-Pin Package Stand Alone, ISBN-13:
978-0-76382-957-5.
- Access to a PC/Windows computer with the following
requirements:
- Computer/Processor: 500-MHz or
higher
- Memory: 256 MB of RAM or higher
- Hard disk: 2 GB of available hard
disk space
- Monitor: 800 x 600 minimum monitor
resolution; 1024 x 768 recommended DVD drive
- Operating system: Windows XP with
Service Pack 2 or later
- Internet access: Internet Explorer 6.0
- Sorry, no Macintosh as the Office 2003
program is very different on a Mac.
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Advice from BOT online students
- Keep up with the class. The biggest problem
online students have is gradually falling behind. You lose points when
assignments are late, and you may be dropped from the class if you get
behind. These classes are only 5-6 weeks in length and all work must
be completed by the class end date. The Comprehensive Excel 1-3
classes are scheduled in short blocks so that you can complete all three
classes in a single semester, as requested by students.
- Schedule at least 10 hours per week to focus on the
class. Some students may need more or less time, so you can make
adjustments based on your skill level in Word.
- Don't wait until the last minute to start an
assignment. If you run into a problem, it may take time to get help.
- Contact your instructor as soon as you begin to
have problems or if you decide to drop.
- Attend the BOT Flex Lab for
in-person help whenever the lab is open, if necessary. See lab staff to
enroll in the free supervised tutoring section.
- Check e-mail and online discussion several times a
week.
- Have a back-up plan in case your computer
crashes. You can always use the BOT Flex Lab during
open hours.
Good luck and let's have fun!!!
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