BOT 126 Online Orientation

Introduction

This orientation will introduce you to the course content and expectations for BOT 126 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, and Blackboard. 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 take it again. You are allowed multiple attempts until you successfully score 18 out of 20 points.

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What to do for this assignment

1. Print this page and mark each item as you complete it. 
    
2. 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.

1. Buy the textbook and install the software. You can buy the book at the campus bookstore, or from another source. You will need them on the first day of class. This course teaches Microsoft Access 2007. If you already have Access 2007 on your computer, you're ready. If you have an older version of Access, you must upgrade to the newer version. (See below for more details about the required course materials.)

1. Login to Blackboard. The first day of class is October 19. 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. A welcome email will be sent to enrolled students prior to the class with the syllabus attached. If you want to add the class after the start date, you need to contact me for an add code.

1. How to login to Blackboard (available one day before class begins) 
   A. Go to http://bb.gcccd.edu (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 firstname.lastname (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.

1. 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.

1. Print the syllabus (available one day 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).

1. 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.
    
2. 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). You must score 18 out of 20 points to successfully pass the quiz. 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.

1. 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. You are encouraged to work ahead as the class moves at a fast pace. Assignments will be submitted online in Blackboard using the "Submit Homework Here" link in the Assignments section. Do not email any homework. It will not be accepted. The due dates for each assignment are listed in the syllabus and in Blackboard.

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Course textbook and software
The textbook is available in the Cuyamaca College Bookstore or online at www.whywaitforbooks.com.

• Required:
  1) Textbook: Benchmark Access 2007 by Nita Rutkosky; ISBN for textbook only: 978-0-76383-004-5
  2) Software: Access 2007 (software purchasing information)
  
  Purchasing Options: 
  If you buy your textbook online, make sure you purchase the 2 items listed under "Required" above.
  The bundle available in the Cuyamaca College Bookstore includes the textbook with 180-day license of Office 2007, ISBN-13:  978-0-76383-249-0 
  You can purchase the textbook only directly from the publisher at ParadigmCollege.com for $70.35 which includes S&H. If you buy your textbook online other than the Cuyamaca Bookstore, make sure you purchase both items listed under "Required" above. 
   
• Access 2007 software, which is part of Office 2007. (Word XP and older are missing some features of the new Access 2007, so you won't be able to do all assignments if you have an old version.) You can get academic pricing, which is significantly lower than retail, at several places. The best prices are available at  www.collegesoftware.org, but it is exclusively for currently-enrolled students. You can also check gradware.com, edu.com and campustech.com.
• 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 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. This classes is only 8 weeks in length and all work must be completed by the class end date. The Comprehensive Access 1 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.
• Work ahead. 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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