BOT 123, 124 & 125 Online Orientation

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

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 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.)

1. Login to Blackboard. The following are the first day of class for each course:
   BOT 123--January 26
   BOT 124--March 02
   BOT 125--April 13
   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.

1. How to login to Blackboard (available one day 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 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. 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.

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.

1. Skip This Step for Spring2009Test 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.

1. 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.

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. 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) Software: Excel 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:  978-0-76383-243-8 
  If you buy your textbook online other than the Cuyamaca Bookstore, make sure you purchase both items listed under "Required" above. 
  • 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. 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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