BOT 151 Orientation

Fall 2009

Introduction

This orientation will introduce you to the course content and expectations for BOT 151 online. You'll also have a chance to make sure everything is set up and ready to go. 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.

What to do for this online orientation:

1. 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.
2. Buy the textbook and install the software. You can buy the book from the campus bookstore, or from another source immediately! If you already have Outlook 2007 on your computer, you're ready. If you have an older version of Outlook, 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.)
3. Login to Blackboard. The week before classes begin, those who have enrolled will be entered into the Blackboard system. The class roster will be uploaded in Blackboard on January 28th. You should now be able to access the class. If you register for the class after January 28th, you must contact me to be entered into the Blackboard system. If you want to add the class after February 5th(the date this orientation should be completed by), you will need to contact me for an add code.
4. How to login to Blackboard. 
   A. Go to http://gcccd.blackboard.com/ (Hyperlink to Blackboard).
   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 (diane.woods@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.
5. Successful login! Now that you have logged in, welcome to the course. Familiarize yourself with the course site by clicking on all of the links on the left side of the page. There are also several links on the pages that display. Browse through them
6. 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.
7. Print the syllabus. In the Blackboard course site, click on the Course Documents button. Click on the syllabus link. Print the syllabus and keep it with your textbook. It is very important to READ the whole syllabus and use it as your guide and map for this course.
8. Read the Welcome announcement. This announcement contains helpful information on how the course works and where to start.
9. Begin on the course assignments. Turn to the Assignments Page in your syllabus and begin on the assignments in the order they are listed. You can turn in assignments early, but please save the assignments as “Chap##Assess## Last_Name”. (For example: Chap3-Assess2-Woods)  When you submit the assignments by email attachment please put the same information in the subject line of the email. This will assist me in giving credit where credit is due! The due dates for each assignment are listed in the syllabus. Most assignments are due by midnight on Monday, but be sure to check the syllabus for exact due dates.  

Course textbook and software

The textbook is available in the Cuyamaca College Bookstore.

• Microsoft Outlook 2007 by Denise Seguin
  Paradigm Publishers
  ISBN 0-7638-3016-X
  
  
  Outlook 2007 software is part of Microsoft Office 2007. You can get academic pricing, which is significantly lower than retail, at several places. The best textbook prices are available at  http://elms06.e-academy.com/CollegeSoftware/index.cfm, but it is exclusively for currently-enrolled students. You can also check gradware.com, edu.com and campustech.com (Hyperlinks to significantly lower textbook prices).
• Access to a PC/Windows computer with the following requirements:
  • Computer/Processor:  Pentium 233-MHz or faster (Pentium III recommended)
  • Memory:  128 MB of RAM or greater
  • Hard disk:  150 MB of hard disk space
  • Operating system:  Windows XP, Windows 2000 with Service Pack 3 (SP3), or higher
  • Internet access:  Internet Explorer 6.0
  • Sorry, no Macintosh as the Office 2003 program is very different on a Mac.

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 class is only ten weeks in length and all work must be completed by the class end date.
• Schedule at least 5 to 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 (Hyperlink to 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 (Hyperlink to BOT Flex Lab) during open hours.

Good luck and let's have fun!!!

Home Page (Hyperlink to Diane Woods' home page)

BOT 151 (Hyperlink to BOT 151 home page)