Information for Students Interested in Dr. Utgaard's Online History Courses

HIST 100, 101, and 105 online are interactive, reading- and writing-intensive courses. The courses will take place on the Blackboard Online Platform. Before enrolling in a course, please consider the following questions to determine if a course is right for you. 

• Do you work well alone and are you motivated to keep up with reading and writing assignments?
• Are you proactive in seeking help when you need it?
• Do you have a reliable internet connection at home and a working e-mail account? If not, do you have regular access to an internet connection at the college, a public library, or somewhere else?

If you answer "no" to  any of the above questions, you will be better off enrolling in a regular section. If you tend to answer "yes" to the above questions, this could be a great course for you. 

How do the courses work? 

The courses are arranged in modules that coincide with the academic calendar. In addition to reading assignments, each module includes an "attendance" discussion board and some type of graded assignment ranging from research papers, to exams, or map exams. Students will be able to access their own grades. Taking more than one online history course per semester is not recommended, (especially in the accelerated summer format).

How do I enroll? 

You enroll in the course the same way you enroll in any other Cuyamaca College course. You will need be enrolled in the course before you can access the course Blackboard site. 

Orientation 

If you enroll in an online course, please follow the directions below.

Orientation to Dr. Utgaard's Online Courses (Follow these steps exactly!)

1.	Enroll in the course.
2.	Buy the textbooks at the campus bookstore or from another source. You will need the books immediately! (See below for the required books.)
3.	The weekend before classes begin, those who have enrolled will be entered into the Blackboard system. You will be able to access the class on Monday, August 24th. In the event that there is still space in the course and you are attempting to add late, you must contact me for an add code.
4.	How do I login?
	A.	Go to http://bb.gcccd.edu/webapps/login/
	B.	Click the Login button. (Link to Blackboard login instructions)
	C.	For Username enter your name as firstname.lastname (all lower case with dot between firstname and lastname).
	D.	For Password enter your birthday (mmddyy).
	E.	Click Login and you will be at the course site.
	F.	If you cannot login successfully, STOP and contact me and/or the Help Desk at 619-660-4395. Some of you will have a problem with this, but do not panic.
5.	Now that you have logged in, welcome to the course! Familiarize yourself with the course site. Much of the course will take place in the Discussion area. This is where weekly attendance postings will be made. Exams will be posted in the Exams area. We will also be using the lecture area and many other features of the Blackboard platform.
6.	The system will enter your college e-mail address by default. If you use a different e-mail address, be sure to go to the Personal Information area and make changes.
7.	Go to the Syllabus area. If you have not already done so, print a copy of the syllabus and read it over very carefully.
8.	Go back to step 7. Be sure to read the syllabus!
9.	Follow the directions for Lesson One. Begin reading and post your first attendance assignment on the Discussion Board by 11:59 p.m. on August 26th.
REQUIRED BOOKS
HIST 100 online / Early World History (4 books)
	Bently and Ziegler. Traditions and Encounters, Vol I. 4th Edition.
	ISBN 978-007-333-0624
	Foster, ed. The Epic of Gilgamesh. Norton Critical Edition.
	ISBN O-393-97516-9
	Diamond. Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed. Penguin.
	ISBN 0-14-303655-6
	Huong, ed. The Analects of Confucius.  Oxford
HIST 101 online / Modern World History (4 books)
	Bently and Ziegler. Traditions and Encounters, Vol II. 4th edition.
	ISBN 978-007-333-0631
	Utgaard. Historical Memory and Cultural Icons in Modern World History. Available only at the Cuyamaca College Bookstore.
	Diamond. Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed. Penguin
	ISBN 0-14-303655-6
	Guevara. The Motorcycle Diaries.  Ocean
HIST 105 online / Early Western Civilization (2 books)
	Hunt.  Making of the West.  Concise Vol. I. 2nd ed.  Bedford
	ISBN 978-0-3-1243945-3
	Perry.  Sources of the Western Tradition  Vol. I.  Houghton Mifflin
	ISBN 061895855x

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