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Online class orientation

Tips for Success: Technology Review for Students and Teachers

Depending on your course, you will be using a variety of websites, media players, and multimedia. You should plan to download the Firefox browser as a backup (or as your main browser) in case your primary browser does not work for you.

Here is a list of the most common programs, browsers, plug-ins, and media players used within online courses:

  • Free Office Suite: If you do not have or do not want to buy the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), consider the following free office suites for a Windows' pc (Open Office) or a Mac (Neo Office).
  • Free Office Suite: Google Docs. This is the easiest program to use and allows users to work on documents (text, powerpoint presentation, spreadsheet) through a web browser. In addition, a user can invite, by email, other people to view or collaborate on the same document and track changes very easily through a color-coded system. Last, Google Forms are also web-based and allow for easy survey creations; once created they are automatically merged with a spreadsheet to track the submissions. This is a very easy and useful web-based program for students and faculty. To review  the 3-minute training tutorials, please go to the following link Google Docs Training Tutorials, scrolling down the page until you see the heading for Google Docs.
  • Microsoft 2003 to 2007/2008 Converter: Do you have an older version of Microsoft Word or Powerpoint (2003, 2002, 2000)? If so, you'll need to download the Office converter program to read the newer formats. The free office suites above can also read the newer files.
  • Second Browser: consider downloading and using Mozilla's Firefox browser or Apple's Safari browser when viewing your online course if your primary browser causes problems (i.e., Internet Explorer or Safari). The Browser Check in WebCT can help resolve problems; it's located in the upper-right corner of WebCT.
  • Komposer is a free html editor.
  • Windows Media Player: go to www.microsoft.com and search for Windows Media Player Update.
  • Flip 4 Mac - Windows Media Player plug-in for the Mac: go to www.flip4mac.com.
  • Quicktime Player: go to Apple's Quicktime Player page.
  • Flash Player
  • Shockwave Player
  • Tips for Online Student Success Video

 

Online Courses: Before the Course Begins

  • All online courses have a common website starting point: WebCT (DVC's course management system). To access your online course, you will enter your school id and 6-digit birthday at the following website, doing so on the first day of instruction for the course: webct.dvc.edu. Faculty may have information available prior to the first day of the course that may either be within WebCT or on their DVC Bio-page. 
  • Some classes have mandatory course meetings while others are entirely online. If on-campus meetings are required, these dates/times will be listed in the schedule with the course.
  • Pick up your books at the bookstore (there may be an website access code you need and it would be available through the bookstore.)
  • When taking tests, using chat, and the whiteboard, know that these features in WebCT are Java-based and can be blocked by high security screening settings on personal/work firewalls and/or pop-up blocking software. If you are unable to access these WebCT-based features, it is likely that these settings are in place and need to be adjusted/disabled (look for the browser menu heading of Tools or File and click on the preference option). If this is still a problem and you are unable to resolve this, then download the Firefox browser and try again or use DVC's computers (student computer lab information).

 

Time Management and Online or Hybrid Considerations

  • Review all course content the instructor has available for you.
  • Be sure to attend any required on-campus sessions for orientation, discussion, and examinations. Some classes require a few on-campus sessions. Check the print or online schedule for any required class meetings.
  • Take a moment to bookmark your online classroom the first time you access it. This will help you locate your online classroom quickly every time.
  • Allocate the same amount of time each week for an online course as you would for a campus course.
  • Look at your lesson the first day it is available, then print it out. That way if there is a problem with your connection when you get home, you can still work on it. Read through the lesson and see if you have any questions. If you do, contact your instructor or post a message to your class discussion board immediately.
  • Many online courses require work completed every week and it is necessary to review the course syllabus or calendar to have these dates firmly in place.

 

Asking questions

  • Read the course introduction/syllabus to your online class carefully to find out how you should ask questions. Some instructors will ask you to post all questions to the class discussion board whereas others will ask you to email them directly.
  • Some questions may already be answered by the instructor in his/her F.A.Q. or syllabus.
  • Identify how or when you can contact your instructor for office hour appointments.

 

Mail, Email, and Chat

  • WebCt has an internal system of Mail, meaning that you must log into WebCT to use it. But, you can have Mail messages forwarded to an email address if you would like to be alerted--this setting is under Manage settings once you click on Mail in WebCT.
  • WebCT mail contains an inbox and outbox so that all of your mail is backed up for you and available throughout the semester.
  • Netiquette in e-mail messaging and discussion board posting: Be aware that e-mail messaging is a different medium. Choose your words carefully in a message. It is easy to sound brusque or even nasty when all the other person sees is a typed message. Humor is more difficult to get across in a message.
  • Proofread your e-mail messages and discussion board postings before sending or posting them. The more accurate your messages, the more likely they'll be understood.

 

Typical Features/Tools in an Online or Hybrid Course

Communication

  • E-mail, chat, and class discussion boards are the primary forms of communication between the instructor and students and among students.

 

Uploading, Downloading files

  • You may be asked to email files and can do this in WebCT by browsing/attaching these files within the Mail link.
  • You may be asked to use the Save-as command (under file in any text editor) to save a document in .rtf (Rich Text Format) if you do not have Microsoft Word (see above for free office suites).

 

Quizzes

  • Tests may be presented as take home tests that could be time-specific and can be sent to you through an e-mail message.
  • More commonly, quizzes in WebCT are handled through the Quiz tool. Please reference the information above (under Technology Preparation) about possible browser-related problems and the solutions provided. These quizzes have a set of directions for how to take the test automatically generated each time the student clicks on a quiz.

 

Multimedia Development

  • Podcasts, profcasts, video, and audio files are used in many courses to illustrate elements of a course. By updating your Windows Media Player, Flash and Shockwave players, browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Safari), and Quicktime player, you will be able to access this material.
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