Checklist for starting English 0301 (Internet)

Taking English 0301 via the internet in many ways is no different than taking it in a traditional face-to-face classroom; however, we have to admit that differences exist.  Accommodating ourselves to these differences will help insure your success in this class. 

Please note: This class has a required on-campus date where you MUST come into the SAC Campus to take your Final Exam. See our calendar on the Course home page for the Final Exam date.

Review this list to see if you are ready for 1301 via the Internet.

How Long Will It Take To Get COMPLETELY Ready for English 0301?
This checklist has a number of tasks for you to do as well as orientation materials for your to review. Once you review all this material, you should be "ready" to start English 0301. Expect that it may take you two to three hours to get completely "ready." You need to be able to say "Yes" and/or do each of the items below:

Technology

   Do you have daily access to a computer and the internet? 

   Do you have basic computer literacy skills?  Can you create a document, save it, and find it again?  Can you cut and copy text?  Can you browse the web? Are you comfortable problem-solving with the computer (because it always seems like something doesn't work and you have to do trial and error to figure something out). Can you attach a file to a online message?

   Have you logged in to ACES and accessed your "Student E-mail." Alamo Colleges has shifted all students over to a new email address, only accessible from this "Student E-mail" link.

NOTE: ALL email communication for our class will be done through ACES, so you need to check your ACES email regularly. Please include your course name and section number in the subject line. Please see the following link with information about contacting me and the proper form I would in which I would like you to email me: Contacting Dr. Irvin.

   Have you successfully communicated with your instructor by responding in Canvas to the "Hello" assignment. (Responding to this message is foregoing the requirement to contact me via email. Respond to the message, and I know you are enrolled and have begun the class.)

  System Requirements--A computer no older than five years old with current word processing, internet browsing, and media player applications. High speed internet access is recommended. VERY IMPORTANT--You will want up-to-date virus, firewall, and spyware software. Also, you will want to be sure that you have updated your Windows and email applications to the latest versions to prevent security problems. Since I will be putting a lot of our orientation materials on video, you will need an updated version of Windows Media Player or Quicktime. Also, many handouts or other information is in pdf format, so you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. Get it here for free.

Technical Problems-- In the event of any technical problems, call the Alamo College Tech Support: (201) 485-0555
Write it down. Call it with any technical problems you are having participating in this class.

Materials

   Have you gotten our textbooks?

--You have bookmarked our Course Home page so that you can get to it easily.
http://www.lirvin.net/0301bbsite/default.html

Personal Independence and Time

   Are you able to follow directions on your own?  Can you read a document with a list of step-by-step instructions and complete these instructions independently?

   Are you able to commit the time that will be needed to complete this class successfully? Our class, like any college class, will require a significant amount of time--7.5 -12 hours in the regular full semester semester per week.

Our class is a Flex class, which means that we move twice as fast as a regular full semester class. That means you can expect in the neighborhood of 10-18 hours of work per week. If you don't think you are able to devote this much time to your classwork, this Flex class is not for you. Plan accordingly.

Work is due throughout the week, so it is unrealistic if you plan to do all your course work on weekends alone.

Course Orientation Materials

IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME TAKING AN ONLINE CLASS, be sure to take the SAC Online orientation modules found here. (Forward me copies of your Smarter Measure test results.)

Go to our course home page (http://www.lirvin.net/0301bbsite/default.html ). Read our syllabus carefully. I know it is dull reading, but read it and read it again--especially policies. Poke your nose around the entire site. Open each of the links to see what is available from our course home page.

Take a look at the orientation videos I will be producing for the class. These orientation videos as well as all other support "how to" videos will be found from our course home page and the Course Videos link. ***These may not be all updated right away.***

CHECK-IN: The first time you login to our class site within Canvas (inside ACES, click the "MY COURSES TAB") reply to the "First Attendance Check-in" discussion forum. To get there, click the DISCUSSIONS link in the left navigation bar. By checking-in this way you don't have to email me to let me know you are in the class.

Note for Special Needs students: As an internet class, this class is better suited for students who are able to learn independently. I certainly will provide as much assistance as I am able for your learning, but experience has shown me that for students with greater needs, especially due to learning disabilities or a foreign language background, a face-to-face class where students can receive the extensive one-on-one in-person help they need is better for them. Contact me if you have any questions in this regard.

Getting Started with our First Assignments

Our first assignment is Part A of the Book Project. See this assignment sheet for full details of what this assignment involves. You can begin this assignment at any point after you register for the class (but wait until we have started the semester and formed our groups to turn in the work). See our class announcement for the list of group members.

Last updated August 25, 2013