Online Basics
 | TL;DR: Before you begin work, get your online tools set up. |
First thing’s first for an online course: we need to get everyone set up and oriented with the digital components.
One of the great things about the digital world is that it offers options. Plenty of options. Perhaps too many. The purpose of this handy-dandy introduction is to narrow and focus just what online applications will serve you best in the college classroom.
If you're reading this, most, if not all, work done for this class will be through digital platforms. Writing for and with digital media is a public practice, so while we learn and practice the skills necessary for strong writing (no matter what course you’re in), we will also practice other online literacies that are integral to developing digital fluencies.
As the world of higher education becomes increasingly digital, we need to do our best to keep up. This means:
- My courses will use open applications available to all;
- They will follow similar procedures each week for design simplicity and accessibility;
- They will teach valuable media literacies along with course content.
Goals
- To get connected in a general way for work this semester;
- To open a forum account and learn the correct way to use it;
- To emphasize the importance of developing an online presence and your own learning network.
Considerations
Before you go any further, check out (if you have not already) “Considerations for Online Courses.”
Online courses are not like traditional face-to-face classes. Traditional courses taught in classrooms tend to be teacher-centered — i.e., defined by what the teacher does. Online courses are student-centered. They require students willing and able to make their own decisions and budget their own time. Self-motivators who are not afraid to try new approaches and take risks usually do well. Folks who need a lot of personal assistance tend to do less well. The latter might be served better by a more traditional section of the course.
To restate: if you’re the type of learner that prefers teacher-centered classes, you might do better by choosing a traditional face-to-face course.
Stay Informed and Get Connected
Always refer to your specific course syllabus for the most accurate information about course requirements, schedule, assignments, and due dates. News, announcements, and updates are available there and through communications components of each course, like the forum.
Still have questions, check the FAQ.
Much of your work this semester will be done through various media platforms, like the forum and Wikipedia. It’s imperative that you sign up and practicing using these as soon as possible (see your syllabus). As these media are often part of public discourse, many of the assignments for the course will be posted on platforms accessible to all. If this makes you uncomfortable, please consider another section.
The class forum is key to communication in online courses. Get in the habit of checking it regularly.
Requirements
Course syllabi are listed with all classes on the Course Directory, or you may view Current Courses. Begin your introduction to the course with the syllabus. Always refer to the syllabus first if you have questions. Do not print the syllabus as it is likely to change; bookmark it and refer to it online. If I change the syllabus, I will let you know on the forum.
Procedure
Online courses will follow a certain procedure each week. While these classes are asynchronous, they do require students submit work daily or weekly. Be sure to check your syllabus for specific requirements, procedures, and due dates. Try to work a bit daily, as that will keep you from procrastinating and falling behind.
Certain behaviors are required for online communication. Please see “The Core Rules of Netiquette” to familiarize yourself with these guidelines. You might also review “Academic Forum Posts,” as your forum posts will be evaluated according to these guidelines.
Writing Online
Please learn the conventions of the platforms the class uses as soon as you can. Yes, you will make mistakes, but the great thing about using digital media is that usually mistakes are easily corrected. Points will always be deducted for an obvious typo let uncorrected.
Crucial: when you signed up for a forum account, you should have taken Discobot’s tutorial. You did, right?
The golden rule for online writing: Write in English. Never paste in a URL when the platform allows linking English words.
Online writing should exemplify your best work as a college student — this is paramount. These activities could use various media platforms and each has its own best uses.
Getting Help
There are several ways to get help if you’re confused. But first: breathe. Relax. Feel better? Good.
First, check your syllabus. I have been doing this a while, so most questions and concerns that arise I have already addressed. You may use the search option in the menu bar, but be sure the answer it returns applies to your specific class. There’s a lot of information on this site.
Next, you might consult the Student FAQ for general issues. In fact, all of the resources under the “For Students” menu are designed to help.
Next, you could post a question on #help — a category on the forum.
Finally, if you really can’t find an answer, send me an email: gerald.lucas
mga.edu. Or, if you’d prefer, make an appointment with me via Zoom or see me during office hours .
Still breathing?
Backups
Keep backups of all your work. When submitting something online, you should also keep a local copy for your records — just in case something happens. For additional security, consider a cloud backup application like Dropbox or iCloud to keep all of your files safe automatically. When using public computers, save often to your own flash drive. I cannot help you if you lose your work because of a computer lab glitch.
Test Your Knowledge
Now that you have read through your syllabus, policies, “Humanities Basics,” “Online Basics,” followed the links, and set up your necessary accounts, take the quiz.
You will need to login with your Google Accounts ID. You should pass the quiz with a 70% or higher. Otherwise, you might want to review this material before proceeding.
note: this quiz is only available during the first couple weeks of new semesters. Be sure to take it early.
