Introduction

This orientation will introduce you to the course content and expectations for BOT 101A & 101B online. You'll also have a chance to make sure everything is set up and ready to go. Your first quiz (to be taken after this orientation) will include questions about information found on this web page, syllabus, and Blackboard. Please review all items carefully. 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. Don't forget to take the 20-point quiz to complete this orientation. The Orientation quiz is found in Blackboard at the "exams" link. If you score less than 20 points, please take it again. You are allowed multiple attempts until you successfully score 18 out of 20 points.

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What to do for this assignment

1. Print this page and mark each item as you complete it. 
    
2. 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.

• Buy the textbook and install Word 2010 software. You can buy the book kit at the campus bookstore, or from another source. You will need them on the first day of class. In the kit you will find 2 textbooks and an access code for the GDP keyboarding software. This course teaches keyboarding and document processing in Microsoft Word 2010. If you already have Word 2010 on your computer, you're ready. You absolutely must use Word 2010 for this class because older versions of Word will not work with the GDP keyboarding software. (See below for more details about the required course materials.)
  

As a student enrolled in an online class, you are responsible to login and begin working on the day class starts.

• BOT 101A, Section 9406 begins on January 23, 2012 -- covers lessons 1-30 in book
• BOT 101A, Section 9407 begins on March 19, 2012 -- covers lessons 1-30 in book
• BOT 101B, Section 9409 begins on March 19, 2012 -- covers lessons 31-60 in book
  
• Login to Blackboard. One day before class begins, those who have enrolled will be entered into the Blackboard system. If you enrolled successfully in the class, you should now be able to access the class. If you register for the class less than one week prior to class starting, you must contact me to be entered into the Blackboard system. If you want to add the class after the start date, you need to contact me for an add code. As an student enrolled in this class, you are responsible to access the course when it is available in Blackboard.

1. How to login to Blackboard (available one day before class begins) 
   A. Go to http://gcccd.blackboard.com (click on this link or the Blackboard Login link in the web page navigation at the left side of this page)
   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 (pat.newman@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.

1. Successful login! Now that you have logged in, welcome to the course. Read the Welcome announcement. This announcement contains helpful information on how the course works and where to start. 

1. Update your personal information. I regularly send class announcements and email through Blackboard. It is very important you keep your email address current in order to receive these communications. Please login to WebAdvisor, click on STUDENTS, then UPDATE PERSONAL INFORMATION and list your preferred email address and the telephone number where I can reach you if needed. WebAdvisor updates BlackBoard nightly, so it's important to keep current information in WebAdvisor.

1. Print the syllabus. The syllabus will be available on my website www.cuyamaca.edu/pat.newman before the course begins. Once the course begins, you can locate the syllabus in the Blackboard course site by clicking on the Course Information button. Click on the syllabus link. Print the syllabus and keep it with your textbook. You may need to save the syllabus and then open it to print it. READ the whole syllabus (you will need to answer questions on the quiz).

1. Familiarize yourself with the course web site by clicking on all of the links (buttons) in the course navigation on the left side of the course website. There are also several links on the web pages that display. Browse through them thoroughly to familiarize yourself with the entire course website.

1. Access the GDP keyboarding software. Login to Blackboard and follow the instructions posted under "Course Information".

• Install Word 2010 software. Beginning with Lesson 20, you will need Word 2010 installed. GDP will automatically launch Word when it is needed.

1. Take the online orientation quiz. After completing the steps above, you can take the quiz (worth 20 points and due by Wed the first week of class). Login to Blackboard, click on the Exams link, and click on the Online Orientation Quiz. The quiz will cover information from the syllabus and Blackboard.

1. Begin on the course assignments. Turn to page 5 in your syllabus and begin on the assignments in the order they are listed. You can turn in assignments early. See instructions for submitting assignments by clicking "How to Upload your keyboarding assignments" link on the Course Information page in the class website. The due dates for each assignment are listed in the syllabus. Most assignments are due by midnight on Saturday, but be sure to check the syllabus. The weeks of the midterm and final exams, I need your work earlier (by Wed) so that I can grade everything and return feedback before you take the exam.

• If you still have questions AFTER completing all of the items above, email me at pat.newman@gcccd.edu and tell me exactly what you need help with. Be very specific with your question. I will ask you if you completed the orientation items listed above. Include the COURSE AND SECTION NUMBERS in the Subject Line of your email, as email can get filtered as junk and this will help me to recognize your email message.

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Course textbook and software

NOTE:  We are changing textbooks for Fall 2011 classes to teach Microsoft Office 2010. If a book kit is listed, you will need all components included in the kit. If you purchase your book online other than the Cuyamaca Bookstore, you may not receive all items in the required kit. Also, you should verify that access codes are valid if you purchase your book online from another seller. Read information carefully below.  You will not be able to use the BOT lab to take an online BOT course. As an online student, you must provide your own computer with the required minimum specifications prior to the class start date.

The textbook kit including the GDP11 software is available in the Cuyamaca College Bookstore or online at www.whywaitforbooks.com. 

• Required:
  
  • College Keyboarding & Document Processing, Lessons 1-60, 11th edition
    by Scott Ober, Jack E. Johnson, & Arlene Zimmerly, with GDP11 software. ISBN-13: 978-0-077-356-606 (Kit includes textbook, word processing manual, GDP software access code, and book stand)
  • The GDP software access code is available separately at the bookstore if you have a used textbook or purchased your book elsewhere. The GDP access code is good for multiple classes and does not expire.
  • Also requires MS Word 2010 (available separately). NOTE: Older versions of Word will not work with the GDP keyboarding software. (software purchasing information)
   
• Access to a PC/Windows computer with the following requirements:
  • Computer/Processor:  500-MHz or higher
  • Memory:  256 MB of RAM or higher
  • Hard disk:  2 GB of available hard-disk space
  • Monitor:  800 x 600 minimum monitor resolution; 1024 x 768 recommended
  • DVD drive
  • Operating system:  Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or later
  • Internet access:  Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher
  • Sorry, no Macintosh as the Office program is very different on a Mac.

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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 8 weeks in length and all work must be completed by the class end date.
• Schedule at least 5-7 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.
• 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 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 during open hours.

Good luck and let's have fun!!!

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