Introduction

This orientation will introduce you to the course content and expectations for BOT 121 online. You'll also have a chance to make sure everything is set up and ready to go. Your first quiz (at the end of this orientation) will include questions about the syllabus and Blackboard, so make sure you go over them 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.

If you are continuing from the current BOT 120 class, you may go directly to the quiz as the course structure is the same. If you took BOT 120 online a different semester or took BOT 120 in the lab, then you should follow the steps below before you take the quiz.

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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.

1. Buy the textbook and install the software. You can buy the book at the campus bookstore, or from another source. You will need them immediately! This course teaches Microsoft Word 2007. If you already have Word 2007 on your computer, you're ready. If you have an older version of Word, you should really upgrade as there are some new features that are covered in the textbook. (See below for more details about the required course materials.)

1. Login to Blackboard. The first day of class is March 09, 2009. 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 after 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.

1. How to login to Blackboard (available March 8th -- one day before class begins) 
   A. Go to http://bb.gcccd.net (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. The first time you login to the course (or anytime you change your e-mail address), click on the Tools button, select Personal Information, and update the e-mail address that you prefer to use for this class. When I send class e-mail announcements, it will go to the e-mail address in your profile. Save any changes.

1. Print the syllabus (available March 8th -- one day before class begins). In the Blackboard course site, click 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 website 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.
    
2. Take the online orientation quiz (available March 8th -- one day before class begins). 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, but please submit an entire chapter at one time. See instructions for submitting assignments on page 3 of the syllabus. The due dates for each assignment are listed in the syllabus. Most assignments are due by midnight on Sunday, 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.

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Course textbook and software

• Please note: Spring 2008 we changed textbooks to teach Microsoft Office 2007. Older books for Word 2003 will not work for Spring 2008 semester.

The textbook bundled with Word 2007,  is available in the Cuyamaca College Bookstore or online at www.whywaitforbooks.com.

• Required:
  1) Textbook: Signature Word 2007 by Nita Rutkosky
  2) Software: Word 2007. The best prices are available at  www.collegesoftware.org (about $75 + S&H), but it is exclusively for currently-enrolled students. You can also check gradware.com, edu.com and campustech.com.
  
• Purchasing Options: 
  The bundle available in the Cuyamaca College Bookstore includes the textbook with 180-day license of Office 2007, ISBN-13:  978-0-76383-257-5 
  If you buy your textbook online other than the Cuyamaca Bookstore, make sure you purchase both items listed under "Required" above. 

• 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 2007 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. These classes are only 5-6 weeks in length and all work must be completed by the class end date. The Comprehensive Word 1-3 classes are scheduled in short blocks so that you can complete all three classes in a single semester, as requested by students.
• Schedule at least 10 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 in Word.
• 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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