Day 1
Here I am on the first day of the semester. I have posted my “Welcome” News Item. I have worked hard to prepare the class and have combed over it 20 times from A to Z to make sure it is all logical, clear and well organized. Now some of my students are beginning to make postings in the “Introduce Yourself” Discussion. Cool! I will reply to them and make a friendly remark so they know I am here. This is a very easy day.
Day 2
Many students have posted to the discussion area. I have a special surprise in the Syllabus. If they read all of it, at the very end it tells them to email me to request a little bit of Extra Credit. Some of them have already emailed me about that. Cool! This is a pretty easy day.
Day 3
Students are posting and emailing. I am answering. There are questions. The students who are online and working by now will probably do quite well in the class. They are enthusiastic, know what they are doing and are willing to work hard. There are still a lot of students who have not yet logged in. Not cool! Things are getting busier.
Day 4
Believe it or not, there are still students who have not yet even logged in. Uncool! I check the class roster to see if they have found the class. Some of the students have logged in but not yet posted. Maybe they are shy. Or maybe they just haven’t gotten there yet. Some of them are new to online classes and just beginning to figure it all out.
I post a news item that congratulates everyone on finding their way:
Hi Students,Day 5
I see that many of you have earned your extra credit by
following all of the instructions carefully. Good job! For those of you who have
not yet claimed your extra credit, please follow all instructions to the letter
and you will receive a very nice surprise! Hint: be sure to read all parts of
the Syllabus very carefully to claim your reward!
Most of you have already
started the Discussion Assignment for this week under "Discussions: Unit 1 -
Part 1, Introductions ". Great!
Hang in there students. This is an intensive class and there is a lot
to do. Just stay on top of everything, work hard and you will succeed!
:-)
Best,
Dave
Now I am getting worried about the lost students. There are still a few students who have not even logged in. Very not cool! It’s time to see if they are even alive. I check the D2L Classlist again. If a student has not even logged in yet I use their "outside" email addresses from the CCCOnline roster and send the following “Lost Student” email from my regular, external email address:
Hi Student,
This is Dave Trott, your instructor for the CCCOnline
Astronomy class. Welcome to Astronomy!
Normally, I do not send emails outside of the course since it has an
internal email feature, but apparently you have not yet visited your class. If
you have dropped the class and you receive this message in error please ignore
this email and there is no need to respond.
You have received instructions through your email for logging onto your
class. Please follow them carefully. The first thing you should do when you log
on to the class is to click on The Student Wiki at
http://students.ccconline.org/index.php?title=Main_Page and go through all the
information there so you are sure your computer is set up properly. Please take
the time to do the D2L student orientation. If you are having difficulties with
any of this, please contact the Help Support at http://help.cccs.edu/ .
Sorry if you are having any computer difficulties. I know how frustrating
that can be. If your computer does not work for any reason, you will want to use
another computer until yours is all fixed up. It’s far better to do that than to
fall any farther behind in class! I am sure you will be on track soon. Please
hang in there. By the way, your home school has computers that will work so you
can always go there if necessary.
If your computer is all set up properly you should jump in and get to
work immediately. You need to log in and start working right away. Please follow
all the instructions very, very carefully. The online course system we are using
is called Desire2Learn (abbreviated D2L). Use the D2L email to ask me questions
if you do not understand. There is an Email button at the top of the page. Be
sure to sign your email because the system does not do that automatically. State
your first and last name clearly in your email.
The rest of the class is a bit ahead of you but please do not panic. There
is still a little time to catch up. If you follow instructions carefully you
will be awarded some extra credit points to assist you with these kinds of
problems and you still have the potential to make a fine grade in the class. If
you are unable to log on to the class then contact the helpful folks at:
http://help.cccs.edu/ .
If you are still unable to login 24 hours after contacting them, please
email me at my outside email: davetrott@aol.com. I get a lot of spam and my spam
blocker will throw your email away unless it looks very important. So if you are
forced to email me back at this address be sure to include the words CCCONLINE
in the subject of your email and your full name in the message.
I hope you can log on and get caught up soon. I look forward to having you
in class this semester!
- Dave Trott
This was a busy day.
Day 6
Many students are posting and emailing. Cool! There are lots of questions. This is the time when I discover many of the little mistakes I have gifted to myself. Each and every little mistake can be the source of 5 to 10 emails from students. Not so cool. When I learn about a blunder I correct it quickly and fess up right away to my students with an explanatory News Item Posting. This happens no matter how well I prepare, but I try my best to avoid even any kind of slightly confusing item. Students get confused even with perfectly written instructions. Anyway, this is all “situation normal”. This is a pretty hectic day.
Next week I try to get everyone onboard with all the assignments, postings, etc. Stay tuned for my next blog in this series.
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