Introduction to the Course
Welcome to the CSIT 137 – Google Drive course. This class runs Tuesday, September 2 through Saturday, December 13, 2014. The course provides an in-depth, hands-on introduction to Google Drive and it’s applications. Topics include Google Search, Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, and emerging trends in Google Drive.
This is an online course with weekly deadlines. An online class can be challenging because you don’t have a scheduled class lecture time. To be successful, I suggest you pick a few days a week to devote to this class. Come up with a schedule to help manage your time. Each of you will have a different schedule depending on your school and/or work schedule and outside activities. The advantage of an online class is that you can make your own schedule. The disadvantage is that you need to discipline yourself to schedule time to work through the course to meet the weekly deadlines. For a three-unit college course, you could spend five to nine hours per week. Instead of a three-hour on-campus lecture, you’ll have at least three hours of online activity, probably more. This could be viewing videos, reading textbook or supplemental material, and/or doing hands-on activities. Each week will be slightly different.
Blackboard
I use Blackboard as a course management tool. In Blackboard, you can read course announcements, view your syllabus, get your weekly assignments, view your grades, and more. I suggest that you log into Blackboard a few times a week.
You access the MiraCosta Blackboard website (https://blackboard.miracosta.edu) with your Surf ID (starting with a “w”) and your Surf password.
When you log into your course through Blackboard, you’ll see the Announcements page which shows my weekly course announcements. You can also access the Announcements page with the Announcements link in the course menu (left sidebar) in Blackboard.
Typically when I post an announcement in Blackboard, a copy of the announcement is sent to you via email. (Unfortunately, Blackboard doesn’t always format the email correctly!) If you’re not getting my email messages, check your junk mail. Also make sure that you have a current email saved with your SURF account, as Blackboard uses the email address attached to your SURF account.
The Blackboard course menu has a link to your CSIT 137 syllabus. The syllabus shows the classroom “rules,” what you should expect to have learned by the end of the semester, and how you will be evaluated on your work.
You’ll use the Weekly Assignments link to view a weekly schedule of topics covered in the course and homework due dates. I post assignment instructions Thursday mornings in Blackboard and they are due the following Thursday; however, you can submit your assignments before the due date. Plan your time well so you’re not rushing to get everything done at the last minute on Thursdays.
For each weekly topic, there’s a link to the detailed assignment instructions for that week. You access these instructions by clicking the Weekly Assignments link in Blackboard and then clicking the appropriate link. For example, to view the assignment instructions for Week 1, click the Introduction to Google Drive and Gmail link on the Weekly Assignments page as shown in the example below:
|
Week |
Date |
Topic |
Homework Due Date |
|
Week 1 |
Sept 4 |
Sept 11 |
Other links you’ll see in the Blackboard course menu are the Blogs and Ask a Question discussion board. The Blogs feature is a tool you’ll use for personal reflection and to discuss or analyze course-related material.
You’ll use the Ask a Question discussion board to post and answer questions related to the course material. You’ll earn up to 50 points for your participation in this forum. Please use the Ask a Question link in Blackboard to read the rules for this forum.
Use the System Requirements and Browsers link in Blackboard to see if your computer and browser are compatible with Google Drive and its applications.
Your textbook and course materials can be found with the Textbook and Materials link in Blackboard.
In the STUDENT SUPPORT section of the Blackboard course menu, you’ll find a link to view a variety of Blackboard tutorials, check your grades, and get help from the MiraCosta Student Help desk.
Tutoring
Tutoring is available for this class on the Oceanside campus.
What’s Next?
I would like you to complete the following tasks by Thursday, September 4, so you are ready to start your “Week 1” assignments:
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Read MiraCosta’s Online Class Tips at the website shown below:
http://www.miracosta.edu/instruction/distanceeducation/onlineclasstips.html
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Watch the How to Log into Blackboard video at this website: http://tinyurl.com/mep6jrp
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Open Blackboard and click the links in the course menu to get familiar with your course.
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Read your syllabus.
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Purchase your textbooks.
Let me know if you have any questions that aren’t covered in this introduction or the course syllabus. My email addresses are kvanpelt.csit137@gmail.com or kvanpelt@miracosta.edu. I will make every attempt to get back to you within 24 hours. If you haven’t heard from me in 48 hours, try again in case we got spammed.
I look forward to working with you and hope you enjoy your learning experience over the next 15 weeks!
Kathy Van Pelt
Link to this course announcement
