Classroom Expectations

 

 

The following ground rules will help your experience with the web-based and the classroom modules of this course to go more smoothly.  Please carefully review and follow these expectations.

 

 

1.                Academic integrity will be appraised according to the student academic behavior standards outlined in The Golden Rule of the University of Central Florida’s Student Handbook.  Please read The Golden Rule policies at this website:  http://www.goldenrule.sdes.ucf.edu/

2.                Turn in assignments on time.  Refer to the syllabus. Late submissions will receive reduced points and may not be accepted.

3.                Stay current with reading assignments.  A number of readings, including the course text, journal articles, and website content, are required for this course.  Your depth of knowledge as a result of reading and integrating this material will reflect in your assignments and will be assessed accordingly.  Students who do assigned readings concurrent with course modules do significantly better in this course than those who do not.

4.                Actively participate in class discussions and group assignments.  Not only will you benefit from the diverse ideas and experiences that you exchange with others in your class and work groups, but your comments in class and contributions to your small group project (via your group members’ assessment of your participation) will have a major voice in assessing your grade for the course.

 

 

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E-mail

 

 

E-mail will be an integral part of this course.  To ensure that you receive the optimal benefits, follow these guides:

 

 

1.       Check your e-mail daily if possible, especially during the weeks when your class module is on the web.

2.       Be patient when waiting for responses from instructor or classmates.  Generally, two days is considered a

         reasonable amount of time to wait for a response.

 

3.       When sending e-mail, include a subject heading that is descriptive and refers to a particular assignment or

       topic recognizable by me or your classmates.  Be sure to identify who you are as I cannot always tell by the

       e-mail address.

 

4.       Be courteous and considerate.  Treating others as you want and expect to be treated yourself is as

         important online as it is in the face-to-face classroom.

 

5.        Be especially clear in your messages.  Online communication lacks the nonverbal cues that can compensate

        for unclear face-to-face communication.

 

6.     Do not use all capital letters.  This is considered shouting and is difficult to read. 

7.        Check your spelling, grammar, and punctuation. 

8.       Break up large blocks of text into paragraphs and double space between paragraphs.

9.       Sign your e-mail messages.

10.    Never assume that your e-mail will be read only by the person to whom you are sending it. Others may be

       able to read or access your e-mail.

 

 

 

Group Work

 

 

Many protocols that apply to e-mail also apply to communicating with your group members in planning and developing group assignments.  The following conventions may be helpful:

 

 

1.                As a courtesy to your fellow members and to save valuable time, be sure to check spelling, punctuation, and grammar on your written contributions to the paper/presentation before you submit it to the group.

2.                Check your email for messages from your group members daily or several times a week, to stay current, especially when the group is moving toward an assignment deadline or waiting for your contribution or feedback.

3.                Be patient.  Give your group members a couple of days to respond, unless you have agreed otherwise.

4.                Be respectful and considerate of one another’s ideas, feelings, and experience.  This is a good philosophy for all members of the class, and especially for group members with whom you are working on an assignment.

5.                Expect occasional disagreements among your group.  Explore these, and support your position with data and other evidence.

6.                Since you have the advantage of face-to-face class time with members of your group on alternating weeks, take this time to process or clarify ideas that seem to be “stuck” in the group’s web discussions.

 

 

Netiquette

 

 

“Netiquette” has evolved to aid us in infusing our electronic communications with some of these missing behavioral pieces. “Emoticons” and other tools have become popular, so feel free to use them when it will add to the clarity of your communication.

 

 

:) = happy, pleased

:( = sad, displeased

:O = surprised

>:( = angry

 

 

Here are examples of some common abbreviations:

 

 

LOL = laugh out loud “This is funny.”

ROFL = rolling on the floor laughing, really funny

BTW = by the way

*grin* = I’m smiling

IMHO = in my humble opinion

FYI = for your information

 

 

Netiquette continues to evolve, and we will likely have constant additions to this growing language.  It is important to remember, however, that all the “cute” symbols cannot replace your careful choice of words and the tone of your communication.

 

 

You can learn more about Netiquette and electronic communication by visiting Learning Online.

 

 

 

 

Viruses and Equipment

 

 

·        Your use of a reputable anti-virus program is a requirement for participation in this course (good ones include McAfee or Norton). A virus on any class member or faculty computer can spell disaster for everyone.

 

 

·        Back up your files regularly.  “My hard drive crashed…my modem doesn’t work…my printer is out of ink” are today’s equivalents of “My dog ate my homework.”  Although these events do occur and they are inconvenient, they are not valid excuses for failing to get assignments done and submitted on time.

 

 

·        You are responsible for your web participation in the course, regardless of computer, internet, or other technological issues. If equipment problems prevent you from working inside the web course or using e-mail from home, computer labs are available to you on campus, as well as computers with high-speed internet access in virtually every public library and a number of internet cafes.

 

 

 

 

Technical Resources

 

 

If you have technical questions or problems, please contact at least two of the help sites listed below before contacting me for help. Generally, I am unable to assist you with technical problems or with getting into or maneuvering inside the course. 

 

 

For help with specific problems or for further information, go to the following corresponding links for assistance.

 

 

http://www.ucf.edu – The UCF Home Page directs to UCF resources.

 

 

http://helpdesk.ucf.edu/ - This is the Pegasus help desk.  The help desk phone number is 407-823-5117.

 

 

http://learn.ucf.edu – This site accesses study skills information for distance learners, the library, and the writing center.

 

 

http://learn.ucf.edu/1courses/1virus.html - Provides guidance for recognizing and cleaning out viruses.

 

 

http://learn.ucf.edu/1courses/1virus.html - Provides information on the hardware and software requirements for taking a course online.

 

 

http://www.cstore.ucf.edu/ - Provides guidance in buying a new computer or upgrading your current equipment.