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Greetings!
Welcome to Fall Quarter 2008 at
Cascadia. You are registered to take one or more online courses. This letter
will give you some important information about how to get started. Whether
you are a new distance learner or an experienced one,
please read this ENTIRE letter
carefully.
Cascadia based classes begin
September 22nd
Blackboard
opens to students on September 15 you cannot log in before then
You will need to log in to your course on that day for
important information from your instructor. If you are taking OFTEC
classes with Section code OLS, you will get a separate letter with specific
instructions.
Before classes begin:
New students should
participate in
the Week Zero tutorial to get comfortable with Blackboard. Once
class starts, you want to concentrate on the course, not the technology (http://waol.org/current_students/xBb_tutorial.aspx
).
Be sure your computer meets the technical
requirements (http://waol.org/general_info/technicalRequirements.aspx
); and try logging in to the
Week Zero
site above as an experiment to test that you have no firewall issues. If you
experience difficulty, you can get technical help 24 hours a day at
1-866-425-8412.
Buy your textbooks. You can also buy books on campus.
Activate your library card (http://library.uwb.edu/cccnewstudent.html
). Even if you dont plan to use the physical campus libraries, you will
need your library card to access valuable library research databases.
NOTE: You will need
a Cascadia Network account
to set up your library card (https://accounts.student.cascadia.edu/).
Plan time in your schedule to
participate in class. A 5 credit online class takes just as much time as a 5
credit campus based class. Plan on at least 10-15 hours a week.
Make a Plan B. What computer will
you use if your primary computer is unavailable? Campus computing options
are one great alternative, but you will be expected to participate on time,
regardless of technical glitches.
If you need to communicate with your
instructor, remember that he or she is on vacation September 15 and may not
respond to you until then.
On September 22,
the first day of class:
Log in to your class: online classes
allow for a lot of freedom, but are not self paced. You will have regular
assignments and you need to get started on the first
day. If you wont be able to, be sure to contact your instructor.
If you dont access your class or contact your
instructor by September 24 by 8pm, you may be administratively dropped from
the course and lose your space in the course.
Review the course: Each instructor
uses Blackboard in a slightly different way. Be sure you know where to find
and submit assignments, how to take tests, etc. If you have questions, be
sure to ask your instructor for clarification.
Make sure your email address is correct in
Blackboard: Email is the primary way that your instructor will get in
touch with you. Be sure that the email address in Blackboard is correct. The
instructions are in the attached sheet.
Print out your syllabus & calendar:
Your instructor provides you with lots of important information in the
syllabus and/or calendar. Print these out and read them. Then, put them in
your book as a backup. Put key dates (tests, due dates, etc) in your
personal calendar. Be sure you have noted a phone number for your instructor
in case you need to get in touch and cannot use a computer.
Attend an orientation: Optional
orientations are available on campus September 22 from 6-7PM and September
23 from 10 11AM. Both are in the OLC, Room CC2-060. The orientation is
also available online at
www.cascadia.edu/distancelearner .
After classes begin:
The first two weeks of an online class can be the most
challenging weeks of the quarter. Dont give up! If you encounter any
trouble, heres where you can get help
Your instructor: This should be the
first person you contact for most questions about the class itself. For
trouble with Blackboard, see Technical Support below.
Technical Support: For passwords and
other Blackboard matters, you can get technical help 24 hours a day at
1-866-425-8412.
Distance Learning Office: If you
arent sure where to go, contact the distance learning office for help. You
can reach me at sdelaney@cascadia.edu
or 425-352-8166. You can also contact the Advising Office. Carri McDermott
manages distance learning issues and she can be reached at
cmcdermott@cascadia.edu .
Good luck in your studies this quarter.
Stephanie
Stephanie Delaney
Director of Distance Learning
www.cascadia.edu/distancelearner
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