MIDLANDS TECHNICAL COLLEGE

STUDENT ORIENTATION

Revised: August 5, 2009

MAT 100:  Introductory College Mathematics

5 Credit Hours

This document provides key points of information that can help you succeed in an online course.  It is recommended that you print and thoroughly review this information during the first week of class.  Refer to this document and your course Syllabus often during your class.

The first section, General Information, offers suggestions on what you should do before and during the course to ensure readiness and to help you keep up during the course.  The second section, Study Skills and Survival Tips for Taking an Online Course, provides useful ideas from successful students.  The third section, Discussion Board and Email Etiquette/Netiquette, lists guidelines for appropriate online and electronic communications.  

GENERAL INFORMATION

What to Do First

1.  Write down your course information.  As soon as you register for an online class you should write down the course and instructor’s name and the section number, or print out your class schedule.  You will need this information for ordering books and asking questions about the course.

2.  Obtain your textbook and related material.  Order your textbook and related course materials as soon as possible after enrolling in an online course.  Visit your nearest campus bookstore or order online.  The text is Integrated Arithmetic and Basic Algebra, Fourth Edition by Jordan/Palow, Addison Wesley, 2009.  The MyMathLab code should be included when you purchase your book.  You will need that code to access the course.  This course requires a text plus additional software and a publisher Web access code. 

If you would like to not purchase a book, you still need a MyMathLab code.  (There is an online version of the book available when you enter MyMathLab.)  To order the code, visit www.mymathlab.com.  You will need a credit card for the purchase.  You will also need the course id from your instructor before you can order.  To get the course id, you need to send your instructor your course contract.  The cost is $65.

3.  Reliable computer and Internet access is needed to successfully participate in and complete online courses.  Accessing your class several times each week is recommended to ensure timely participation in class discussions, receipt of important class announcements and messages, and completion of assignments, tests and other course activities.

4. Maximize your learning achievement.  Getting a head start and attaining academic success begins with understanding your learning strengths or your preferred approach to intake and process information.  Become familiar with the tools and resources available to you within and outside the online classroom.

When Your Class Begins

On the first day of class, log in to MyMathLab and access your class.  If you have not done so already, print out your course Syllabus and this Orientation.  Be sure you read and understand everything on the syllabus.  Contact your instructor by email if you have any questions or need clarification on some items. 

Read all posted course announcements and become familiar with the Course Menu on the left hand side of your screen.  Click all the buttons and review the contents of each folder.  There is a Course Schedule that is found in the Course Information button.  All of the homework and the tests must be completed by these dates.  You may work ahead, but not behind.  Any missed work will count as a zero.   Review this schedule and note when the on campus midterm and final exam are due.  These two exams are given on the Airport campus only and may be taken early.  Please email your instructor when you are ready to take the midterm and again when you are ready to take the final.

Accessing CourseCompass/MyMathLab

This online course uses CourseCompass/MyMathLab for the interactive math component which includes math instruction and video lessons, practice problems, immediate feedback, tutorial help, homework and tests.

To access into your class in CourseCompass/MyMathLab, complete an easy, one-time registration and enrollment process.  Ensure that you have the following items and information before beginning the registration process.

·         A course ID from your instructor.  Your instructor provides the MyMathLab course ID.  You will receive a welcome email after your instructor has received your course contract.  The course ID will be in that email.

·         A student access code.  This code is provided when you purchase a new text or may be purchased separately (see above for more information).

·         A valid email address that is checked on a regular basis.  If you change your email address, you must change it in MyMathLab also.  If you do not have a personal email address, the college provides one for you though campuscruiser.

Attendance

The first week of class is very important.  Not only do you want to get a head start on your coursework, but you also need to demonstrate that you are “attending” the course.  Simply logging in to your course in MyMathLab does not count as attendance.  Usually, instructors assign activities that you complete during the first week to show that you are attending class.  If you do not complete these assignments, your instructor is required to drop you for no-show.  A drop for no-show may affect your financial aid.  Be sure to contact your instructor if you believe you were dropped in error.

Attendance in fully online classes is generally monitored via timely participation in class discussions, and completion of homework, participation requirements and tests within posted deadlines.  If you miss a test, you will be dropped from the course and your instructor will assign a grade of W or WF (if after midterm and you are failing the course).  A WF grade is just like an F, and it may affect your financial aid as well as your grade point average.

Contact your instructor if anything comes up that keeps your from participating or working on class.  It is often best to let your instructor know ahead of time, but it is understood that some things cannot be planned.  Be sure to let your instructor know of your situation as soon as possible.  In many instances, instructors may be able to work with students to help them successfully complete their coursework.  If you miss a test, you must contact your instructor within 24 hours.  It is then up to the instructor's discretion whether to allow the student to continue in the course.

Student Support Services

The Academic Success Center

The Academic Success Center is a centralized student support facility that offers technical assistance, and College information and tutoring services. 

The Academic Success Center’s  Website is located at http://asc.proxy.midlandstech.edu/ .  Math tutoring is available and free of charge.

For more information, please call the Academic Success Center on any campus:

The Airport Academic Success Center is located in the Academic Center, Room 151.

The Beltline Academic Success Center is located in Wade Martin, Room 110.

The Batesburg-Leesville Academic Success Center is located in the BLEC, Room 106.

MyMathLab Product Support Center

If you are having problems with CourseCompass or MyMathLab, please contact the product support center using one of the following methods.

·         Fill out the Product Support form (log in to CourseCompass and click the link for the Product Support form in Support module) to communicate your issue or request.

·         Call 1-800-677-6337. Staff is available to troubleshoot your technical issue during the following hours.

o        Monday through Friday, from 8 AM to 8 PM Eastern time (US and Canada)

o        Sunday, from 5 PM to 12 AM

o        Saturdays - CLOSED

MyMathLab Tutoring

Click the Tutoring tab in your course, register and you will receive an email about the free tutor services.  They can be reached by phone (toll-free 800-877-3016), email, fax and interactively.

Course Evaluations

Students are afforded the opportunity to complete course evaluations for their online classes the same as in the campus-based classes.  The course evaluation includes questions related to content organization, ease of navigation, technological support, flexibility of communication approaches, clarity of expectations and degree of instructor and peer interaction.  Student feedback is highly valued and needed to ensure the highest quality and satisfaction with the learning experience.  Student confidentiality and anonymity are guaranteed.

Evaluations are available toward the end of the term and are completed online via MTCOnline.  Generally, instructors post announcements when the course evaluation link is available for student feedback.

STUDY SKILLS AND SURVIVAL TIPS FOR TAKING ONLINE COURSES

Here is a list of suggestions made by students who have been successful in their online classes.  Review each and hopefully you will find many pertinent and helpful.

Read the syllabus the first time you visit the course.  Review and print the course Syllabus and this Orientation and keep them handy every time your log in to your class.  Check the course calendar the first week of class.  It is in the Course Information tab.  Create a personal system for remembering important course activities and deadlines (assignment due dates, test due dates, etc.).  Take the time to navigate around the course the first week of classes to become familiar with the location of important course items, resources and tools (discussion board, email, assignments, etc.).

Participate.  Share ideas, information and comments with your instructor and the rest of the class and read your classmates’ ideas, too.  Your instructor provides information in your course, but you can get great insight from your peers and they can learn from you, too.

Take your education seriously.  Develop a support group of friends, family, and co-workers before you start out on your online learning experience.  This support group will help you through those times when you will need to sit at your computer for hours at a time in the evenings and on weekends.  It will help you mentally to surround yourself with people who understand, support, and respect what you are doing.

Make sure you have a space where you can study.  Use your study space on a regular basis to ensure that you and your family know that this is not the space to eat, sleep, or chat.  If possible, your study space should be where you can shut the door and work in peace as needed.  If you share your study space with the living room, dining room, or bedroom, other needs or activities may take priority over studying.

Log in to your course as often as possible.  You may become eager to see who has commented on your postings and to read feedback from your instructor and other students. You may also need to see who has posted something new that requires a response from you. If you wait too long to log in to your course, you can fall behind and may find it hard to catch up.

Take advantage of the online environment.  No one can see you, so there are no stereotypes, and you don't have to be worry about rolled eyeballs or people making other non-verbal reactions to your comments.  You can take all of the time you need to think about your ideas and write a response before actually posting your comments to the class.  However, be sure and keep in mind that your posts should be written with the same tone and respect with which you expect fellow classmates to write their posts.

Speak up if you are having problems.  Your instructor cannot read your mind, so you must be clear when needing assistance.  Let you instructor know as soon as technical difficulties arise or when you don’t understand course content.  If you are having difficulty with the course, then it is possible that other students are having the same problem.  If you post your problem on the discussion board, then another student may be able to help you.  Later in the course, you may be able to return the favor by explaining something to a classmate in need of help.  By doing this, you will not only help her/him, but you will also reinforce what you have already learned about the subject.  Always let your instructor know if you will not be able to meet a deadline.

Apply what you learn.  Most people learn by doing, so apply everything you learn in your class as you learn it.  If you apply it, you will remember it more readily.  If you can, take the skills, knowledge, and information that you acquire in your class to the workplace and put them to use. By sharing advice, information, and ideas, you are internalizing what you learn.  You and your classmates can benefit from your experiences.

Remember to take full advantage of your learning experience and enjoy yourself!  Learning good communication skills is just a bonus of taking any class, so take advantage of the opportunity and learn how to effectively communicate online.  While you are contributing to your class, you may also find yourself making some new friends!

DISCUSSION BOARD AND EMAIL ETIQUETTE/NETIQUETTE

In the online classroom, you communicate with your classmates and instructor in writing through the public discussion forums, email, and sometimes chat sessions.  "Online manners" are generally known as "netiquette."

As a general rule, you should adhere to the same classroom conduct that you would in a traditional face-to-face course.  Some examples of proper netiquette follow.

·         Avoid writing messages in all capital letters. THIS IS GENERALLY UNDERSTOOD AS SHOUTING.

·         Be careful what you put in writing. Even if you are writing an email message to one person, assume that anyone could read it.  Though you may send an email to a single person, it is very easy to forward your message to hundreds or thousands of people.

·         Spelling, grammar, and punctuation matter.  Online courses demand the same standard of academic communication as face-to-face courses.

·         Never use profanity in any area of an online course.  Transcripts of online course communications are savable.

·         When responding to messages, use "Reply to All" only when you really intend to reply to all.

·         Avoid unkindly public criticism of others.  Publicly criticizing others in an inappropriate way is known as "flaming."

·         Avoid sarcasm.  In the absence of nonverbal cues such as facial expressions and voice inflections, the context for your comments may be lost, and your message may thus be misinterpreted.