Welcome to Strengths II (Summer 2019 CRN# 50185)

Dear Student,

My name is Jeff Jones, and I will be your instructor in the upcoming online version of Strengths II (ENGR252B).  This letter is to inform you of some important details prior to the commencement of this online class.  Please read this page carefully!!

Tentative Test Dates (you must clear your schedule to take the tests at these times):

You do not need to come to San Luis Obispo, CA for the tests as there is an option to have it proctored near you ( https://cuesta.instructure.com/eportfolios/135/Proctor_Info ).  Most students will take the test in San Luis Obispo with me because it is more convenient.  In any case, everyone will be taking the tests on the same day and time:

Test 1: Monday July 8 at 2:30 pm Pacific Time in room 4114 or at a proctoring center

Test 2: Friday July 26 at 2:30 pm Pacific Time in room 4114 or at a proctoring center

 Time Requirement

This class is an extremely important class and requires about 15 hours a week of studying during a regular term. In the summer plan on 20 hours/week because of the accelerated pace.

 Book Requirements

You will not be purchasing the course materials in the bookstore but you will be required to purchase them online.  More instructions will be provided on Canvas.  Access fee: $69.

 Optional: The textbook "Mechanics of Materials, 4^th ed. by Beer/Johnston" is an optional text.  You can pick up your hardcopy for the semester at the Reserve Desk in the library.  Please return it at the end of the term, otherwise you will be billed $50 for it.  This book is completely optional and nothing will be assigned from it.  This is an older edition and cannot be purchased in the bookstore.  You are free to use the reserve copies or go online to amazon.com and buy a used copy for a fraction of what the current version is selling for, about $240.

 Web Site Requirements

We will be using Canvas (https://cuesta.instructure.com/) as this is the site that will be managing the course.  It will have the weekly activities including quizzes, videos, and homework assignments.  I will send you more information as we get closer to the start of the class.

 How to use Canvas

Canvas is an online classroom management system that this class will be using.  For more information on how to use it check out the "How-To" links here: 

https://www.cuesta.edu/about/depts/compserv/howto_materials_students.htmlLinks to an external site.

Resources for Learning

-Post questions in the class4me.com discussion forum.

-Watch the assigned video lectures online at Canvas.

-Read the book or the various links provided.

-Visit the Tutorial Center https://www.cuesta.edu/student/resources/ssc/index.htmlLinks to an external site.

-Homework and quizzes.

-Study groups.

-Disabled Student Services http://www.cuesta.edu/student/studentservices/dsps/index.htmlLinks to an external site.

Contacting the Instructor

If you have a non-private question then please post it in the class discussion forum on Canvas, this way other students can benefit from my reply.  If it is a private message then please use the messaging system from within Canvas rather than sending an email via my Cuesta account.  Using the messaging system within Canvas will allow me to have a record of our conversation associated with the class and also won't get marked as spam that may happen with the Cuesta email account.  If none of the above contact options work then you can email me at my Cuesta email account: jjones@cuesta.edu

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

 FAQs: https://cuesta.instructure.com/eportfolios/135/FAQs