DIST 101 / Introduction to Online Courses / 0.5 Unit

CATALOG COURSE DESCRIPTION

Introduces students to the different types of technologies utilized in a distance education course. Students will determine if distance education is right for them and learn academic and technological skills for success in distance education and technology mediated courses.

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK 

There is no required textbook for this class.

ONLINE INSTRUCTION

 Welcome to the online preparation course for online courses! Dist 101 is a half unit, 3- week course that will introduce you to some of the basic technologies that are used in online courses. This course will not cover every possible aspect that you may encounter in other online courses, but it will leave you with a better sense of whether online courses are right for you, and give you the competencies you need to be technologically successful in other online courses you take.

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Sharon Haupt     Phone:(805)546-3157 Fax:      (805) 546-3109 Email:   sharon_haupt@cuesta.edu

COMMUNICATION WITH INSTRUCTOR & TECHNICAL SUPPORT

 The best way to reach me is by e-mail. I do check my e-mail frequently but may not be able to respond right away. I will usually respond to e-mail within 24 hours.

Regular and effective contact between students and the instructor will be done through announcements to students, timely and effective feedback on assignments, and via e- mail and/or phone.

For technology issues with Canvas and/or myCuesta you need to e-mail support@my.cuesta.edu. Be sure to describe the problem in detail and you can expect a reply within 24 – 48 hours.

If the Cuesta server goes down or the power is out, you are still responsible for accessing the course. When this happens, you can access the class through: https://cuesta.instructure.com/login/canvas

For all other issues related to the course or course content, please email me.

STUDENT EXPECTATIONS, CLASS PARTICIPATION & NETIQUETTE

Student are expected to access the course on a regular basis.

It is the student's responsibility to communicate to the instructor in advance, any difficulty they have with completing any of the assignments by the due date.

When communicating with other students and the instructor please adhere to the following netiquette:

• Use respectful and appropriate language in your forum
• Please do not use texting language (i.e. LOL, ).
• Emoticons are acceptable ways to show
• Avoid CAPS as they come across like YOU'RE
• All messages are public, so be careful and courteous when you
• Use a person's name when you reply to their
• Use mycuesta.edu email for private communication with other

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Some of you may have heard about "Student Learning Outcomes" (SLOs) and wondered, what are they and do they matter?

Well, the answer is YES, they do matter. SLOs are broad statements developed by course instructors about what students will know and will be able to do with that knowledge upon completion of a learning experience (or course).

SLOs provide a definition for students of what they can expect from a particular class or program.

SLOs also provide a means for instructors to evaluate how well this learning is accomplished by measuring what students actually feel they have been exposed to in relationship to the stated learning outcomes for any given class or program.

How well students do overall in a class is important, but this is not the ultimate goal of SLOs. What is important is whether or not at the end of the learning experience students feel they have achieved the SLOs and are able to do something with that knowledge.

As you work through the course keep these outcomes in mind and think about how what you are doing will help you achieve the SLOs.

At the end of the course, you will be asked to self-access how well you feel you have met the student learning outcomes.

Student Learning Outcomes for DIST 101 - Introduction to Online Courses

• Determine if individual learning styles are appropriate for success in online courses.
• Effectively use various online course
• Demonstrate appropriate online communication

COURSE OBJECTIVES 

Course objectives are also important, but unlike SLOs, objectives are smaller discrete things that the course will specifically focus on. That's why there are often more objectives for a course then there are SLOs.

Upon successful completion of this course the students should be able to:

1. Recognize if distance education courses are appropriate for individual learning style.
2. Demonstrate academic and technological skills for success in distance education or technology mediated
3. Explain various technologies and their function and uses in distance education or technological mediated courses.
4. Demonstrate appropriate online communication

ASSIGNMENTS AND POINTS 

This course has a series of modules, each with accompanying assignments. How you proceed through these modules is up to you, but all modules and their accompanying assignments must be completed by the end of the course.

All the assignments and points for each are:

Online Assessment Survey                                        10 Points
Self-Assessment Discussion
and Introduction                                                         15 Points
Teach me how to do a screen shot                           15 Points
Using Your Browser Assignment                               10 Points
Using the Web Assignment                                       15 Points
Using E-mail Assignment                                           15 Points
Important Thing Learned Discussion                        15 Points
Student Web Page Discussion                                  15 Points
Final Quiz                                                                    20 Points

LETTER GRADE/PERCENTAGE EQUIVALENTS

A = 90-100% | B = 80-89% | C = 70-79% | D = 60-69% | F = 59% and below

LATE ASSIGNMENT POLICY

This class is only three weeks and is set up where you can work at your own pace. There will be three assignments due each week. Because the class time is so short, I do not accept late assignments in this class (unless you have communicated with me first). I do typically give an extra two days after the last day of class, without penalty, to submit assignments, but I cannot accept any assignments after this date. Also, I’m required to submit final grades for this class within one week after the official class end date. Therefore, any assignments submitted after the final date that I can accept them, will not count towards your grade in class.

COLLEGE SUPPORT SERVICES 

Disabled Student Programs and Services: Students who need accommodation due to a disability (i.e. physical, mental, or learning disability) must register with Cuesta’s Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS) - https://www.cuesta.edu/student/studentservices/dsps/index.html as soon as possible to ensure that you receive the accommodations in a timely manner. DSPS will work with the students to determine the disability, document it, and determine the services and accommodations necessary for student success. Then, DSPS will contact the faculty member to determine the types of consideration necessary. I will be happy to discuss and work with you on your need for accommodations.

Tutorial Services: Tutorial services are provided to students and can be found at the following link: https://www.cuesta.edu/student/resources/ssc/index.html

Library Services: For a list and reference to library services, including learning research and assistance, please visit: http://www.cuesta.edu/library/

 

STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT, ACADEMIC HONESTY & OTHER COLLEGE POLICIES

As a student of Cuesta College, you are obligated to uphold the colleges’ Standards of Conduct Policy, which requires you to be honest in all your academic course work. The policy on Standards of Conduct can be found in Board Policy AP 5500:

https://www.cuesta.edu/about/leadership/vpss/student_judicial_process.html

Student Conduct Code and Technology Agreement:
http://www.boarddocs.com/ca/cuesta/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=A2V4LD661AE3

General Campus Policies (including: Withdrawal, Repeatability, Student Code of Conduct): https://www.cuesta.edu/student/studentservices/admrreg/arpolicies/index.html

Authentication of student identity will be conducted through the use of the Learning Management System, Canvas. Canvas requires each student to log into the program using a secure login and password to access.

TIPS ON DISTANCE EDUCATION

Distance Education, FAQs Links to an external site.   
http://www.cuesta.edu/student/aboutacad/distance/faqs.html

"Is An Online Course Right for Me?" Links to an external site.  
https://www.cuesta.edu/academics/distance/forwhom.html

"Netiquette- 8 Tips for Online Discussions"Links to an external site.
https://www.cuesta.edu/academics/documents/distance-docs/Netiquette_Policy_Infographic.pdf

I hope that by completing this course you will feel more comfortable with technologies used in online courses and are better prepared for success in future online courses.

 

Have fun and enjoy this online experience! This is the course to Get Online Ready!

 

Sincerely,

Sharon Haupt