Fall 2020: Welcome Letter- NCTE 500 - Intro to Handheld Devices

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Welcome to NCTE 500 CRN 74842

INTRO TO HANDHELD DEVICES

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Introduction to Handheld Devices

Welcome to distance education at Cuesta College! My name is Richard Melella, and I will be your instructor for the online webinar course “Introduction to Handheld Devices’ (NCTE 500 CRN 74842).  This welcome letter is to inform you of some important details prior to the start of the Fall Webinar Online Class. Please read this page very carefully! This course will meet online starting Friday August 21 from 10:00 am to 11:15 am and will conclude on Friday September 25- the second half of the class will start on 10/2 on the same day and time concluding on 11/6.


Contact Information: 

Instructor: Richard Melella
E-mail: richard_melella@cuesta.edu
Voice Mail: 559-575-2995

 

Computer and Class Requirements:

  • You must have access to a computer- with appropriate internet capabilities that will allow you to participate in a zoom conference call.
  • Email account
  • Reliable Internet connection. You will also need to have a backup plan in case your internet provider or computer goes down. Student projects and assignment will be submitted to me via the assignment drop box or as discussed during the webinar 
  • It is also essential that you understand the basic concepts of email, web navigation and online communication to get the most out of this course.

Required textbooks / materials:

All learning resources and materials will be provided by the instructor. 

Course Tutorial Online Orientation  

Click in the blue link called "Modules" on the left side of your screen (You may need to scroll up to see the links) The Modules will take you to the entire weekly modules of this course- you will want to click on the unit called "Course Tutorial Module" - it's the first module you will see- click on the first link and start your journey! There are also additional resources for orientation on the previous announcement that I posted about this class. But for starters, click on the Course Tutorial Module.Link

https://cuesta.instructure.com/courses/22540/pages/welcome-to-your-online-orientation?module_item_id=601632

  1. You can also get a head start now by completing the campus online orientation in this Cuesta Canvas Online Orientation

You should also Review the Canvas Quick Reference for Students Online. Links to an external site. (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

Please Note: Some of the video and processes described in the online video are specific to credit coursework.  NCTE 500 is a noncredit courses.  As such, grading and testing, exams and assignments are weighted differently.  What I will be focusing on is how well students are making progress with the outcomes presented in each session and not on grading for performance assessment evaluation. 

Student Learning Outcomes

What's This Class About? The catalog course description for NCTE 500 is as follows:

Introduces practical use of a variety of handheld computer devices including Smartphones (iPhones and Android phones), iPods, and iPads as well as smart tablets.  Student will explore the history and evolution of hand-held devices. Information learned in this course will provide tips on how to use handheld devices effectively and observe protocol when determining proper use of these devices in a work and home environment.  We will also focus on Smartphones and Tablets and their use in digital photography. Repeatable.

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Describe the different types of technology available today and what each is used for.
  2. Demonstrate correct use of the basic skills required to operate the different types of technology discussed.
  3. Locate and download additional software, tutorials, and tools handheld devices.
  4. Using hand-held devices for digital photography and photo editing
  5. Photo projects – Students will participate photo-based project for personal enjoyment

Course Policies

Instructional and Learning Environment/Grading and Assignments:

This online course will be using a Web-based Learning Management System (known as Canvas) as the method to disseminate information. Canvas provides the framework for the course including the Webinar link, various PowerPoint presentations and lecturette videos, student resource files, the tools to receive and send course materials.  Using the communication tools, you can communicate using e-mail, and if appropriate to my course outcomes- you can share materials, projects and ideas with other course participants via the Discussion Forums, assignment drop box and during the actual webinar when facilitated by the instructor.

Methods of Evaluation:

This is a non-graded course. Assessment will be based on personal skills acquisition relevant to the core subject area. Because this is a non-graded class- assignments and possible discussion forums will remain open throughout the semester if appropriate.  There are no graded quizzes for the non-credit course, rather, questions that may appear on a quiz are to be used as an assessment resource for your reference as needed.

Class Performance

Discussion Board Participation/Assessment Reviews/Non- graded assessments and student project performance reviews

Online Learning:

If you have never taken an online class or this is your first experience with Canvas, please be patient with yourself. You should expect to spend at least as much time on this course as you would on a course that meets face to face. Since this is an online webinar - participation/attendance is required during the webinars scheduled meeting time.  Time outside of the webinar will be self-directed. This course is completely online using Canvas; all coursework (discussions, assignments, project challenges) is submitted online. The Webinar will be delivered and accessed via Zoom or similar online conference format. 

You will gain access to your course on the first day of class. This class is fully online with no mandatory face to face meetings- students registered for the class will be expected to login to the webinar which will be facilitated by me in real-time - from 10:00 am to 11:15 am on Fridays.   Attendance will be taken automatically when you login to the webinar and monitored throughout the duration of each webinar session.

As a fully online class- I'll lecture a bit, share a PowerPoint or two with you and we'll watch some relevant training videos together. I will facilitate group discussion on the topics we will be covering that day. In this respect, it will be pretty much like a traditional classroom experience - the main difference of course, is that we will each be at our homes linking to the "Virtual Classroom" via a video web link!

There will be some additional projects that I will want you to pursue on your own time that will be relevant to the online course.  As such, you will need to navigate through Canvas- to submit or upload some assignments and projects. Canvas is the online platform that you’re on right now. **I am always available to you to help and support you with any questions or concerns or frustrations you may have with being in on Online Course.

Students may, if assigned to do so- actively participate in online discussions with other students, share information with each other, and the instructor will monitor and review as well as provide feedback on all of the weekly Discussion Forums. Students must log in and are encouraged to participate on a weekly basis.

The Online Module session begins with our Friday morning webinar conference call.  After the webinar is over, I will open the online module for you to access all course content relevant to that session.  Because this is a non-gradable class- prior modules, assignments and possible discussion forums will remain open if appropriate for the duration of the course.  There are no graded quizzes for this non-credit course, rather, I will cover questions on a quiz as a review resource for your reference as needed. 

Some units will have a challenge assignment that will reinforce learning outcome presented in a particular unit.  You are encouraged to complete the challenge and submit per instructions online for my review and feedback.

Academic Honesty Policy: Please note all students attending San Luis Obispo County Community College District at any district site and when representing Cuesta College in any off-campus activity, assume an obligation to conduct themselves in an acceptable manner compatible with the Student Code of conduct. Please review the Cuesta College Student Code of conduct (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site..

Netiquette (Online Professionalism) and Online Course ParticipationIf I assign an online group discussion- please note these best practices:

- Use respectful and appropriate language in your Discussion Forums.

- Please do not use texting language i.e.:  lol. brb. etc. 

- Emoticons are acceptable ways to show emotion. However, this should not be used for your total reply. 

- Avoid CAPS as they come across like YOU'RE SCREAMING.

- You are expected to read all forum posts.

- You are to respond to the appropriate number of posts for each forum.

- All messages are public, so be careful and courteous when you post.

- Make your posts thorough and your replies as well.

- Use of complete sentences and thoughts are mandatory for forum posts.

- Use a person's name when you reply to their post. Not only is this polite, but it also helps me to keep track of your replies. Use mycuesta.edu email for private communication.

Authentication policy: Authenticating student identity will be conducted by using the Learning Management System (LMS), Canvas. Canvas requires each student to log into the program using a secure login and password to access.

Drops and non-participation: If you have not logged in during the first week of instruction or have not participated for two weeks or more in a row, you can be at risk of being dropped from the course. I will attempt to outreach you via Canvas email, but if I do not get a response, I will need to drop you from the course. Please try to notify me via email if you are having a difficult time or a medical reason wherein you cannot participate in the course. 

ACCOMMODATIONS

This course is designed using an accessible Learning Management System, and course materials have been created with ADA compliance in mind. If you have a disability and might need accommodations in this class such as extended time on exams or other resources. Please contact the instructor as soon as possible so that you can receive appropriate accommodations in a timely manner. You should also contact DSPS (Disabled Student Programs & Services) (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. or at 805-546-3148.

Technical Support:

Cuesta students are encouraged to direct all technical support inquiries to support@mycuesta.edu If you are having issues with Canvas, you should contact the Canvas Support Hotline at (877) 921-7680, or click on the help button on the Canvas Navigation to report a problem.

Extended Education students can also contact the Continuing Education Office at SLO: 805.546.3941 or NCC: 805.591.6273. Monica Contreras will also be available to help students connecting to Canvas, feel free to email her at monica_contreras@cuesta.edu.

Please note: If you are having difficulty viewing the course or logging in, it may be because you are not using the correct address https://cuesta.instructure.com or you are using your phone or using an unsupported browser.

An Online learning environment is best accessed from a desktop or laptop computer, using Firefox or Chrome browser. This may solve your problem! Please review the browser requirements and minimum computer specifications below. http://www.cuesta.edu/student/aboutacad/distance/faqs_technical.htmlLinks to an external site.Links to an external site.

If the Cuesta server goes down or the power is out, the campus LMS will also be down and you will not be able to access your online course. When this happens, you should email me from your student or personal email (not from within the LMS) for more information or instructions. This has happened from time to time, don’t panic and notify me during the power outage so that I have a date/time stamp.

Cuesta occasionally announces power outages or upgrades to their computer system. This will be announced in advance on the Canvas or on MyCuesta. In this case, you will need to plan ahead with your submission of assignments. Regular review of Announcements will help prevent this problem.

As noted throughout this letter, NCTE 500 is a Non-Credit Course.  It is an enrichment course and can be retaken as many times as you'd like.  As such, the class outcomes are evaluated as Pass, No Pass, Satisfactory Progress or Ungradable. No letter grade is given for this course. 

If you have any questions regarding the content of this letter- please feel free to contact me directly at richard_melella@cuesta.edu

Looking forward to seeing you virtually online! 

Richard Melella

Instructor, Cuesta College

 

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