Welcome to NCTE 502 

What's New in Computer Technology?

 

 

Welcome to distance education at Cuesta College! My name is Richard Melella, and I will be your instructor for the online version of What's New In Computer Technology (NCTE 502 CRN 51155).  This letter is to inform you of some important details prior to the start of the Summer online class. Please read this page very carefully! This course will start on June 23, 2020 and will be in session until July 22, 2020. You will gain access to your course on the first day of classes! 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 6:00 pm to 8:25 pm Tuesday and Wednesday Nights.  Attendance will be taken automatically when you login to the webinar and monitored throughout the duration of each webinar session. 

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
• 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. 

Mandatory Online Orientation  

You are encouraged to review the online orientation video

1. You will log into Canvas on the first day of the course and complete the required orientation exercise which will include: watching an orientation video, composing an email, posting in the forum, locating your homework site and submitting your first assignment. Failure to complete these exercises will result in confusion and inability to find the necessary course links for a successful semester, and immediately dropped from the course. You can 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.

Please Note: Some of the video and processes described in the online video are specific to credit coursework.  NCTE 502 in a noncredit course.  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 502 is as follows:

This course examines the rapidly evolving technical world and its future. This course will guide students as they explore the many practical questions that arise as computers, cell phones, eBooks, social networks, email, the internet and other technology become more central to our daily lives.

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. 

Additional Learning Outcomes - Extended from NCTE 500 include:

1. Locate and download additional software, tutorials, and tools handheld devices.
2. Using hand-held devices for digital photography and photo editing
3. Photo projects – Students will participate photo-based project for personal enjoyment

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING THIS CLASS: While I will cover the above areas- as noted in the description- the best “real world” application of mastering the basic skills and processes common with these devices - is to apply their use and function to our smartphones or a tablet. As such, the course will continue where the NCTE 500 class left off.  We will continue the exploration of using our smartphones and tablet camera applications and various applications that we can use to enhance, showcase and share the pictures that we take on our phones and tablets. 

As I mentioned previously, NCTE 502 will be  synchronous in format – meaning – students, using their laptop, or computer, or even smartphone or tablet will be able to check into something like a Zoom conference call online and I will be conducting the class with each of you in real time on a group video conference chat or virtual classroom call in weekly session.  If you weren’t able to participate fully in the NCTE 500 Hand-Held Devices class- here’s your chance to take much of the course content over again as well additional content, in a more effective format for learning!

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 dropbox 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 a review resource for your reference as needed.

Class Performance

Quizzes/Exams 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. 

Students may, if assigned to do so- actively participate in 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 Module begins on Mondays and closes on the Sunday nights.  Because this is a non-gradable class- assignments and possible discussion forums will remain open if appropriate.  There are no graded quizzes for the 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.

Netiquette (Online Professionalism) and Online Course Participation- If 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. 

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.

Your 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.

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.

NCTE 502 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 is 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