Course Orientation

For CRJU Courses

Welcome to your CRJU course!

Please review this orientation to become familiar with the expectations for the semester!

This course is NOT a self-paced or independent study course.

You will be expected to maintain online access, consult Web CT regularly, and complete assignments each and every week during the semester.

While online courses offer flexibility, they also require self-discipline and motivation in that you must keep up with the weekly assignments, quizzes, and examinations.

If you fall behind, it becomes very difficult to catch up and this affects your ability to pass the course.

Therefore, I strongly urge you to review the syllabus and the weekly assignments to determine if this online course is right for you, your schedule, and your motivation level.

Everything in this course takes place online, including quizzes and examinations.

GETTING STARTED
1. From the Darton College site for distance learning students, you need to view the following pages to make sure that your computer is ready for this course.

Minimum System Requirements for Online Learners

Browser Tune-up

2. Go online to Darton College's website www.darton.edu and select WebCT. Log on using the instructions posted. The system may require you to change to a different password. Follow the screen prompts to do so. If you have previously used WebCT, your prior password remains in effect. If you encounter a problem, call the Web Help desk at 229-317-6923 or 1-800-861-8318.

3. If you have never taken a WebCT course, or are not familiar with the features of WebCT view the WebCT quick reference guides [Logging On] [Browser Settings] [Discussion Forum] [E-mail]

SYLLABUS: When you first log on to the course, you should read the syllabus and become as familiar as possible with its contents. The SYLLABUS can be found using the icon link on the left hand side of the homepage of the course or using the syllabus icon in the main area of the course. You are expected to know all of the course requirements and ask any questions for clarification regarding what is expected of you in this course. You will be required to take a mock quiz over the syllabus. The reasons for the mock quiz are twofold: (1) The mock quiz ensures that you are familiar with the expectations in this course and (2) The mock quiz gets you familiar with the online testing process. Even if you have taken other online courses, you are expected to take the mock quiz for this course.

COURSE SCHEDULE: Please consult the course schedule to review the due dates for all assignments, quizzes, and examinations. This can be found at the end of the syllabus and in a separate posting within the syllabus link. You are expected to meet all deadlines noted in the syllabus and the course schedule.

EXAMS & QUIZZES: All examinations and quizzes relating to this course will take place within Web CT. You are not required to come to campus for examinations or quizzes. Online testing, however, is a bit different than testing in a traditional classroom. In order to maintain the integrity of the tests and quizzes, please realize the following:

(1)    You will view and answer only one question at a time.

(2)    You will not have an opportunity to return to any questions.

(3)    In order to move on to the next question on any exam or quiz, you must first click SAVE and then move on to the next question. Failing to SAVE your answer means that an answer has not been recorded and credit cannot be issued for that particular question. It is important that you remember to SAVE each answer before moving on to the next one. Remember, you cannot return to any questions in the exams or quizzes, so this is extremely important.

(4)    All exams and quizzes are timed. If you fail to abide by the time limitation, your grade is reduced.

(5)    The results that you see, after submitting an exam or quiz, are quite limited. You do not see the questions and/or the answers. Instead, you see only the score that you earned. Again, this is to maintain the integrity of the testing materials.

(6)    You should not use any resources while taking the exams or quizzes, and the time limitations are in place to restrict you in this regard.

(7)    Exams and quizzes are available during specific time intervals. You must complete the exams and quizzes as scheduled. It is extremely important for you to become familiar with the course schedule, so that you know when assignments, including quizzes and exams, are due.

DISCUSSION FORUM: You will utilize the discussion forum to participate in class discussions with other students. You are not expected to be online at certain times during the week, but you are expected to post a number of responses by certain dates. You will then also respond to other student comments. This relies heavily on everyone participating throughout the week. Upon entry into the course, please review the instructions relating to the discussion forum, which are available under the “ASSIGNMENTS” link on the left hand side of the course or directly within the main area of the homepage.

ASSIGNMENTS: You will be expected to complete a number of assignments in this course. All assignments are to be submitted through Web CT. All assignments must be completed using MS Word and submitted as an attachment through Web CT. You will find additional information relating to these assignments through the “ASSIGNMENTS” link referenced above.

COMMUNICATIONS: All communication is expected to take place within WebCT. I check my email there regularly. It is helpful if you include an appropriate subject in the subject line of the email. If you want a prompt response, simply send me an email within WebCT. Describe the issue in your email, and I will respond to you promptly in an effort to assist you with resolving the issue presented. Because I check my email regularly, if you have sent an email to me and have not received a response within 24 hours, it is safe to assume that I did not receive your email. You may email me again, or you may call and leave a message on my office voicemail. I am here to assist you throughout the course, so you should not hesitate to seek my assistance.

CALENDAR: The calendar tool is useful in that I will post the week’s events within the calendar. You should consult the calendar each and every week to ensure that you are completing the week’s assignments that are required. If you become confused as to what is due during any particular week, the calendar should lessen your confusion. Remember, the course schedule will also contain each week’s assignments.

SUGGESTIONS FOR SUCCESS: Please realize that an online course requires dedication and competent time management skills. If you tend to procrastinate or do not have good time management skills, an online course may not be for you. I am not here to make your online learning experience difficult, but I must ensure that you progress in a timely fashion throughout the semester. Therefore, you are expected to adhere to the course schedule. You must attend to the weekly tasks and log on to Web CT regularly to check for email and/or other announcements. Since we do not meet face-to-face, the only way for me to make an announcement is through Web CT. I strongly encourage you to log on regularly. Those who do so tend to be more aware of the course requirements and the assignments due each week. Remember, however, that it is not sufficient to just log on weekly. You must complete the assignments that are due each and every week.

IF YOU HAVE A COURSE-RELATED ISSUE: Please contact me immediately so that I can assist you if you have an issue related to the course. Often, you are not the only one with that question, and I can make the rest of the class aware of the issue, if it applies to the class as a whole.

IF YOU HAVE A COMPUTER-RELATED ISSUE: If you have any problems getting into our course or experience other technical problems, call the WebHelp Desk at 229-317-6923 or 1-800-861-8318 for those who are outside of the Albany area. You can also email the WebHelp Desk at webhelp@darton.edu. Please realize that I am not capable of “troubleshooting” your computer for you, nor am I qualified to do so. Please contact the WebHelp Desk for this type of technological assistance. If you have problems resolving your technology issue, please contact me so that I can get you some assistance.

Current Students