Getting Started

Introduction
Just as in on campus courses, teachers typically have different approaches to online instruction. Getting Started will provide information about the basics of what many online courses require you to do during the first week of the semester.

Information

Let's pretend that you have entered your first online course.  What is the first thing to do?  Online instructors may provide instructions on the Announcement or Homepage (the first thing you see when you enter the course).  Read this page very carefully. 

Some online students are very methodical and others randomly wander around all components of the course.  Both are legitimate approaches based on your learning style.  Decide which is your best approach to becoming comfortable with the course.  Becoming comfortable and being able to find course information is a prime task for the first week of the semester.  Some instructors provide a map of the course.  Go to the Table of Contents for the Getting Started module to find a sample "Course Geography"  that I use with my online course.

Online course requires similar basic technical skills.  Students must be able to send email with attachments, use a word processing package, copy and paste text to documents, and most importantly know how to navigate the course management system - at Montgomery College that is WebCT.  Other courses may have additional technical requirement.  Here are some ways to learn WebCT:

• Go to the Table of Contents of the Getting Started module and work through the WebCT tutorial I created for my online course.
• Use the Help menu from within the course.
• Use the Student Manual linked from you My WebCT page.
• For technical assistance with WebCT, contact the MC WebCT Help Desk at 1-888-691-5059.

Now that you have spent some time exploring the course, it is time to take a serious look at the course syllabus and answer that most important question, what assignments are due this week?  I encourage students to print the syllabus, keep it by the computer, and highlight due dates for all assignments.  Decide what other parts of the course you will print.  Some students create a binder for each course to keep themselves organized.

Discussion

Join us on the Discussion Board:  
Where is everything?  How many times have you asked yourself that question this week?  You're not alone.  I have probably taken 20 online courses and everyone is different.  My solution is to create a binder for each course.  I typically copy the syllabus, any list of assignments or calendar the professors provides and the weekly outlines.  Some would scream at me for killing so many trees, but that is how I'm sure I have completed all required assignments.  

What techniques do you have for getting accustomed to a online course website?

Ask a Counselor:
This is a place for you to ask me general questions about completing your Montgomery College degree or certificate, transferring to a four year college,
selecting a college major or choosing a career, or anything about being an online student.

Student Lounge:
This is a place for each of you to meet other online students from other online courses. Start conversations on any topic.....within reason:-).
Have fun.

Weekly Happenings

Check out the MC Events Calendar to see what's happening at the college or the Sponsored Events link to find out about Counseling and Advising activities on each campus.

Send Questions to:
anita.crawley@montgomerycollege.edu