What You Need to Know this Week (Yes, this will be on the quiz)

Week 1:
1. Rules for account names, post titles, etc.

• All accounts are to be named with your first name, last initial, and section number. For example: if I were a student in this class, my account name would be RebeccaL05 or 06. (If you use an abbreviated form of your name, you may name your account in that way. For instance: Samantha Goodman might go by Sam and create an account/login name of SamG06. However, she would enter her “official” name by which she is enrolled in her profile.) ***Get it right the first time and gain 5 extra credit points toward your participation grade.(Note: if you set up your account before reading this, you can go in and modify it, I believe. If not, create another one the correct way, and I will delete the incorrect one.)

• All blog posts will be titled with the name of the assignment, instructor’s name, date posted, and your login name (this will ensure that everyone will know what assignment you’re completing as well as your course section ~ both of my classes share this site, so this is important, particularly for group work). Please Note: Assignment posts lacking any of these components will lose points.

2. Read through the Course Guide and linked materials, including the Calendar for Week 1.

3. Pay attention to any posts I make and be prepared for changes to the site, calendar, assignments and so on, as such may be made as the semester goes on, as course assignments evolve, etc.

4. Introduce yourself in a blog post of no less than 100 words. Enter into a discussion with your classmates by responding to a few of their introductions via the comment/reply function at the bottom of their posts.

5. Posting assignments, exercises, Reading Responses, etc.

• I strongly suggest composing posts, particularly long ones, in a text or HTML program like Word or Dreamweaver off-site and then copy/pasting your post into the text box on the post screen. This will help you to avoid losing content (and thus the time and energy you put into it – to say nothing of the screaming and pulling out of your hair) if the site “times out” or goes down, for whatever reason, before you’ve finished your post.

• Familiarize yourself with the text input functions below the text box when composing posts. *Always select full HTML for your text input, and *Always preview your posts. As we go along, your posts will be graded on professional format as well as content.

• Don’t forget to click on Submit at the bottom of the page when you post something. If you don’t, the post won’t “go through” and will therefore not receive credit.

• Reminder: for correct post titles, etc. see item 1 above.

6. Document everything you do (in the “real” world, if you don’t, no one will). Keeping copies and using memo format, which includes the date in the memo heading, will help you to do that.

Class Policies:

• Come to every class

• Keep up with course assignments and discussions

• Turn work in on time ~ doing so makes it easier for me to keep all the assignments together and thus grade and return them more quickly. Additionally, major assignments turned in late lose as much as 10% of the project grade per buisness day late, and I find it extremely distasteful to have to reduce a grade just because the assignment was turned in late. On rare occasions, I will grant a short extension (24-48 hrs) without penalty if the situation warrants it. If you need one, ask.

• Keep a copy of all work handed in ~ save everything to multiple "places." If any assignment you turn in gets lost somehow, you need to be able to provide me with another copy

• Take an active and civil part in class discussions, both in class and via blog posts. Though I may not appear to, I rather rapidly come to recognize who is participating and who is not, so one cannot rely upon the same half dozen people to "carry" the discussions. If we have gotten several weeks into the semester and I can't come up with your name immediately, you're probably not talking enough. Likewise, if at the end of the term when I'm compiling grades I can't bring to mind any point in the semester when you spoke up and contributed to the discussion, that can reduce your attendance and participation grade by as much as 50% (points). While I realize that some of you may be shy or feel uncomfortable expressing your opinions,  I encourage you to make every effort to do so. I assure you: we are interested in what you have to say, all comments and questions will be treated with respect, and your contribution will add value to the experience, for you, for me, and for your classmates.

• Be courteous: No cell phones, texting, ipods, personal email, web surfing, private conversations, or doing work for other classes during our class. Engaging in any of the above activities during class is discourteous and unprofessional and will result in the loss of 5% (points) from your attendance and participation grade.

• If you don't understand something, ASK. In my class, there is no such thing as a stupid question. All questions, like everything you contribute to class discussion, will be treated with the same respect and professionalism with which I expect each of you to treat me and each other.

• Finally, all class members will conduct themselves as professionals at all times. This includes using appropriate language and tone in all discussions and communications, regardless of topic or medium of communication. Violation of this rule will result in the loss of all points if the communication is an assignment and/or loss of up to 5%(50 points) of the semester grade.

Note: Adherence to the above policies, particularly those pertaining to professionalism and individual courtesy and responsibility, will make for an easier semester and a much more pleasant experience for all involved. Therefore, all members of the class will be held responsible for knowing this information and the policies listed herein, without exception.