Orientation to Online Instruction:  Overview

WELCOME to orientation for online instruction.

This orientation is designed to provide you with information related to taking a class with an online component and to help you understand how to do some basic tasks common to most online courses.

Listed at the bottom of this page are links to the various topics that may be useful to you. Point to the topic of interest with the mouse pointer and click the left mouse button one time to see the web page containing information about that topic.

Anytime you see the word "click" in any of these web pages, it means that you are to point with the mouse pointer to the object referred to and press the left mouse button one time. If the instruction reads "double-click" you are to press the left mouse button two times quickly. Occasionally the right mouse button is used, so the instruction will read "right-click" while pointing to an object. The right-click action will always cause a shortcut menu to appear related to whatever it is you are pointing to with the mouse.

You are welcome to print any or all of the orientation materials.  Before printing, display the web page containing the information you wish to print. If the page you are viewing contains frames (like WebCT, Blackboard, or Moodle), click in the frame you wish to print in order to make it active before printing. When giving the print command, only the web page that is active on your screen will print.  Here are some methods for printing:

Click on your printer icon located in the toolbar at the top of the screen or
Click "File" on the menu bar at the top of the screen; click "Print" in the drop-down menu, find and click "Print" , and then click the "OK" at the bottom of the Print window or
Hold down on a Ctrl key and then tap the letter P key. Release the Ctrl key, then click "Print", and click the "OK" at the bottom of the Print window or
Right-click the mouse while pointing to the text and see if the print command is available. If it is, click "Print," then click "Print" in the Print selection window, and then click the "OK" button appearing at the bottom of the Print window.

In the Topics you will learn how to copy and paste text into a word processing document; how to contact your instructor; time management; and many other things that will contribute to your success as a student. 

For the Introduction to Computers students arriving at this page has earned you 10 points and posting your introductions will earn a total of 20 points.

Arriving at this page [10 points]

Introducing yourself to your classmates at the discussion forum [10 points] and uploading a copy of your introduction to the Introduction Assignment [10 points].  See the links below for the questions to answer for your introductions.

For all students you will only be able to e-mail me until your student information has been loaded to the Moodle database for this semester.  You login to your Moodle classroom with your SWTJC WebAdvisor user name for your User Name [such as for John Doe: jdoe or jdoe3048], use your birth date as your password [written as mmddyy, such as:  070488 for July 4 1988, the password must be six digits].  To find your Web advisor login name go to the SWTJC Home Page and select Web Advisor on the right hand "portals" area. On the Web Advisor welcome page click on Students. On the Current Students page select the What's my User ID link in the User Account section to receive your login name. If you need to help identifying your Web Advisor login name, you can email me or contact the computer help desk at 830-591-7323.  You need to complete the orientation by the end of the first week of class.

Pages you may want to print.

Questions for Personal Profile.  E-mail the answers to me and submit them to the "Posting Introduction" assignment. (These answers include personal information. Do not post to the Discussion Forum:  Introduction.)

Questions for Discussion Forum.  Reply to the "Introduction" thread by typing or copying your answers to the thread.
 
 
Does your computer meet the Technical Requirements?

Web page links

Mr. Masterson's Home Page        SWTJC's Moodle Home Page        SWTJC's Home Page

Revised January 2012