Before we begin our semester of study together, it is important that you review all of the material on the course orientation pages (there are several) and on our course syllabus. These resources will prepare you to be successful in this course and will make the journey over the next 12 weeks significantly easier.
Optimally, you should complete the Orientation before we begin Lesson 1 so you are prepared.
The following list is an overview of the activities that must be completed for the Orientation. Detailed directions and submission instructions are located on the page containing the assignment within this orientation.
(You may want to print this page to serve as a checklist as you go along.)
This Orientation complements and expands on the information provided on the syllabus. If you haven't read it, be sure to review that document carefully! It is linked from this website and may also be available in Canvas.
If you have any questions, please post them to our Questions and Answers discussion forum, located under the Discussions tab in Canvas. I will check that discussion forum daily to respond. While you are there, feel free to post your own responses if you, too, are able to help out a classmate.
Once you are ready, click the next link in the Course Orientation menu and work all the way to the end of the list. On the following pages, you will find important information about the course structure, requirements, scheduling, and technical requirements and assistance—all of which you'll need to know in order to pass the course. Remember, you are also responsible for the information located on our course syllabus.
This course will be conducted entirely online. There are no set class meeting times, but you will be required to complete weekly assignments. Registered students in this course will need to navigate between several environments. These include:
The instructional materials on this site include lessons, plus the Orientation. Each lesson contains an introduction, reading assignments, links, assessments, etc.
Canvas is the learning management system currently being used by Penn State University. In Canvas, registered students may consult course calendars; communicate with instructors, teaching assistants, and fellow students; submit assignments; receive feedback from the instructor and teaching assistant; take online quizzes and surveys; and check assignment scores and course grades. A link to Canvas appears on every page.
This site includes the majority of the instructional materials for this class. There are a few things you should know about this website.
This site uses a "tab" interface to organize content. The tabs are used as follows:
Before you begin working through the course content, you need to make sure the computer you are using is configured properly for the multimedia that you will encounter. Below are specifications and tests to help make sure everything is in working order.
For this course, we recommend the minimum technical requirements outlined on the World Campus Technical Requirements [2] page, including the requirements listed for same-time, synchronous communications.
Access to a reliable Internet connection is required for this course. A problem with your Internet access may not be used as an excuse for late, missing, or incomplete coursework. If you experience problems with your Internet connection while working on this course, it is your responsibility to find an alternative Internet access point, such as a public library or Wi-Fi ® hotspot.
This site is considered a secure website, which means that your connection is encrypted. We do however link to content that isn't necessarily encrypted. This is called mixed content. By default, mixed content is blocked in Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Chrome. This may result in a blank page or a message saying that only secure content is displayed. Follow the directions below to view the mixed content.
We have YouTube video material in many of the lessons in this course. Chances are pretty good that you already use a Web browser that is configured to view YouTube videos, but to be safe, here is a "test" file that you should try out now to make sure you won't have problems later in the course. If this video (1:14) runs smoothly for you, then you're ready to go. If you can't get the video to play on your computer, then please refer to the steps at the bottom of this page to troubleshoot your problem.
Request Help. If you still have not had any success, then it is time for you to contact the HelpDesk. University Park or Commonwealth Campus students should contact the IT Service Desk [3], and World Campus students should contact the Outreach Helpdesk [4]. It is in your own best interest to be as specific as you possibly can. Vague descriptions of a problem only delay assistance. Try to include information such as:
This course uses many equations. In order to view the equations, you must use one of the following browsers. This list supersedes the list of browsers found on the Technical Requirements page.
If you use any other browsers, there will be pages that do not render properly.
You can customize your browser to zoom in on the equations by following the steps below.
Below is an example of a formula. Right click (Mac users Ctrl-click) on the formula to access the Zoom settings.
This course will require you to complete some handwritten assignments which must be submitted electronically. You must have a scanner, camera, or other device capable of capturing an 8.5" x 11" document with a minimum resolution of 150 pixels per inch (~2 megapixels or 1275 pixels x 1650 megapixels). Most modern cell phones have sufficient resolution for this requirement.
To be sure you are able to access reserve readings and other library resources in this course, visit the library’s Online Student's Use of the Library [6] site. This guide outlines all that Penn State libraries offer you as an online student. It is strongly recommended that you visit the Services for Students [7] page.
If you have questions, just ASK! [8] a librarian! The ASK! page will connect you to librarians in a manner that meets your needs; e-mail, phone, or chat for a quick response.
Here are some quick tips to keep in mind when preparing to be successful in an online course:
You should plan to devote at least the same amount of time to your online courses as you would to attending lectures on campus and completing assignments. Other good study habits, such as attending class (logging on) regularly and taking notes, are just as important in an online course as they are in a lecture hall!
You should plan to devote 10-12 hours per week to completing lesson readings and assignments. Your learning will be most effective when you spread this participation out and engage with the course on a daily basis, if possible.
Take every opportunity to interact with the content, the instructor, and your classmates by completing assignments and participating in discussion forums and group activities!
Keep in sync with what's going on in the course and stay on top of deadlines and upcoming assignments.
Ask for guidance when you are in need of clarification. You can also use the Discussion Forum to ask general questions about the course set-up or content.
The links below will connect you with other resources to help support your successful online learning experience:
This website provides links to many resources on everything from taking notes online to managing your time effectively. Please note that you must be a World Campus student to receive some of the support services mentioned on this website.
This website provides resources to help you learn to use technology, access Penn State tools, and purchase and download software.
This blog features posts by Penn State staff and students on a wide variety of topics relevant to online learning. Learn from online students and alumni, as well as staff members dedicated to student success, how you can get the most out of your online course experience.
The iStudy online learning tutorials are free and available to all Penn State students. They cover a broad range of topics including online learning readiness, time management, stress management, and statistics - among many others. Check out the extensive list of topics for yourself to see what topics may be of most use to you!
This website provides access to an extensive free online training library, with tutorials on everything from creating presentations to using mobile apps for education. There is a wealth of information here - all provided free of charge to Penn State faculty, staff, and currently enrolled students.
I am a firm believer in academic freedom and freedom of speech. Nonetheless, I want to encourage conversation and dialogue (within our formal assignments as well as in your various discussions with classmates) that are based on a framework of mutual respect and a desire for a continued and deeper understanding of the issues at hand and also the multiple perspectives represented.
Healthy debate and exploration are encouraged in your discussion posts. At the same time, you must support your well-thought-out claims and analyses with accurate and appropriate references. I will dock points when the rules of decorum are disregarded. Keep these guidelines for class interactions in mind as you interact with classmates and your instructor.
Sometimes, questions arise as to whom to contact about a certain issue. Generally, the following are the best options.
If you experience technology problems in Drupal (course content), please contact your Instructor. If you are a World Campus student and experience technology problems in Canvas, please contact the World Campus IT Service Desk [14]. If you are a University Park or Commonwealth Campus student, please contact Penn State's IT Help Portal [15].
It is in your own best interest to be as specific as you possibly can. Vague descriptions of a problem only delays assistance; try to include information such as:
A member of the Help Desk will be in contact with you to offer assistance.
All official administrative communications from the Penn State World Campus are sent to students' Penn State email accounts. Be sure to check your Penn State account regularly or forward your Penn State email to your preferred email account [16], so you don't miss any important information.
Now that you've had a chance to learn about the course and the online learning environment, I'd like to get to know you...and help you get to know each other! Complete the activity below, then continue with the first lesson of the course!
We will use a discussion forum in Canvas to post, and read, self-introductions. To access the discussion forum:
Need more help using discussion forums? Review the Canvas discussion help page [17].
Thank you for completing the Course Orientation, and I hope you have cerefully reviewed the material in the Syllabus as well. Hopefully, you now have a much better understanding of what this online course environment will be like and what will be expected of you.
You have reached the end of the Orientation!
Double check the to-do list on the Orientation Welcome page to make sure that you have completed all of the activities listed there before beginning the course.
Links
[1] https://psu.instructure.com
[2] https://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/general-technical-requirements
[3] http://itservicedesk.psu.edu/#
[4] http://student.worldcampus.psu.edu/technical-support
[5] http://www.dessci.com/en/products/mathplayer/download.htm
[6] http://guides.libraries.psu.edu/onlinestudentlibraryguide
[7] http://guides.libraries.psu.edu/c.php?g=516093&p=3540332
[8] http://ask.libraries.psu.edu/?stream=8
[9] https://student.worldcampus.psu.edu/academic-support-resources/strategies-to-improve-online-learning
[10] https://student.worldcampus.psu.edu/help-and-support/technical-support
[11] http://studentblog.worldcampus.psu.edu/
[12] http://istudy.psu.edu/
[13] https://linkedinlearning.psu.edu/
[14] https://student.worldcampus.psu.edu/help-and-support/technical-support/it-service-desk
[15] https://pennstate.service-now.com/sp?id=get_it_help
[16] https://pennstate.service-now.com/sp?id=kb_article_view&sys_kb_id=76e0cebc1bff90d413b599ba234bcbec
[17] https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-4121#jive_content_id_Discussions