Hi everyone,

I’m Dr. Heejung An. I will be your instructor for this course. The best way to contact me is via email at anh2@wpunj.edu. Please do not hesitate sending me an email if you have any questions or concerns throughout the semester.

All sessions will be online through Blackboard at http://bb.wpunj.edu. The course will be made available to you on September 1st. Please login early in the week for your first session. You should also review the directions on the Announcement Board, to help get you started.

For this course, we will not be covering basic computer applications such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint. However, you will be expected to complete assignments using these programs. Although I do offer tip sheets and tutorials online to help you with these applications, free workshops are available on a drop-in basis from IRT (see http://www.wpunj.edu/stc/services/softwaretrainingworkshops.htm for more details).

For one of the assignments, you will be developing an e-portfolio by using the Blackboard e-portfolio tools. Because of this, I strongly recommend that you attend one of the training dates listed below offered by IRT on how do develop your e-portfolio in Blackboard. If one of these dates is not convenient, please note that IRT will also offer training on a drop-in basis, too, with instructional technologists. Additionally, I will provide assistance as needed.

- 11/02/09, M, 10:00 - 11:00 am (Valley 1021)
- 11/03/09, T, 4:00 - 5:00 pm (Valley 1021)
- 11/04/09, W, 2:00 - 3:00 pm (Valley 1021)
- 11/05/09, R, 5:00 - 6:00 pm (Valley 1020)
- 11/06/09, F, 10:00 - 11:00 am (Valley 1021)

You can sign up for one of the workshops at this web address: http://euphrates.wpunj.edu/faculty/anh2/fall09EP/

Please Remember! :

• All students are required to have a WPU e-mail account and access it regularly. The address is http://student.wpunj.edu and you can access it using the same credentials you use to access Bb. If you need help with your email account please contact the Help Desk, help@wpunj.edu or 973.720.help. Please note that I will also send your assignment  grades via your WPU email address.
  
  
• Note that the AOL browser does not work well with Blackboard. It is recommended that you use MS Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox instead.  (If you must connect to the Internet using AOL, please minimize the AOL browser and use MS Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox).
  
  
• Log on to the course web site at least three times per week.
  
  
• Check for new announcements regularly: It is your responsibility to read all of the weekly announcements posted on the Blackboard system, in order to keep up with new information regarding the course. 
  
  
• Read the provided materials every week (There is no required textbook for this class, but you are expected to read the provided articles, websites, etc.).
  
  
• You can read ahead and/or start on any assignment ahead of time, with the exception of session discussions. Starting assignments ahead of time will prevent the last-minute crunch and will also give you a chance to ask clarifying questions if you need to. The successful self-regulated learner will NOT start on assignments the night before the due date, but rather, will give him/herself time to deal with any pedagogical misunderstandings or technical glitches that may arise.
  
  
• You are expected to complete all course assignments by the due date and submit them via BlackBoard. You will have one point taken off for every two days that the assignment is posted after the due date.
  
  
• Active participation in all online discussions is required. You can obtain your weekly assignments and discussion topics in the “Assignment” section on BlackBoard.
  
  
• Plagiarism is not allowed - this includes copying from other students as well as copying from web sites. Do not cut and paste text that you have not written into any of your assignments without proper citations.
  
  
• Please manage your time well. If you fall behind, you will become overwhelmed. Stay in touch with me if you are having difficulty keeping up.
  

• Question, question, question when you are unclear about something. You will do just fine, but sometimes clarification helps.

How Do You Get to the Online Course?

Please consult the Get Started document at Bb Home, http://bb.wpunj.edu

How Can You Get Help with BlackBoard?

You can always get help/support by posting any problems/questions at: http://euphrates.wpunj.edu/bb/sc

I look forward to a thoughtful and productive semester. See you online!

- Dr. An