July 7, 2008

• Welcome to the summer course! If you are just starting the course, please read the class announcements posted at http://staffwww.fullcoll.edu/jwu/109/
• There is no campus orientation, since so many of you are out of state. Explore all the links on the CE6 server. Within CE6, there is a HELP link at the top right. If you cannot get into CE6, be sure to follow the directions at http://online.fullcoll.edu/ and then contact Tech support.
• STUDENT INTRODUCTION. Be sure to take the learning style survey and then post to the "Discussion: Student Introduction" by Tuesday. There are no points awarded for this posting, but everyone is required to do this to stay in the course. You may attach a photo if you like. Your first assignment (required, but no points) is listed under Unit 1. Take a Learning Styles Survey and submit a Student Introduction posting under "Discussions". You MUST do this by Tuesday , even though no points are awarded..... as it shows me that you have been able to enter CE6 server and can go to different links.
  
  
• "Unit 1" should open up on July 7 for all registered students. Each unit has a main outline page that shows you a chapter (or topic) and its associated lecture notes, puzzle, tutorials and quizzes. You can work through the course in sequential order, or skip around. But remember that all of Unit 1 chapters, quizzes, puzzles and exam are due on Sunday, July 13 midnight (Pacific Time).
  
  
• If you have not ordered the textbook yet and cannot wait for shipping, the publisher also has a digital e-book (or individual chapters). Go to iChapters.com if you are comfortable reading everything online. To me, this sounds like a great way to search information. I did not research the pricing though. 
  
  
• Old class announcements should be accessible on the "Announcements page" and on the public website. Read them before sending me email, as someone may have already asked the same question already. 
  
  
• There are optional quizzes posted that may help you to learn the material in small sections. Past students did not find powerpoint lectures to be helpful, so I amy not posting them this summer. I will be posting the Activities tomorrow.
  
  
• Who lives the farthest away? There are lots of nursing students from Connecticut. But previous students have successfully taken the course from Japan and Germany.
  

July 3, 2008

• I am finally back in town and trying to catch up with the 100 emails already from this class (which will starts on July 7). I will mostly work in the mornings this summer.
• ADD CODES were given out to the petitioning students who indicated that they needed the course for professional school admission by fall. But I will not be giving out any more add codes unless someone drops the course. There are still 8 people on the wait list who are waiting for add codes.
• REGISTERED STUDENTS should plan on entering CE6 on July 7 (see instructions from June 17). If you happen to get access before July 7, do not print anything out yet - as I may still be making last-minute updates.
• STUDENT QUESTIONS. As many students are asking the same questions -- I will be posting student questions (and my responses), so that everyone gets the information.
• • Q: An online search shows different ISBNs for the eighth edition of the Human Heredity textbook. Which one is the correct one?
    • A: As long as the cover of the textbook shows the two girls, it should be the correct one. There are different ISBNs depending on whether it comes with a CD, study guide, companion website, problems guide, international version vs USA...... so just choose the cheapest version.
  • Q: Do I really need the eighth edition, as I can get the seventh edition cheaper?
    • A: If you are just taking the course for fun, no problem using the seventh edition. There may be some quiz questions that are specific to the eighth edition, but since you have so many quiz attempts, it probably would not change your overall grade much. If you will use the information in your future career path, then I recommend the latest edition, so that you have updated information.
  • Q: I got into the CE6 server and looked at Unit 1 materials. There are so many lecture notes and powerpoints -- do I need to print all those pages?
    • A: NO, I am in the process of removing all of the powerpoint lectures (as many students indicated that they mainly just read the textbook and understood the material). There are some lectures that I write more information, as the old text did not explain clearly and simply enough. But we switched to this Cummings textbook for its better explanations..... so maybe you don't need my supplemental lectures either.
  • Q: I got into the CE6 server and looked at Unit 1 materials. Why are there references to WebCT?
    • A: We have just switched from WebCT courser server to the Blackboard CE6 server. Since I have had family in the hospital, I did not have a chance to finish changing the words "WebCT" into "CE6".
  • Q: How will you contact us and give out course information? There is nothing posted on MyGateway.
    • A: I will be initially emailing the class list with Class Announcements (such as this) and also posting them on CE6 "Announcements" link.

June 17, 2008

• I am out of town and can not answer emails until my return on July 1.
• The class is overfilled. I have already sent Add Codes to the people who emailed me before June 10. No more students will be added unless they absolutely need the course as a prerequisite for professional school in the fall.
• Please read the Detailed Course Calendar at http://staffwww.fullcoll.edu/jwu/109/calendarSum08.html
  
• Be sure your email info on the Fullerton College MyGateway is correct. You will be sent class announcements to that email weekly in July.
• You will be able to access the CE6 course server on July 6-7. If you already know your username and password (that you would use to retrieve campus emails), then you can enter the course directly at https://distanceed.fullcoll.edu/webct/logon/310623972001
• Otherwise go to the FC Distance Learning Site to learn tutorials and enter the CE6 through http://online.fullcoll.edu/
• If you are repeating this course -- please note that we have switched to a) new textbook by a different author, b) new course server CE6 Blackboard from WebCT, c) new assignments and point values, and d) new science offices (in process).

June 3, 2008

• The class is overfilled and has a wait list. I have already sent Add Codes to the people who emailed me before May 20.
• Please read the Detailed Course Calendar at http://staffwww.fullcoll.edu/jwu/109/calendarSum08.html
• Be sure your email info on the Fullerton College Webstar (or MyGateway) is correct. You will be sent class announcements to that email weekly in June and then bi-weekly in July.

Important Course Deadlines

• July 7 = Online summer class starts. Get access into CE6 server.
• July 10 = Last Day to DROP without "W" on Transcript
• July 30 = Last Day to Withdraw with "W" on Transcript