Last Updated: 9/25/03
Link back to course Welcome...

Web.Edu Agenda 4
for class on September 27, 2003

1. Startup
   1. Reminder to sign in during the class, using the online signin form on the course web site
   2. Course web site: http://www.is.wayne.edu/drbowen/webeduf03
   3. Early Academic Assessment applies to this course.
   4. Computers will be upgraded starting at noon today. Things may be very different next class.
   5. Computer conference: managing your list of new messages. Go to www.is.wayne.edu/drbowen/WebBoard/UpdateList.htm.
   6. Pictures for a class photo album - this is not a course requirement
   7. Reminder about conference postings - these count in your grade
      1. Average of two per week, 26 for the semester. Five lines minimum (Making short lines does not count) and substantive - relating to the course.
      2. Very few postings so far, besides the introductions we did in class.
      3. We will actually be using three different discussion forums - WebBoard, BlackBoard and ListServ (email). Requirement is for a minimum of eight postings in each, total of 26. It is important to keep the number of postings up because soon we will be moving to one of the other two, and if you think it is difficult to do postings now, wait until you try posting when others have moved on.
   8. Reminder about weekly course progress reports using the form under "Online Tools" on the curse web site - these count in your grade
2. Technical problems with online courses. Reminder: We will go into the non-technical problems later in the semester
   1. Computer. Simple Internet connection makes few demands on a computer. Suitable computers cost under $500 today.
      1. 64 to 128 MB RAM
      2. 10 to 20 MB hard drive
      3. Modem (56kbps)
      4. Web Browser (Internet Explorer or Netscape), can be used for email too
      5. Word Processor (Microsoft Word is standard among WSU faculty but Word Perfect, Works and StarOffice should be compatible. WSU Computer Literacy requirement involves Microsoft Word proficiency.)
   2. Internet connection - WSU as an Internet Service Provider (ISP) - free modem dialup Internet
      1. Internet access - Access ID and Password
      2. Finding the dialup number that is a local call for you - http://support.wayne.edu/allwsu/dialin/dialsearch.php
      3. You can use the email without the Internet connection or the Internet connection without the email
      4. If you are going to use another email account, you should set your WSU email to forward to this other email account, because people can send you email anyway. How to do this? http://www.is.wayne.edu/drbowen/OnlineLife/OnlineLifeBrief.htm. (Works differently depending on whether or not you have activated your WSU email already).
   3. Internet software
      1. Usually you want the latest version of your web browser and email program, but these latest versions are inevitably larger and more cumbersome. If you have an older computer, and things seem to be OK, maybe you don't need to upgrade.
         1. What you need from your Internet Service Provider to take an online class at WSU
            1. You only need an Internet connection. There is no need to pay for extra content, instant messaging, or any other services or software.
            2. Wayne State University will supply you with free software for the World Wide Web and email, if this software is not already installed on your computer.
            3. You can also get free email from www.yahoo.com, www.netscape.com or www.hotmail.com
   4. Protecting your computer from viruses, worms, hoaxes, trojan horses, spyware and more. Becoming critical!  Handout.
   5. Finding online courses and getting started
      1. First, what does online mean? Different definitions
      2. What do you need to know about an online course
         1. Before classes start
            1. Are there required meetings? How many? When? Could there be optional meetings? Are online Chats required?
            2. Often the syllabus is available online before the course starts. Do you have time to take this course? Are you really interested in this course?
            3. Is special software required beyond email and a web browser (usually not, but for example Business Schools often use Lotus Notes)
         2. During the semester
            1. Bookmark the important course sites
            2. How will changes be announced?
            3. If files are to be turned in electronically, is your software (for example Word Processor, Spreadsheet) compatible with the Instructor's?
      3. Most DIS online courses have fliers that are mailed with the DIS schedules every semester (but mailing schedules is getting to be too expensive and will be discontinued).
      4. For DIS (although we sometimes do not update this early enough) http://www.cll.wayne.edu/isp/courses/OnlineCourses.htm
      5. WSU listing http://www.classschedule.wayne.edu/course_web/schedule/index.cfm, then link to "web courses." Many online classes that are not listed here.
      6. Finding out if a course you have registered for is online
      7. If a course is online, what do you do to get started?
         1. Find the course web site, which may mean finding the Instructor
      8. Finding the Instructor
         1. WSU online directory at www.wayne.edu > button "WSU People" > link "WSU Electronic Directory"
         2. Call the Department
      9. Can the Instructor / University find you?
         1. Changes in your email address, telephone number(s), street address
         2. If you have not activated your WSU email, do this (see URL below).
         3. If you have activated but do not use your WSU email, forward it to the email address that you do use. If you change this address, update your forwarding.
            1. Why? List of reasons. It can be a stable email address for your correspondents, while you change your other email. Also, the University, your Instructors, and often your fellow students can send information to your WSU email. Getting in touch with students if classes are cancelled or open.
            2. How? Go to www.is.wayne.edu/drbowen/OnlineLife/OnlineLifeBrief.htm. NOTE: You have to activate your WSU email before you can forward it. And it is a little easier to forward your WSU email at the same time that you activate it, but that same screen WILL NOT WORK afterwards - see the different method in this case.
      10. "mailto" links are popular and can be convenient - when using your Web Browser, click on one of these links to pop up an email window. However, they will not work unless you have configured your Web Browser with your return email address. If you have not done this, you will get an error message when you go to send. While the exact methods differ for different versions, here is some help on how to configure your Browser with your return email address:
          1. Netscape - Edit > Preferences > Mail & Newsgroups > Identity
          2. Internet Explorer:  Check your e-mail server settings. You can change e-mail server settings for POP3 and IMAP accounts.
             1. On the Tools menu, click Accounts.
             2. Click the Mail tab.
             3. In the Account box, click the account you want to change.
             4. Click Properties.
             5. On the Servers, Connection, and Advanced tabs, check the settings against those given to you by your Internet service provider (ISP).
          3. If everything matches but mailto links still do not work, contact your ISP to verify that you have the correct settings and that their servers are operating correctly. Also, make sure your ISP supports the protocol you are using, such as PPP, SMTP, POP3, or IMAP.
      11. Internet courses often "ramp up" more quickly than regular courses. Why? Because you have to be able to use the technology before you can take the course. If the content is going to ramp up normally, the technology part has to ramp up right away. Also, you may be in a class with students who have started early.
   6. Problems with your Internet connection - How the Internet works / troubleshooting and getting help with your Internet connection (handout)

   7. Email systems.

      1. Maximum amount of storage for each user; fill this up and any further incoming email will be "bounced back" without any notification to you. Hotmail seems to particularly susceptible to this problem, because of the large amount of junk email sent there.

      2. Large files can be refused by your Instructor's email system (beware of graphics). If you get an error message that your Instructor's emai is full, let him/her know right away (don't use email, of course!).

   8. File format compatibility.

      1. Can be the most vexing. You exchange files with the Instructor, must find compatible format. Can go wrong, especially with "off brand" word processor. Generally, the two "standard" word processors are Microsoft Word and WordPerfect (e.g. Lotus Notes). WSU bookstore has great software prices.

   9. Email: one method of transferring files, but there are alternates: (1) Web upload, (2)FTP.

   10. Getting help. (At the present time, many Instructors may not be aware of all problems).

       1. Other faculty, me for example.

          1. d.r.bowen@wayne.edu

          2. 313-577-1498 on campus (generally Mon, Wed Thu during the academic year)

          3. 248-549-8518 at home

          4. 313-390-2155 at Ford Motor Company during the Summer, and Tue and Thu during the academic year

       2. WSU Computer Help Desk.

       3. The system administrator. Web Server administrators often have "mail to."

       4. Collect information on the problem (what happened, the exact error message if any, what was on the blue bar above the error message, what program (name and version) were you using, and what were you doing at the time).

          1. Screen shots are convincing - on Windows, tap <Print Screen> then open Word, switch to landscape view and Edit > Paste. Can be saved, printed, emailed, etc.

   11. Very rarely these problems may threaten to affect your grade, and if your Instructor is not supportive or understanding, you may need help to avoid being penalized for technical problems. Two normal methods of this type of non-technical help are:

       1. Most Universities require academic departments to have a grade appeal process. These processes must be accessible to students; see the literature or ask a counselor.

       2. Most Universities also have an Ombudsman. An Ombudsman is a designated person to assist students with academic problems.

3. Assignments due next class (from the assignment schedule on the Syllabus - get used to reviewing that)
   1. In the textbook, read Ch 1: Why You Need This Book
   2. On the course computer conference, enter one comment on the textbook from the reading
   3. Enter a second comment under the topic "Online courses are different because..."
   4. Weekly report
   5. Do the "File Test" to make sure that we can exchange homework files electronically.
      1. Go to the course web site and follow the link "File Test" to download the test file
      2. Save the file to your hard drive (C: for a PC)
      3. Open the file, and add your name at the bottom of the file.
      4. Save the file using "File > Save As..." and add your three initials to the beginning of the file name. For example, since my three initials are drb, I would save the file as drbTestFile.doc
      5. Email the new file to me at d.r.bowen@wayne.edu
      6. I will add a new line to the bottom of the file and email it back to you.
      7. Open the file, read the new line, and email the line to me. This will complete the test.
4. Turning off your computer:
   1. Sign out and save any other work
   2. Click the "Start" button (if you computer has a "Windows" key you can press that instead)
   3. Point to or click on "Shut Down..."
   4. Make sure that "Shut Down" is selected
   5. Click the "OK" button or press the <Enter> key
   6. Wait until your computer turns off or displays a message that it is now OK to shut down your computer
   7. Turn off the computer if it does not turn itself off