So, What's All This Online Stuff About?

This course is primarily online (there will be two face-to-face, all-day class sessions) over the Internet using a program called WebCT. Students use their Internet browser (Internet Explorer, Mozilla, or Netscape) to access and participate in the course. The following information should help prospective students understand the overall process.

Use the following downlinks if you wish.

1. What Do You Do in an Online Course?
2. Is There a Specific Class Meeting Time?
3. How Is this Different from an Independent Study?
4. Will I Have Contact With the Professor?
5. How does a typical weekly class discussion go?
6. Is this Easier than a Regular Face-to-face Class?
7. How Long Does the Class Run?
8. Am I Ready for an Online Course? (Assessing my ability
   to succeed online)
9. What are Some Keys to being Successful?
10. What Kind of Computer and Software Do I Need?
11. How Much Does it Cost?
12. What If I'm Out of Town for Spring Break for a Baseball Tournament or Trip to Arizona?
13. What If I Have Other Questions?

What Do You Do in an Online Course?

• Have discussions over the topic of the week.
• Share teaching ideas and lesson plans.
• Visit web sites of interest.
• Learn calculator skills, computer skills, and applications that will help you as a teacher (instructing students) and help you do the work of a teacher (other duties).
• Take (1) exam.
• Do (1) Implementation Project (a plan you will make for implementing technology to help students learn mathematics in your school).
• Prepare learning activities for your own classroom.

Is There a Specific Class Meeting Time?

This class does have two face-to-face, all-day meetings on the Macomb WIU Campus. At the first face-to-face meeting we will do a variety of activities that are hard to do at a distance (and for which one-on-one help is useful). At the second face-to-face meeting, students will present their implementation projects (this is in lieu of a final exam).

For the online component (which makes up a majority of the course) there is no specific class meeting time. The class is "asynchronous," which means there is no set time students must be online. However, students are expected to take part regularly (see next item). There will not be any whole-class chatroom discussions. However, there may be times when groups (of two, three or four students) may want to "meet" synchronously in one of the WebCT chatrooms to discuss questions or a project.

How Is this Different from an Independent Study?

Online courses are not the same as independent study. In an independent study course you "work at your own pace"- which means you might work real hard for two weeks then take two weeks off. In an online course you "work at your own time," but generally with the flow of the course. In this online course you can choose what times of the day, and what days of the week you will be online--but, on a weekly basis, you generally stay with the group. We will have a topic each week which we will be discussing online. Another difference is that in an online course there is a lot of interaction between all participants in the course, whereas in an independent study the student primarily interacts with the professor.

Will I Have Contact With the Professor?

• You should phone the professor if

• you have trouble using WebCT in the first week.
• you have a multi-step question.
• frustration level is high and waiting for a bulletin board or e-mail response won't do it.

• You should post your question on the bulletin board (which will be answered by students of the professor) if

• you have a question about an assignment (because others will have the same question).
• you have a general technology question (because others will have the same question).

• You should e-mail the professor if

• you have a personal concern or question.

How does a typical weekly class discussion go?

• On Monday morning (or Sunday night) discussion questions are posted.
• Student A reads some of the questions at 8:15 a.m. Monday (but decides not to respond right away).
• Student B reads a question at 8:45 a.m. and types up (and sends) his response.
• Student C reads a question and Student B's response at 9:05 a.m. and types up (and sends) her response.
• Student A returns at 11:45 a.m., reads all the responses posted so far and sends his response.
• .....
• The professor, at 9:15 p.m. Monday reads the questions and responses and sends a response to the second question.
• .....
• Student N, first reads this week's questions and responses Tuesday at 10:15 p.m. and sends her responses.
• .....
• Later in the week students return to see what new postings have been made and comment further.

 

Is this Easier than a Regular Face-to-face Class?

• No.

• I will try to keep the workload similar to a face-to-face course. If this were a Fall or Spring Semester (16 week) course, being a three semester-hour course, you can expect to be on-line ("in class") three hours per week and allot three to six hours per week for reading and course assignments (which may be online). Since this is an summer course, which lasts only 8 weeks, you can expect that time commitment to be double that of a 16 week course. Historically, online courses have a tendency to be slightly more work than face-to-face courses (but they also can be more advantageous).

• There are benefits.

• You only have to drive to campus twice (for the two, all-day meetings).
• You do not have to have a certain block of time on specific days set aside so that you can attend the class.
• You can do it from home.

How Long Does the Class Run?

See http://www.wiu.edu/users/mfjro1/wiu/tea/M655/basics.htm.  Grades will be calculated and turned in shortly thereafter, just like any other course.
 

Am I Ready for an Online Course?

From my point of view, you need to be:

• Fairly comfortable around a computer (and realize you'll be learning more).
• Fairly comfortable using the Internet, because this is the primary method of delivery of the course.
• Be comfortable in an environment where there are numerous choices, without someone standing over your shoulder telling you exactly what to do next.
• Be a self-starter. While there is an overall structure, you will have to prioritize your activities and manage your time.

What are Some Keys to being Successful?

For some more ideas see, Keys to Success as an Online Student.  Briefly, from my point of view, the keys are:

• Having at least the minimum amount of hardware, software, and abilities to be able to successfully participate in the course (see list below).
• Getting familiar with the course site, and WebCT early the first week/segment, so that you can navigate comfortably.
• Getting the plug-ins in the first week, so that you can utilize the power of the Internet.
• Utilize the problem-solving methods spelled out in the section above on "Will I Have Contact With the Professor?"
• Do not fall behind.
• The same things that make students successful in any course, such as asking questions and helping classmates.

What Kind of Computer and Software Do I Need?

1. Minimal Needs (You need the following to get up and running and be successful in the course-feel free to call the professor if you have questions about how to do any of these things.)
1. Hardware
1. Computer with modem and Internet connection (High speed recommended, 56K modem may work).
2. Printer.
3. Graphics calculator (this can be a borrowed calculator).
2. Software
1. Internet Browser (Internet Explorer, Mozilla, or Netscape).
2. Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
3. Plug-ins for your Internet Browser. These are very important to utilize the power of the Internet.
1. Full list elsewhere. (Examples: Shockwave, Acrobat Reader, unzipper program, Windows Media Player)
3. Technological Skills
1. Ability to run the software above at a minimal level.
2. Ability to cut, copy, and paste text and URL's.
3. Ability to copy, and paste graphics.
4. Ability to use e-mail (through WebCT you will be getting a course e-mail address, but it may also be useful to maintain your "regular" e-mail account that you already use)
5. Ability to download, unzip, and install free software (e.g., plug-ins) off the Internet.
4. Other
1. Willingness (even a desire) to learn additional computer skills, which may involve downloading free software to your computer.

 
2. Useful--Nice to Have (The following are not required for the course, but may be very useful to you in this course and as a teacher.)
1. Hardware
1. Scanner with basic graphic scanning software.
2. Computer with a DSL Internet connection (perhaps at school) to use some of the time.
2. Technological Skills
1. Ability to manage graphics in a word processing document (such as resizing, wrapping text, borders, etc.)
3. Other
1. Technology coordinator at your school that can help answer questions unique to your local computer or network.

 
3. Useful--Advanced (The following are also very useful to you as a teacher, but you will probably not use these (unless you already are familiar with them) much in the course.)
1. Hardware
1. TI-Connect cable and software (software is free off the Internet).
2. Software
1. OCR (Optical Character Recognition) software for your scanner (this probably came bundled with your scanner.
2. Computer Algebra System (CAS), such as Maple, Mathematica, or Derive or a TI-89 or TI-92.
3. Technological Skills
1. Ability to run the software above a minimal level.

How Much Does it Cost?

Please contact the WIU Graduate School to find out exactly.   You can see Tuition and Fees for some estimated costs.  The good news is that WIU tuition and fees are pretty low--and with no driving, there's a big savings on gasoline costs!
 

What If I'm Out of Town for a Baseball Tournament or Trip to Arizona?

If you must be gone (e.g., away from your computer) for a week of the semester, please contact the professor ahead of time and advance arrangements can be made. Refer to the WIU calendar for breaks (spring break, 4th of July, etc.), during which we will not have formal course activities. This course runs for (a day short of) 8 weeks. If you are going to be gone for more than one week (or would have to miss either of the two all-day sessions on campus), it is not recommended that you not take the course.

What If I Have Other Questions?

It is a good idea to phone or e-mail the professor (Jim Olsen) the semester prior to the course if you have any questions or concerns. Jim Olsen 309/298-2317; jr-olsen@wiu.edu.