Now that you're enrolled in the first class of your Master's program, we'd like to introduce you to the MTL community norms and expectations. We've found that new students - especially when they're online - usually have a lot of questions about what to expect, what is expected of them, and how things are supposed to work. In this section, we'll address many of the questions you're likely to have.
The course syllabus is one of the most important documents for any course and you can expect to receive one in every course. Many people think of the syllabus as a contract between the professor and the student. You'll find the course syllabus usually includes the following information:
The course syllabus is also a schedule. Often you'll find the weekly topics and course assignments listed on the course syllabus. If they're not listed, there will be a pointer to help you find them. This information will help you as you manage your time and your work load. Although the professor sometimes needs to make adjustments to the schedule, the syllabus typically offers a good idea of what you need to do to succeed in the class and any associated policies and deadlines.
Finally, the course syllabus can be thought of as a road map for the class. It will help you learn where everything is located and help you plan a successful journey through the course.
Find the syllabus and schedule of assignments for this course in the left hand navigation bar. Review these documents and take notes about any questions you have. You will need these notes for one of this week's assignments. Many students find it helpful to print a copy of their syllabus to keep in a file or binder. That way they don't need to log in to class every time they want to refer to the syllabus. Some like to note due dates - especially for large projects - on their personal calendar. In this class, the schedule of assignments is formatted so you can use it as a checklist to keep track of your progress.
Online students can only attend and participate in classes by logging in to the course web site and participating in the discussions. In order to succeed online, it is absolutely essential that you:
For more tips to help you succeed online, thoughtfully review Success for Online Professional Development: Tips for Learners from Florida's Instructional Technology Resource Center.
Communication is one key to leadership and an important skill needed to work effectively in a group. Please take a few minutes to think about your own communication skills, both oral and written.
Take this free online communication test. Please take the test as a non-member and do not pay for a report! This test is to jumpstart your thinking about your own style of communication. After you've taken the test, spend a few minutes searching the Internet for information on communication skills leaders must have to be successful.
All classrooms have rules - both spoken and unspoken - for proper behavior and collegial interaction. The rules about online classrooms and work places are slightly less clear than in face-to-face classrooms. However, you will sometimes hear others refer to "netiquette."
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Net·i·quette n. Etymology: blend of net and etiquette: etiquette governing communication on the Internet. Source: Merriam-Webster Online |
Other members of the MTL community expect collegial participation from you. Every now and again, misunderstandings happen. Following some basic netiquette guidelines can help you learn to avoid misunderstandings in the first place; deal with them when they happen; and learn to take a firm, but polite stand in discussions and disagreements.
Virginia Shea offers some Core Rules of Netiquette. Be sure to click on each rule for an elaboration. There is good advice in this web site for all of us.
Another useful technique to communicate online is the judicious use of the emoticon. If something you plan to say might be misinterpreted, sometimes adding an emoticon to help convey your real meaning is helpful. However, two cautions about emoticons are in order.
In the online classroom, your instructor can't see the confused look on your face. If you are having trouble with something in class, please don't be afraid to say something. Usually, your professor will designate a special forum for you and your classmates to ask for help. Generally, it is best to use that forum instead of email. If a concept is difficult, or an assignment is unclear, the chances are good that another classmate is facing the same difficulty. By posting your question in the designated forum, everyone will benefit from the answer you receive. From time to time, privacy demands indicate an email to the professor is a better communication channel for your question. Unless indicated otherwise, the public forum should be where you ask for and receive help in the class.
If you need help, please don't wait until the last minute to ask for it. When you do ask, give plenty of detail about what is causing your confusion. To increase your chance of getting a timely and accurate response to your question, include all the information a potential helper will need to offer help. This might include the titles of specific documents that contain confusing information or links to web pages that don't have the information you expected. In the case of an unclear assignment, state your understanding of the assignment and ask if you understood it correctly.
Asking for help with technical problems is even more challenging. A technical troubleshooter needs information like what computer operating system you are using, what software you are using, and the sequence of events that brought about the problem. Even then, it's important to say "this is exactly what happened" or convey the content of any error messages.
Don't forget that we are all in this together. If you see a request for help - and you know how to help - please do! Your instructor won't mind.
Time management and work load management are especially critical for online students. The course syllabus and schedule of assignments will outline a suggested time schedule for completing assignments and discussions. However, unanticipated difficulties, job requirements, and family events can sometimes interfere with your plans. Be sure to check in to the course early each week to see what is expected of you. Plan to have your assignments done early to allow for the unpleasant surprises that tend to crop up at the last minute. If you know you have a conflict with a published deadline, manage your work load to complete the project early. In any case involving missed deadlines, be sure to notify your professor as early as possible about a problem - or a potential problem. Most professors will work with you to figure out a solution that will satisfy both you and the professor.
Every now and again we hear of students who sign up for an online class because they take less time than face-to-face. This is simply not true. A general rule of thumb is that students should expect to spend three hours of time per week for every one hour of course credit. For this 4-credit course, plan on 12 hours of work per week. Some weeks will take less time. Others may take more.
When you logged in to this course, you might have noticed another course called MTL Program listed. Although it is labeled "course," you can think of it as a community or student lounge filled with useful information. You can read announcements, download forms related to the program, communicate with other students, take a look at projected course offerings, and use tools to plan your program of study. Be sure you take a quick visit to the MTL Community and explore. If you don't see it when you log in to Blackboard, let your instructor know.
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Meet the MTL Program CoordinatorKim Kubatzke coordinates all things related to the MTL program. If you have any questions your instructor can't answer, please get in touch with Kim at kkuba1@uis.edu or call her at 217-206-7516. If she can't help you, she will put you in touch with someone who can. |
| Many thanks to the Graphics Communications classes at City College of San Francisco for making the icons used on this page and for making them publicly available. |