Online Orientation - University of Houston–Clear Lake



Online Orientation (Discussed during the first class)

Dr. Boetticher

(Revised January 16, 2009)

Welcome!

Greetings! I recognize that you have many choices in terms of universities, courses, and professors. Thank you for enrolling in this course. To help you get comfortable with this course, I have designed this orientation document. I will be reviewing this document during the first “face-to-face” class period. Please note, whether you are enrolled in the “face-to-face” section or the “Web-based” section, you are most welcome to attend all “face-to-face” lectures. The classroom location is posted on the online syllabus.

What is a Web-Based course?

The definition of what is a Web-based course varies depending upon the course, instructor, and university. In general, a Web-Based course provides students an opportunity to learn without attending class on a periodic basis. For this class you may attend zero or more of the lectures. To enhance the learning process, different Web-based tools will be utilized. You may submit assignments either electronically or in hard-copy format (unless specified otherwise). Depending on where you live (or work), you may take exams remotely.

Should I attend lectures? Not attending lectures assumes you possess certain traits. Review these traits very carefully to see if they apply to you.

Can you work independently?

Are you generally self-motivated?

Do you have good time-management skills?

Do you need convenience and an adjustable schedule?

Are you comfortable asking for clarification and continuing to ask when you need more information?

Do you know how to check help screens, manuals, are FAQs?

Do you have good study skills?

I will be conducting a face-to-face class and following the online syllabus. The link is provided below. Typically, I review the weekly material as stated in the online syllabus. You are more than welcome to attend, but attendance is not required. If you live in the Clear Lake/Houston area, there are two classes you must attend: the midterm and the final exam. The dates of the exams are listed on the online syllabus.

The online syllabus for the Database course is available at:



The online syllabus for the Data Mining course is available at:



The online syllabus for the Software Metrics course is available at:



The online syllabus for the Software Engineering Tools course is available at:



Each online syllabus contains the course schedule; policies and procedures; specific tasks (what quizzes to take and when); links to notes; links to assignments plus their due dates; and links to other resources.

If do not attend the first class, then please send me an email with the following information (please specify which course in the subject line):

Sending me an email confirms that you are enrolled in the class. 99% of the time I do not call a student. The primary exception is if a student misses an exam. I use your email (and others) for constructing a mailing list for each class. Periodically I send out emails regarding schedule changes, project updates, etc. I send emails BCC in order to keep your email hidden from other students. You may provide one or more emails. I recommend providing an email that you check on a daily basis. Also, if your email changes (e.g. you change Internet providers), then it is your responsibility to provide me an update. Also, if you need to drop the course, please send me an email, so I may remove your from my mailing list.

Once I receive your email, I will send you the password for the course notes. I will also divulge this password during the first class meeting.

WebCT

What is WebCT?

WebCT is a Web-based application program for the creation of online courses. It has many features. For this course, we will be using the quiz facility; course tutorials (DBMS class); and discussion boards. A chat tool is also available. During the semester I will post midterm, final, course averages, and course grades via WebCT.

How are students registered into WebCT's student roster?

UHCL’s University Computing Technology (UCT) group has created an automated process for creating student accounts in WebCT and for generating MyWebCT pages for students. All courses flagged as Web-based or WebCT courses are noted in the PeopleSoft registration database. The students are extracted and given a username and password to access Web courses. If a student has any problems with their username and/or password please direct them to call the UHCL Help Desk at 281-283-2828.

What happens to MyWebCT pages from previous semesters?

Student MyWebCT accounts will be purged at the end of each semester. Instructor's accounts will remain as is. However, all discussion postings, e-mail and chat logs will be completely erased. A good analogy would be to realize the "chalkboard" is erased, cleaned, and polished at the end of every semester.

How will I be informed of my userid and password?

Instructors, with the help of suite secretaries, will provide this information during orientation that includes directions for access to the course. You may use your NT account for your userid and p+ssn for their password. Students who register late should be sent a copy of the welcome letter along with any additional pieces of relevant information.

Logging On To WebCT

Enter in your browser's location bar.

You should get a screen like this:

Once you click on the button, you will see a Web page asking for your WebCT ID and Password. The screen will look something like this:

[pic]

If you have had a WebCT course before, then you may try your previous WebCT id and password. Your may also try your NT login ID (if you have one).

If you are new to WebCT, or if you do not know or remember your WebCT ID (NT login ID), go to the Student Support Site at the following link:

Here is what is displayed at that site:

Step 1: Enter your Social Security Number (SSN) or Last Name, then click Submit.

Step 2: Click your name on the list of names that is displayed.

If your name isn't listed, contact the UHCL Help Desk M-F: 8am - 5pm. The UHCL Help Desk: 281-283-2828 - for NT ID setup and password resets.

Step 3: Find the User ID listed as “PCLAB”.

Determine your NT Password.

NT passwords fit one of the following rules. Try all three before giving up.

If you used your NT id in the past and changed your password, it will be the password you last used. If you cannot remember your changed password, contact the UHCL Help Desk (281-283-2828) to have your NT password reset.

If you entered UHCL in Spring 2002 or later your initial password has been set to:

p + student id (e.g., p0001234)

The student id is a 7-digit number on the back of your new student id card and the upper left corner of your registration receipt.

If you entered UHCL prior to Spring 2002 your initial password has been set to:

p + social security number (i.e. p123451234)

Enter your information and click on the "OK" button.

Once you are able to log in, your screen should look something like this:

If you get a “Page cannot be displayed” error message, your login probably worked. Just click the Refresh button (on the Internet Explorer menu bar) several times until you are presented with the “my WebCT” screen.

Click on the WebCT class that you are enrolled in.

Depending upon which class you are enrolled, it should look like one of these screens:

CSCI 5333: Graduate Database Course:

[pic]

CSCI5833 Data Mining Tools and Techniques:

SWEN5131 Software Engineering Tools:

SWEN5430 Software Metrics Course:

[pic]

Explanation of the command buttons

At the bottom of the opening screen for each course there are several buttons. Each of these is explained below.

Course Content. The course content is a link to the online syllabus for a course.

Quizzes. This link goes to the quiz facility in WebCT. It is explained in further detail later in this document.

Your Grades. This link shows your quiz grades along with the midterm, final, and course grades.

Support. Link goes to WebCT support.

Discussions. In order to promote involvement for those students who may not be able class on a regular basis, I have included a Discussions link. At times I might pose a challenging problem that is a hot research topic. You may choose to post a question or comment, however please read prior discussion or comments so that you do not restate a question that was previously asked. Also, depending on the question or comment, you may send it directly to my email account.

Live Chat. Students may correspond with other students via one of the chat rooms.

Proper Hardware/Software for a WebCT course

It is the responsibility of the student to make sure that they have the necessary computer resources and skills to take a Web-Based class. Students are not required to purchase their own computer, but must have access to one that meets the minimum specifications. The computer must be able to connect to the Internet through an Internet Service Provider and allow the student to browse the World Wide Web. The Internet connection must not be impeded by a firewall. Many school districts, medical facilities, and corporations use firewalls to restrict their students and employees from accessing inappropriate material or engaging in inappropriate activities. Firewalls will restrict the use of important online instructional tools, like Chat or posting to Bulletin Boards, and can completely prevent you from logging into your course. Check with your ISP to insure that a firewall won't cause you problems.

The next page provides general hardware/software requirements.

NOTE: There is no technical support for WebCT on Macintosh computers. The following specifications for Mac computers are merely suggestions, and may not always produce useable or viewable results. I highly recommend using a PC to connect to your courses. If you have problems viewing your course(s), then you may want to consider using one of the PC computers in the Delta building at the UHCL campus. General information about UHCL computer labs is available at:



|Hardware |Windows (highly recommended) |Macintosh |

|Monitor |At least 15 inch (800 x 600 screen resolution |At least 15 inch (800 x 600 screen res.) |

| |recommended) | |

|Hard drive |50 MB of free space (70 or higher recommended) |50 MB of free space (70 or higher recommended) |

|Network |56k or higher recommended |56k or higher recommended |

| |No firewall restricting your access to ports in the 4000 range if your course uses WebCT's chat or whiteboard |

| |tools. |

|Software |Windows |Macintosh |

|Operating Systems |Windows 95, 98 or NT, ML, or XP |System 7.6 or higher |

|Browser |Netscape 6.01 or 6.1 (NOT 6.0) | Download |Netscape 4.0 or higher | Download |

| |Internet Explorer 5.5 SP2 | Download |Internet Explorer 4.5 or higher | Download |

| |Caution: WebCT is not compatible with Netscape 6.0, AOL's browser, WebTV, and some versions of Internet Explorer. |

| |For best results, use Netscape 6.1 or Internet Explorer 5.5 SP2. |

|Audio/Video Player |RealPlayer for Windows | Download |RealPlayer for Mac | Download |

| |QuickTime 3.0 or higher | Download |QuickTime 3.0 or higher | Download |

|PDF Plug-In |Adobe Acrobat Reader (This will be needed for the course notes) | Download |

|Virus Protection |You should have a virus protection program with the most recent update installed and running on your PC to protect |

| |yourself and others from harmful computer viruses. |

|Compressing Tools |WinZip for Windows | Download |A web search on file compression tools for the Mac will |

| | |offer various options. |

|Productivity Tools |Word Processor and Office Productivity Software such as |Word Processor and Graphics Software |

| |Microsoft Office. Many instructors will only accept | |

| |Microsoft Office or plain-text formatted assignments. | |

Please go to: to check your browser settings.

Taking Quizzes in WebCT (If applicable)

Most of the online courses I teach use the WebCT quiz facility. Online quizzes are designed to help you succeed in this class. They are beneficial for several reasons. They allow you to get feedback prior to the midterm and final exams. Also, by keeping up with the readings you will get more out of this course. Getting more out of this course (and all your other courses) will help you achieve your professional goals.

Clicking on the “Quiz” link will take you to a page that looks something like this:

[pic]

Choosing a quiz. Be very careful when choosing the quiz you are about to take. Make sure you do not select the wrong quiz. Once you start a quiz, there is no turning back.

Time Limit per Quiz. I estimate that each question requires about 2 minutes per question. So if a quiz has 10 questions, then you have a total of 20 minutes. If you go over the time limit for 1 or 2 quizzes, that is acceptable. However, if the pattern continues, then I will bring this to your attention.

Quiz Availability. Every quiz has a hard deadline regarding when it must be taken! I found that one of the keys to academic and professional success is discipline. Implementing hard deadlines avoids the “last minute cramming” scenario. In order for you to get the most out of this class and learn as possible, the deadlines become tighter and tighter through the semester so that you are taking quizzes on assigned materials prior to attending class. This will enable you to know what you don’t know. This approach will enable you to be proactive in your studies. Once you have convinced yourself of the benefit of a proactive approach, I anticipate you will to do the same for your other classes. Make sure that if you do have any questions, that they are answered during the “face-to-face” class (or via email, discussion board, or chat).

Below is a sample screenshot showing the WebCT quiz facility.

Most of which is self-explanatory.

After completing the quiz, you may see your results. Below is a sample screenshot.

[pic]

The blue arrows show the correct answer(s) and what you selected. Note that on some questions you may receive partial credit. For others, it is an “all or nothing.” It is best to assume that all questions are “all or nothing.”

The Online Syllabus

This section describes the syllabus layout and policies. I will use the Database syllabus as an example. Most items in the syllabus are intuitive; I will highlight some key points.

Read through the syllabus very carefully. Each week is carefully outlined in terms of tasks that need to be accomplished. Here are some points to pay attention to on the syllabus

Under the course title you will see, “Updated Month,Day Year.” This represents the last time that I updated the syllabus. When there are significant changes to the syllabus I will send an email to the class regarding any changes.

The syllabus includes my phone number and email. The best way to reach me is via email.

Readings from the textbook are identified as chapters.

Readings from the class notes are called units.

Quizzes in WebCT have hard deadlines as to when they must be completed. These deadlines are given for each quiz in the syllabus.

Within the syllabus are the homework/project assignments. These documents are either in MS Word or PDF format and can be downloaded and/or printed. Due dates and point values are provided on the online syllabus.

All local students (Clear Lake/Houston area) will need to attend the class for the midterm, final, and term project presentation (if applicable). All other students will need to notify me as soon as possible so that we can make arrangements.

Read the Other Policies section of the syllabus very carefully! Among other things, it describes what is considered cheating for this class. Penalty for cheating will be extremely severe and may result in an F for this course. It could also cost you a TA position or one or more academic scholarships.

Once you have completed reading this document and reviewing the syllabus, you are ready to take the first quiz. This is a quiz on the syllabus. You may take it as many times as you wish. However, you must get a 100% on this quiz in order to proceed. Providing a syllabus quiz helps you to get familiar with WebCT. You may even want to make some mistakes on the syllabus quiz, just to see what WebCT does.

Note that all other quizzes may be taken only one time.

How to do well in this class (and life)

Do not be a slave to your conditioning. Most likely I have never had you as a student in any of my classes. So I have no idea about you as a student. Why not start today to be the student (and person) you’ve always wanted to be?

Remain calm. So you are in grad school, perhaps this is your first grad class. If you find yourself getting nervous, then take a deep breath (through your nose) and let it out slowly (through you mouth). Do this several times. This raises your energy level and relaxes your body.

Be academically aggressive. I find that students that sit in the front and ask a lot of questions do well in the class. Furthermore, you will get a lot out of this class if you come prepared to class and ask good questions.

Be enthusiastic. Nobody is going to care more about you than you. Try and be enthusiastic about everything you do. If you can’t get excited about you and what you are doing, nobody else will.

Differentiate between what is urgent and what is important. Set goals for yourself. Then as you encounter demands on your time, discard those that are perceived as urgent, but not important. You will be able to accomplish more in your life.

Set a good example for others. I have seen students ask other students for answers to homework problems and/or quiz questions. When you do this, you are telling other students that you are a cheater. You never know what fellow students will remember, especially if you are seeking a job at that student’s company. Once you have lost your reputation, you have lost everything!

Set yourself apart. One of my Thesis students, Mahi Dasika, put in a lot of extra time beyond his studies to attain various MCSD certifications. He is now employed with Dell Computers and doing extremely well.

Seek to learn as much as you can. Rather than focus just on grades, you may want to consider learning as much as you can. My most recent RA, Thanh, was always learning new technologies. As a result of his intense curiosity, he was able to secure a full-time position with a Houston financial institution.

Exceed your expectations. A former thesis student, Kim Kaminsky, published 6 papers in 2004 and 1 in 2006. Anything is possible.

Lose your ego and have fun! I find when I concentrate on my studies I “lose myself.” New knowledge always opens up new areas of ignorance. The fun is in the discovery!

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First name, Last name Nickname

Work phone number

Home phone number

Cell number

Email addresses: work, home, etc

Course participation will impact upon your grade. This includes participation during the face-to-face section of comments/posting on the discussion board.

My other motto is:

No excuses, only results!

Click on the “UHCL UserID Lookup” text. Assuming you are viewing this orientation online, you may click on the button.

How do I log into WebCT!!!

The syllabus contains a weekly schedule. The date refers to the first meeting time for a particular week. Each week contains a list of activities that you must complete by the next class meeting time. Pay particular attention to the quizzes. Each quiz has a hard deadline. It is not possible to make up quizzes. Be forewarned, WebCT may go down for a couple of hours. Somehow it knows when you are about to take a quiz! I find that successful students read all the materials prior to attending class. Based on this observation, at some point during the semester you will need to complete quizzes prior to the class on which the material will be uncovered. This will help you tremendously improve your academic/professional discipline.

Click on the “Log on to WebCT” button. Assuming you are viewing this orientation online, you may click on the button.

Pay very careful attention to your studies/grades. In certain cases your scholarship may depend upon your grades. Therefore, it is important you take responsibility for your efforts/actions in this class.

This date helps you determine whether there are any new changes.

General information

Quiz name

Questions

answered

Time remaining. This refers to how much time is left in the quiz. You will not be penalized if you go over. However, if you make a habit of it, then we will need to talk.

Which of the following state(s) start with the letter "T"?

Texas

Tennessee

Florida

Alaska

Cleveland

Square boxes (check boxes) means that there could be more than 1 correct answer.

Which of the following state(s) start with the letter "T"?

Quiz availability

How much time you have to take the quiz.

Link to actual quiz.

[pic]

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