Title: Course Preparation
Course: Advanced Composition for the Digital Age SP14 > Section: Introduction

Course Navigation

Introduction
Estimated Completion Time: 1 hour

Your course may slightly differ.

Hopefully now you have a better understanding of how you can keep track of your own progress in this class and access the many support pages that are available.

If you have any questions about course navigation please email your instructor right away.

So, now that you've seen the video you can answer this question:

Clicking on the unit icon from the main page of the course will give me step-by-step instructions for what I need to complete for each unit.

- Yes.
Feedback: That's right. If at any time you get stuck make sure you click on the unit icon and then carefully read the step-by-step instructions. In most of the steps there is a link to the required page or assignment for that section.
- No.
Feedback: Try again. If at any time you get stuck make sure you click on the unit icon and then carefully read the step-by-step instructions. In most of the steps there is a link to the required page or assignment for that section.

Step 1 and a Quick Warning

Step 1: To get started please click this welcome message! And now, a quick warning...This course is labeled Advanced for a reason. The activities will require a great deal of reflection and require you to support your conclusions by backing up your statements with facts and reasons. Failure to do so will result in a lower grade. You may also be asked to resubmit assignments if your submissions do not meet the requirements set forth in the directions.

One more thing; there are about 60+ hours worth of work through the seven units (some of that time will be taken up with teacher communication and resubmitting assignments based on feedback). Plan accordingly. Many students end up waiting until the end only to find out they don't have enough time to complete everything. Don't let that happen to you. Set aside time every day/week to stay caught up.

Now, don't let that scare you off. You'll get out of this course what you put into it. Your instructor is happy to help and support your efforts. As soon as you have a question about something don't hesitate to get clarification or help on an activity.

Google Apps

This course will encourage the use of Blogger, Google Docs and the sharing of those docs with your instructor and sometimes the rest of the class. It is a good idea for you to set up a Google Account if you do not already have one...

Creating a Gmail Account

The first step to being successful in this course is creating a Gmail account. Handouts/Resources and Collaboration will take place in some of Google's various resources (i.e. Docs, Search, Blogs, Photos, etc.) When you're finished with this course, you'll be glad you have a Google Account ready to access all of Google's products.

Creating and collaborating in Google Applications is called working in the Cloud. By keeping your work in the cloud, you are able to access it wherever you have an internet connection. It frees you from having to use a disk or from needing your computer with you when you need to access a file. Choosing a method for storing your work will be important as you improve your skills online.

If you've never used Google Docs before please check out this short video about Uploading to and Sharing in Google Docs.

Now that you have a Gmail (or Google) account, take a look at some of your settings to make sure that everything works the way you want it to.

Syllabus

Advanced Composition for the Digital Age

(1 Semester)

Course Syllabus

Language Arts Instructor:

Mr. Jon can schedule office hours upon request which can be posted in the online course.

Course Description:

Students will work on the processes of preparing, evaluating, and delivering multiple forms of written communication. Students will generally work individually on assignments though some sharing of assignment submissions and learning will be expected. Students will complete coursework in an online community.

All assignment information and submissions will be addressed through this system.

Hardware/Software Requirements:

Hardware:

- A Macintosh computer running OS 10 or higher, or a PC-compatible computer, running Windows XP or higher;
- Microphone and speakers (or headset) providing Audio In and Out capability;
- Internet connection (56K modem, cable modem, or DSL), 2 GB of installed RAM (more RAM is strongly recommended on both platforms);

Software:

- QuickTime v10.0 or higher -- required for displaying multimedia Web content. A free version of QT can be downloaded from Apple;
- Flash Player -- may be needed for some multimedia Web content. The latest version of the Player can be downloaded from Macromedia; Every effort is made to avoid Flash to make this course iPad accessible.
- Adobe Acrobat Reader 11.0 or higher -- useful for viewing some of the course documents. The Reader is a free download from Adobe; If you use an iPad, iPhone or Mac, this is not required for viewing.
- Web browser -- FireFox v23 or higher, Chrome v23 or higher, Internet Explorer v9 or higher; can also be used to access online course materials. It is possible that under some conditions, browsers other than FireFox or Chrome may not provide full functionality. Safari is not recommended. If you use an iPad you may want to consider downloading the Chrome app.
- Web Conferencing Software -- Typically we will be using the Link in the course if we need to connect for Virtual sessions. Other options may include: Google+, Skype, Mikogo, or Join.Me in order to share desktop in case assistance is needed. Note: using Mikogo or Join.Me will require a separate phone or Gmail/Google Voice connection.

We can not guarantee that your particular configuration of hardware and software will work in all instances.

Other software --

- A word-processing program compatible with instructor preferences (i.e. Google Docs);
- A presentation software compatible with instructor preferences (Google Docs, LibreOffice, Open Office or Prezi - These are all free tools.)
- Additional appropriate plug-ins for your browser may be required by individual assignments or content. Typically your browser will inform you when a plug-in is needed and prompt a download.
- Students will also require access to a personal email account. Gmail is a free service that comes with a Google Apps account that allows users to create and edit Microsoft Word Programs, as well as PowerPoint presentations and access additional course content. A Google Account may be required to view some course content.

Please review this page and the Known Issues to see if your computer will display all the course content.

Link to Academic and Technology Standards fulfilled by this course: Standards Alignment Doc

Grading Policy:

Steady continual progress is imperative for the successful completion of an online course. Regular attendance, discussion board participation, and email notifications are required. Students not in regular contact with instructor/classmates will be warned. Subsequent warnings will involve parent/counselor notification.

Grade | Percentage | Meaning
A | 100-94 | Exceeds Expectations
A- | 93-90 |
B+ | 89-87 |
B | 86-84 | Very Good
B- | 83-80 |
C+ | 79-77 |
C | 76-74 | Average
C- | 73-70 |
D+ | 69-67 | Needs Improvement
D | 66-64 |
D- | 63-60 |
F | 59 and below | Failing

10% of your grade will be from Discussion Forum participation. Failing to post in forums and provide detailed comments/feedback to classmates will result in a lowered grade. The value of an online course is greatly increased when there is a community of users responding to one another.

Writing submissions will be graded on a combination of the following:

- 6 Traits of Writing (See Writing Support)
- Creativity
- Adherence to directions

Software Verification

Have you checked the Software requirements and made sure you have what it takes to view all of the course content?

- Yes, I believe that is the case.
Feedback: Good. Keeping your software updated will help make sure you don't run into any issues.
- Nope. Take me back to that page so I can check out the requirements again.
Feedback: It's a good idea to make sure you're clear on all of the requirements before you begin. Click on continue to go back to the Syllabus page.

Submitting Work and Writing Expectations

It's referenced throughout the course, but before submitting any written assignments, please review this resource on Proper Formatting. WARNING: When you submit your online assignments you are better off typing it in Google Docs or on your computer and then copying/pasting it into the submission. If for some reason you take more than a few minutes to make your submission, the site will sense inactivity and log you out. If this happens while you are typing you will lose your work (additionally, if you lose power or internet access you will also lose your work. Typing on Google Docs or on some computers will auto-save).

Because this course is all about written composition, we will be making a special effort to formalize most of your writing. That means a limitation on things like smilies, slang, acronyms, sentence fragments and things like that (I reserve the right to add to this list at any time). This is the kind of thing better suited to email, Facebook and Twitter. While there are discussion forums in this course, I will still expect a little more formality than you may be used to online. Standards in the forum will be somewhat relaxed, but proper grammar and spelling will still be expected.

Many of you are used to a very particular style of writing, one that has been drilled into you from the time you were in Middle School (perhaps earlier!) It includes things like making sure your essays have five paragraphs; telling the reader what you are going to talk about later in your paper (Don't do this! Your introduction should provide some interesting ideas, conclusions or assertions which you will later explain, prove or defend in that section.); or that you end your essays by stating, "In conclusion..." Let me be the one to tell you before it's too late that college professors hate that (many of them anyway). They'll say things like, "Don't tell me it's your conclusion, I can see it's the last paragraph, I know it's your conclusion!" They also tend to hate it when there are sentences that act as filler and don't add anything to the overall essay.

For example, don't ever say something like, "This essay is going to be about..." Just come out and say what you're going to say. If you think that you could take a sentence out of your paper and it wouldn't change anything then by all means, do it!

Avoid using any general statements as well, they don't mean anything. If you want to write, there are many reasons for and against blah, blah, blah. Don't. It doesn't add anything to the discussion.

I happen to dislike those types of things as well, but I won't yell at you for doing it, I'll just point it out and ask you to consider a better way. It's time for your writing to grow and I think this course will help you with that.

End of rant, you may now move on :-D

In Conclusion

You may be wondering how I'll know if you clicked on all of those...I can see everything you click on in this course.

It's not just what's in the introduction that I'll know you accessed. I expect that you will at some point access all of the content linked to in this course. It contains the content you'll need to make informed decisions and to educate yourself before submitting your work.

Don't forget to click on the Checklist for whatever type of credit you are working on so you can see which assignments are required!

That wraps up the Intro! If "Well begun is half done," then you should have no problem. Finishing this Introduction unit makes sure that you are prepared for items that will come up throughout the semester. I'm looking forward to working with you.

Take a moment now and introduce yourself to the rest of us.

In addition to the Introduction forum: Icebreaker 10,000, there are 3 other forums you'll want to keep your eye on: Announcements; Help Forum and Apropos of Nothing. That will be one of the methods of communication in this class. You can access all forums by clicking Forums in the Activities Block on the left. Posting in forums helps your course participation grade (assuming that you aren't just posting quick little, "I agree!" type messages. See the Forum Posting Directions for more details.