CHM 1025C Online Orientation Sanchez Home

This is your course orientation. Before beginning Introductory Chemistry Online, you need to familiarize yourself with online learning at FCCJ and how to use the software for this course. All the information listed is important. Be sure to read it thoroughly and access the links provided. You may want to print this orientation and keep a paper copy for easy reference.

General Information You Need To Know About Hybrid Classes

How is taking a hybrid chemistry class different from a traditional lecture class? Lectures are in the form of interactive web pages that include videos, simulations and many worked out examples and problems. Interaction with the instructor and other students will take place in an asynchronous discussion forum where students will post questions (and answers!) several times a week. The class will meet each week for a problem solving session where students will hone their skills and understanding of the lecture materials.

You must have convenient access to a computer that meets the following minimum hardware and software requirements.

Minimum Hardware Requirements:
Windows
Pentium Multimedia PC
Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000, XP
Internet connection (56K modem or above; T1 or cable modem recommended for video and animations)
Sound card
Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher recommended, America Online browser is not suppported*
32MB RAM (64MB recommended)
Monitor resolution: 1024 x 768

*If you are using America Online as your internet service provider, you should open Internet Explorer after you establish the online connection.

Macintosh
PowerMac with Virtual PC software
Mac OS 8.1 or above
Internet connection (56K modem or above; T1 or cable modem recommended for video and animations)
Internet Explorer 4.5 or above recommended.
32MB RAM (64MB recommended)
Monitor resolution: 1024 x 768

Since this is an online course, expect slowdowns on the internet especially during peak "traffic" times. There may be times when the server is down unexpectedly. These are normal computer delays. Remember, you are working with a machine and technical difficulties are to be expected. Stay ahead by adhering to the suggested schedule.

Technical Support:

Contact FCCJ Learner Support Center for help resolving technical issues. It is free! (904)632-3151

Is Distance Learning for You?

Introduction to Online Learning

Technical and Skill Requirements for Online Courses Do you have the computer skills to navigate an online course?

How to Succeed in an Online Course: Study Skills and Survival Tips How to get the most out of your online learning experience.

Online Lectures

The lectures are given in the form of interactive PowerPoint presentations that have been compiled to make them more suitable for a web delivery. Your browser must have Java enabled for them to work, which is why Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher is needed.You will purchase a set of lecture notes at the bookstore. These incomplete printouts of each lecture are designed for you to take notes on as you work through the slides and the textbook. Some students think that they don't need to go through the lectures to be successful in the class, but these students are usually not around at the end of the term (sigh). I give you extra examples in the lectures that hopefully will make learning the material easier. In addition, some of the learning objectives for a chapter are in the lecture and not in the book. You are responsible for the content of both the lecture and the text. The link to the lectures is found in Blackboard. You will turn in your notes to the lecture each week as part of your participation grade.

If you have a high speed connection (DSL, satellite or cable) you will have no trouble accessing the lectures slide by slide online. However, if you are using dial up, you may want to download the zipped (compressed) version of the file. Once it is downloaded, right click on the file and select extract all (unzip). You will see that you now have 3 types of files. The file to double click on to watch the lecture has an html extension and usually has the word "index" as part of the title. The files that contain sound are especially large. Everyone may want to download those so that you aren't relying on the web streaming the audio to you.

If you have trouble accessing the lectures online, bring me a blank CD. I will burn the lectures onto the CD for you. If you send me an e-mail the day before you bring the CD, I will have a CD burnt for you and we will just swap CDs!

*If your computer is not using XP, you may not have a program to use that will "unzip" the file. In that case, I recommend WinZip as an easy to use program. WinZip 8.0 is available for free academic and student use. See
http://www.tucows.com/

Logging on to the Blackboard Site: (http://bb.fccj.edu/):

You will take graded quizzes and participate in a discussion forum on the Blackboard site. All of your e-mail with me about the course will be through Blackboard. Be sure to log in using only lower case letters. You will not have access to all parts of the course if you don't use lower case for your userID.

Activating your account

If you don't already have an active FCCJ student account, log on to Online Student Services (Artemis) with your Social Security Number and PIN and you will be given an option to activate your account. Once your account is active, you will be able to log on to Artemis with your FCCJ Student User ID.

Resetting your password

If you have previously activated your FCCJ Student User ID but you can't remember what your User ID or password is, log on to Online Student Services (Artemis) with your Social Security Number and PIN and you will be advised what your User ID is and you will be given an option to reset your password.

Changing your password

If you just want to change your password on your active account, you can do so by logging on to Online Student Services (Artemis).

Using the Discussion Boards:

You will be assigned to a group for your discussion board. The starting groups are Carbon, Nitrogen and Oxygen. This is where you will discuss your questions about chemistry content with your assigned group and help each other solve problems. Your participation in the group discussion is required and will be graded. You are expected to post 2 questions each week and to answer 2 questions each week. Your questions can be homework assignment questions, lecture questions, quiz questions, exam questions, etc. To get to your group discussion board, click Discussion and then click on your group name.(Only one link will work - that is your group. Let me know right away if none of the group links work for you.)

There is also an Ask Mrs. Sanchez Discussion Board where you will post questions for me and an Introductions Discussion Board where you will post your introduction to the class. You will want to be sure to keep an eye on the Ask Mrs Sanchez forum!

General Information

1.Use the Discussion link on the menu at the far left of the page.
2. Click on the link to the forum you are interested in; then click on the thread to which you wish to read or respond.
3. To add a new message, click on the "Add New Thread" button. Type in the subject and message.
4. If you wish to add an attachment, click the "Browse" button, locate the file, click the file once to select it..
5. Click "Submit"
6. You have more options under the Options tab. Explore them. You can "select all" and then "collect" the messages to read and reply to a lot of messages at once. This can save a lot of time!

NOTE: You can also respond directly to a message by clicking on the title of an existing message, and then click "Reply" and type in your message.

Typing subscripts and superscripts in the discussion room:
Use the X₂ for subscripts. To type O₂, type O, then click on the X₂ which turns on the subscript font. Type the 2. Then click the button again to turn off subscripts.

Use the X² button in the same way to get superscripts. To type Na⁺, type Na, then click on the X² button, which turns on the superscript font. Type the +. Then click the button again to sturn off superscripts.

Showing your math work using the equation editor:

http://www.otago.ac.nz/blackboard/equation_editor.html

Netiquette:
Please follow the following general rules when posting in the discussion forum and when e-mailing each other and me.
1. Do not use offensive language or post insulting or abusive messages.
2. Do not use all capital letters unless you intend for us to "hear" you SHOUTING!
3. Be forgiving of other's mistakes. We all make them, and your colleagues are beginners, just like you. I will post any corrections needed if someone makes a chemistry mistake.
4. Be respectful of other's opinions posted-mine and the other students.
5. Always complete the subject heading of your e-mail. I never open e-mails that don't have the subject identified.

Taking an Online Quiz on Blackboard
These are the quizzes whose average score will is one-third of your participation grade. You must complete the quiz prior to the deadline listed on the syllabus (11:50 PM). The reason for the deadline is to help keep your study pace on target for completing the course this semester.

Log on to Blackboard and enter the class. Click on Coure Content from the Course Menu on the left side of the Homepage. Then select the Unit you are studying and then the Chapter. Your first quiz is found in Chapter 1 and is both a syllabus quiz and a quiz on the Chapter 1 content. You will have more than one attempt on all of the quizzes, and the highest grade will be recorded. You should study the chapter and do the homework prior to taking the quiz. Then use the quiz to identify areas that you need to study more or obtain help with.

Taking a Practice Quiz on ChemCentral

There are Explorer and Mastery Quizzes on the Corwin ChemCentral site for every chapter (except Chapter 1). You are encouraged to take one Explorer Quiz or Mastery Quiz per chapter. The quizzes should help you prepare for the Blackboard quizzes and your exams.

Chapter Objectives and Homework Assignments

The test questions will be drawn from the objectives listed for each chapter under the Course Content for each Unit.. Each chapter's objectives include a homework assignment from the book. These end of the chapter exercises should be completed before taking the graded quiz. If you don't understand an question, post the complete question in the appropriate chapter in the discussion forum. Your classmates and I will help you understand the question. Homework will be collected on the date indicated on the syllabus.

Tutorials Many chapters require the use of online tutorials. Notes must be taken on each tutorial and turned in with the homework. For example, Chapter 2 has 3 tutorials on the assignment list (measurements, significant digits and unit analysis). You should take study notes on each that will help you as you study for Exam 1. Keep in mind that the tutorials are like me working with you privately. What type of notes would you take down if we working together in my office? Examples given in the tutorial should become part of your notes.

Online activities Some of the objectives have an online homework assignment as well. This assignment is to be turned in to your lab instructor during the lab period prior to the exam on the objectives covered by the assignment.

Testing
Exams are written using the exam objectives. Usually 20-25% of the test is multiple choice (15-20 questions) and the rest of the test is word problems and short answer. Work must be shown on word problems for credit to be earned.

Note: ALL requests for special accommodations (due to disability) are arranged by a campus Disabled Student Specialist. Requests must be made at the beginning of the semester.