Pre+Course+Info

=**Welcome!**=

You are probably enrolled or thinking about being enrolled in //MEDT 3401: Integrating Technology into the Curriculum// //or MEDT 3402: Integrating Technology into the Classroom//**.** The purpose of this page is to provide additional information beyond what is found in the Class Bulletin.

How many class meetings will we have?
Between 1 and 2. We have one face-to-face meeting at the beginning of the semester, and we have a face-to-face final exam session. For every class you take at UWG, be sure you have read the Class Bulletin entry for the class. To locate the Class Bulletin, login to //MyUWG --> MyCourses Tab--> Course Bulletin//. (It's called both the //Course Bulletin// and the //Class Bulletin//. Weird, eh?). Select the appropriate semester and courses in which you are enrolled. Read about when and where your face-to-face requirements are happening for each course, and note any other class-specific requirements.

When are the class meetings?
Depending on which section you are enrolled in, you will want to meet at the appropriate time indicated below. If you don't know which section you are enrolled in, then login to MyUWG, click the //My Courses// tab, and determine which section you are in.

If the information presented below conflicts with what you show in //MyUWG//, please contact Ms. Huett (khuett@westga.edu) immediately: she can make mistakes and may need your help correcting them from time to time.
 * ===Course=== || ===Meeting Time=== || ===Meeting Place=== ||
 * **MEDT 3401 N01**

CRN 81394 || __Class Meeting__: Monday, August 16, 2010 11 AM - 1:30 PM

__Final Exam__: Monday, December 6, 2010 || Education Center, Room 204 ||
 * **MEDT 3401 N02**

CRN 81396 || __Class Meeting__: Tuesday, August 17, 2010 5:30 - 8 PM

__Final Exam__: Tuesday, December 7, 2010 5:30 - 8 PM || Education Center, Room 201 ||
 * **MEDT 3402 N02**

CRN 81405 || __Class Meeting__: Monday, August 16, 2010 5:30 - 8 PM

__Final Exam__: Wednesday, May 5 5:30 - 8 PM || Education Center, Room 204 ||

What should I bring to the first class session?
Bring your microphone headset. If you don't have one, you may use a headset from the class set that will be provided for check out. Please arrive 15 minutes early if you plan on checking out a headset.

Most of our class takes place online. How do I get into the online course?
Our online course takes place in a learning management system called //CourseDen// (aka //WebCT Blackboard//). You login to CourseDen in one of three ways:
 * 1) Go directly to http://webct.westga.edu and login. This is my favorite way!
 * 2) Many students like to go through //MyUWG// at http://myuwg.westga.edu. Notice how this route adds an extra login.
 * 3) If you're having trouble getting in through the first two routes, try http://westga.view.usg.edu. This URL often bypasses local maintenance being done on university servers. Our //WebCT// platform is actually hosted off campus in another part of Georgia, but by accessing through options 1 and 2 above, we are subjected to UWG-related downages.

Do I need to buy a textbook?
No. There will be selected readings inside the course.

Do we have to purchase anything else for the course?
Yes. You want to buy a USB microphone headset since most of the projects we do necessitate it. You also want to have a storage device such as a flash drive (aka flash drive, jumpdrive, stick, etc.).

Can you recommend a microphone headset?
Sure. I would go to [|Amazon] and search for "usb headset logitech." This search string should return a number of Logitech headsets. Then, you can decide, based on price and reviews which headset you want. You can read reviews written by others who have purchased the product to learn the pros and cons of the product. You could buy from //Amazon//, or you could go to //Walmart//, //Gamestop//, //Best Buy//, //Staples//, or any other place that sells a USB microphone headset.

You do not have to buy a Logitech headset. There are other brands such as Sennheiser and Plantronics, for example. I recommend Logitech because it's affordable and tends to be a good product. The [|Teaching Materials Center] at UWG uses this brand, and they seem to have held up well.

Watch Ms. Huett's [|VIDEO TUTORIAL] on selecting a headset.

If you have a USB webcam, or if your computer has a decent microphone, then you can certainly use these instead of buying a new microphone. Just be sure you test your equipment.

Also, if you know that you can come up to campus to complete your work, then you might opt to check out a microphone from the Teaching Materials Center, which is a small media center located downstairs in the Education Center. You can check out microphone headsets during TMC hours, but you cannot take them home with you.

I don't really feel comfortable with technology, and I am not a strong online learner. Is this a good class for me?
Personally, I think if you commit to doing what it takes to learn in the online environment, then you'll be fine. In particular, there are several behaviors you must adopt to be successful:
 * Login to CourseDen (the online learning management system) course 4-7 days each week.
 * While you are in the course, check your __email__, check the __discussion postings__, and check the __learning module__ for the week.
 * Use the checklists provided every week.
 * Read very carefully. Some people are not great readers, and many of us read poorly from a computer monitor. If this is the case for you, I suggest that you do what I do sometimes--READ ALOUD. Or use the printer and print up the things that you are having trouble with. And READ something repeatedly until you are comfortable with it.

This is not to say that the course is all about reading, because it isn't. But in order to understand the expectations of an assignment, detailed reading is often involved.

If you're still not sure, Google It! Go to [|http://google.com] and type in something like "is online learning for me?" Lots of good information comes up like this article from the Univerisity of Illinois, [|Is Online Learning for Me]?

Want a little bit more?
Check out some recent syllabi for MEDT 3401 and MEDT 3402. Keep in mind that changes are made every semester, based on feedback. Your syllabus will be slightly different.


 * [[file:3401syllabus_spring10_khuett.doc]] || [[file:3402syllabus_spring10_khuett.doc]] ||

If I can't get into CourseDen, what should I do?
Contact the Distance and Distributed Learning Center and kindly ask them for assistance. Their number is 678-839-6248. If they cannot solve this issue, they will connect you to someone who can. Be a squeaky wheel.

I am able to get into CourseDen, but I don't see your class in my MyCourses list. What do I do?
This sometimes happens when you late-register. It takes several days for you to be enrolled in the //CourseDen// section. If you email me (khuett@westga.edu) with your name, //CourseDen// login name (rwilli9, for instance), and the course and section you are registered for, I can manually input you into the course.

Is there anything else I can do before the course starts? I am chomping at the bit here.
There are two things I would do to prepare:
 * 1) Download and install //Wimba Pronto// onto all of your computers. (highly recommended but not required). This is a super-useful way for us to stay connected AND for you to connect with your peers. It's much better than the //Who's Online// feature in //CourseDen//. Get it by visiting http://www.westga.edu/~distance/pronto/qstart.htm.
 * 2) The second thing you can work on is your //Roster Picture// assignment (worth 4 pts). You do not have to be in the //CourseDen// section to complete this--you just have to be able to login to //CourseDen//. For trouble getting into //CourseDen//, call the DDEC (see above). The attached //Word// document below contains the instructions for the Roster Picture assignment. There is a video tutorial that will show you exactly what you need to do. The video tutorial is linked inside the document. Finally, once you get inside of the //CourseDen// course, be sure that you submit your Roster Picture assignment as per the instructions therein. :)

More questions?
Email [|Ms. Huett] directly at khuett@westga.edu. Thanks!