I know it's frustrating when you need help and feel alone. Although you are learning online, I am here for you! Provided that you maintain close contact with me throughout the course, I'll do my best to use my experience to support you. I will strive to anticipate when and where you will need our help and provide meaningful feedback (the Hidden Gem discussion board questions will also help) in a timely manner.
If you have a personal question, your best bet may be to contact a me via the Canvas inbox. This is the quickest and easiest way to get a message to your professor(s).
From our course, click on "Inbox" in the left global navigation menu to access your Canvas conversations.
Or, simply click on the "Help" icon. A dialogue box with a series of help options will open. Contacting your instructor is the top choice. Most emails are returned within 48 hours, Monday through Saturday.
If you have a question about the course--especially a question your peers might be pondering, as well--please post it to the Q&A discussion. I will do my best to respond within 24 hours (I will be slower on the weekends, as your professors too are juggling many responsibilities), and, even better, like crowdsourcing, a peer may jump in and answer your question.
In this course, and in your day-to-day teaching in a virtual classroom, you are going to be asked to work with technology, and, well, technology doesn't always work the way we think it should! To stay sane, and keep your friends, family, and colleagues sane, you will need to develop a balanced approach to technology frustration. The keyword is balanced. Here is the two-pronged approach to balancing technical woes:
Have grit. Google it, watch YouTube videos, and get to know your Canvas Guides. Learning how to find and use tech resources will save you so much time and frustration. Solving a problem on your own is empowering and it also establishes confidence that you can draw upon the next time you encounter a problem.
Ask for help. Don't try so hard to figure it out yourself that you end up frustrated. When you feel your blood pressure rise or begin yelling at your computer, that means it's time to take a deep breath and contact us. We'll figure it out together. :)
As your instructor, I will also monitor and read all postings but will not actively participate in graded discussions. I will provide updates and/or feedback to the entire class in the form of announcements on a weekly basis. I will provide individual feedback on discussions, assignments, and papers within two weeks of the due date and work with you so you will have a successful learning experience in this course!
I am excited that you will be joining me for the next 16 weeks! I hope you will reach out to me if you have questions regarding the class! Please make sure to use the Canvas Inbox.
For technical difficulties with Canvas, Folsom Lake College has a great "Help" site that will show you how to work through any problems with Canvas. It also provides a link to the Canvas Help Desk for Los Rios College District.