Getting Started

• You must have a google account for a NetNZ course - most of the teachers will be using google docs and many will also have a google+ community which will act as the online hub for the course. Once you have a google account (which for many of you s your school email address anyway follow the following tasks)
• Go to plus.google.com and setup your profile. Take some time over it and ensure you add a photo of yourself (or something representing you). This gives you ‘social presence’ online and is much better than an empty silhouette.
• Follow this link and request to join the student lounge. This community is for all the students and is designed to not only support you early on, but as a point of communication for the whole year. We encourage students to take ownership of this community and get to know each other. If everyone does this, it will become a great area to get support, ideas or discussion from your peers. A bit like a senior common room online. Initially ensure you get underway with some of the orientation tasks and resources there. They are designed to help you.
• Look for an email from your teacher with instructions to get underway. Part of this will include instruction on how to get onto the class site / community. This will act as the online hub for your course by centralising all communication, information and sharing. Get involved. Introduce yourself to your peers and start some conversations. Online is much more fun when you interact with others and make an effort.
• If you have any technical issues with internet please tell your eDean immediately [if problem persists contact a member of the net NZ Leadership Team- Ken Pullar ken@netnz.org /0274468532 or Darren Sudlow darren@netnz.org / 0272171121 or Trevor Storr tstorr@netnz.org /0276898920 or Lynda Walsh-Pasco lynda@roxburgh.school.nz /03 4468460]
• Support: Ensure you spend time with your eDean. They should take you some technical training, but also provide guidance on what to expect. They are your go to person in school when you need help or guidance.
• The course you are about to embark on has four timetabled periods for you to be working on that subject. In most cases only one of them is when you will be ‘in class’ with your teacher and other students. The Calendar of class times all start on the hour. This means you could have clashes in other subjects, which will require some negotiation with your other teachers [remember your eDean can help you – but ultimately you are responsible for sorting this out].
• If you do not have a school diary you can use Google calendar for the year.
• If you are already in contact with your eTeacher ask if they can give you important assignment and assessment dates [Mark these in your calendar]. If you know already of days that you will not be able to attend a Google Hangout/VC session [because of sports, arts, cultural or other planned events at your school] mark these in and let your eTeacher know.