Important Info

1. Online courses are easier than regular courses.

You should expect to be dedicating the same amount of time (or more) to online courses as you do to traditional face-to-face courses. For this course you should expect to be engaged 9+ hours a week*. This is a basic breakdown of how you should be spending those hours.

3 hours per week on reading/watching resource materials (similar to lecture)

These assignments are designed to introduce you to the topics and skills presented each week. You should read/watch all of the Resources for Understanding and complete the textbook tutorial assignment. These assignments provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to perform each skill, so although they are important to your foundation learning they are worth the least amount of points.

3 hours per week completing the textbook Case Problem (similar to traditional homework)

These assignments are designed to evaluate your knowledge of the skill, and demonstrate your ability. You will be provided with an outline of tasks to complete, but you will have to demonstrate that you learned those skills from the resource materials. Because these assignments require you to demonstrate additional skill, they are worth more points than the tutorial exercises.

3 hours per week completing the Activity/Discussion blog (similar to in class activities/discussions)

These assignments are designed to encourage critical thinking, and expand your knowledge of Access beyond completing textbook assignments. These assignments will from time to time require you to learn additional technology and create projects related to the topics and skills you learned from the textbook. Because these projects require additional skills beyond Access they are worth the most amount of points each week.

Plus or Minus hours

As with any course, depending on the information provided each week you may need to dedicate more or less time to understanding and completing the required work. This will depend on a variety of personal characteristics, so it will be up to you to dedicate the time required to be successful.

2. It’s just an Office Application course.

Yes, the title of this course is Using Access – but, that doesn't mean it’s JUST an Access course. The course requires students to interact with various websites (sometimes this will require learning additional technology beyond Access), and each other on a regular basis. I have worked really hard to design fun projects that will take your understanding of Access beyond the textbook. Prior students have said that the were initially very resistant to these assignments, thinking "this is just an Access course, why are we learning these other things." But, at the end of the course they overwhelmingly supported the use of these additional technologies stating that "they really did make me think of Access in a different light and expanded my knowledge and understanding of Access." So, please keep an open mind! If you aren't especially technologically inclined, that’s OK – instructions will be provided on how to create an account and complete the project by me or the websites you will be using. However, this is an online course, so it is expected that you have a certain level of comfort navigating the internet and accessing websites. None of the website you will be using are harmful to your computer, but they may require you to download plug-ins, local controls or cookies. You will also be expected to share personal stories and or feeling related to topics we are discussing.

I want everyone who continues on in the course to be successful – this will require you to be dedicated to your learning and invest the time and energy to earn a good grade. If you are not interested in dedicating 9+ hours a week, learning new technology beyond Access, or sharing personal information - please drop the course now. I won't judge you or be offended, and there is a long wait-list of students who are eager to participate in this course. If you do decide to stay, please approach each week with an excitement to learn something new and a desire to dedicate whatever is needed to complete the requirements. If you do that, I promise I will work just as hard as you to make the course as enjoyable as possible, and that you will leave here with an excellent understanding of the Access program and some additional skills that are very marketable in today’s competitive job market.

Syllabus & Schedule

• The syllabus includes my policies and procedures for the class - Make sure to review the schedule very thoroughly, assignments will only be available the weeks scheduled and I do not accept late assignments unless there are extenuating circumstances (verification will be required). "I had to work late", and "I was sick" are not extenuating circumstances. "I was in the hospital", is - with a doctor's note.

Software/Textbook

• These are required to complete the course. Yes, you must have both: Microsoft Office Access 2010 and the Textbook.

Assignments

• Assignments will be available two weeks prior to the due date. All assignments are due at 11:00pm Monday unless otherwise posted. Blog posts are the exception to this rule; initial posts are due by 11:00pm Sunday of the scheduled week. Reply posts are due by Monday at 11:00pm. It is very important that you review the course schedule weekly and check the course announcements multiple times during the week in case something changes. This doesn't mean that you need to complete the assignments early in the week, but you need to check to make sure nothing has changed. It is your responsibility to keep current with the course. If a due date changes or additional content is required it will be posted.

• Each week the instructions for completing the assignments will be available from the assignment button. Once the Check In period has closed, everything you need to complete for a particular week will be listed in the assignment area ONLY. This includes links to the Blog, Assignments and Tests. If you think something is due a particular week that is not posted, please post a question in the HELP! discussion board.

• I understand that we all have busy schedules and that is why we take online courses, however, if you anticipate that you will have difficulties completing the assignments, or will have questions you may want to start working on the assignments earlier in the week so you have time to ask questions and get answers before the due date. If you wait until the day assignments are due to ask questions it may be too late to get answers and complete the assignment before it is due. Asking a question the day the assignment is due is not grounds for a due date extension.

It is extremely important that you read and understand instructions in an online class, because not understanding could cost you points and ultimately your grade. As I said in the Syllabus: You are responsible for your own learning in the online format, much more than in the on campus environment. I am actually as much of a facilitator as teacher in this type of course. This means, I am here to answer all of your questions, but I am not a mind reader (trust me, I wish I was) - so if you need help you have to ask for it! Please post any questions you have in the HELP! discussion board, or send me an email.

I am looking forward to a great semester with all of you!

*This estimation of time is based on the Carnegie Unit which states that for every credit students should be spending 1 hour per week in lecture and 2 hours per week on outside research/assignments.