Brief Description:
IS:577-5LA Internet Literacy 3 credits
(Florissant Valley) Internet -Instructor: A. Foster
This on-line course, conducted over the Internet with a supplementary CD-ROM, provides an overview of the Internet and instruction in the use of e-mail, mailing lists, UseNet, FTP, discussion groups, telnet, the World Wide Web, and basic home page construction.
(Additional info on online courses at http://www.stlcc.edu/internetedu
NOTE: if you register for the course you MUST e-mail the instructor with a working e-mail address by the end of the first two weeks or you will be automatically dropped from the course!
Q. What are the dates for the class?
A.The course follows a semester schedule. Passwords must be set up after the instructor receives a final course roster on August 26, and the student must complete login procedures the first week. If a student has not made contact with the instructor in the first two weeks of class, board policy requires that the student will be purged from the class with no refund.
There are 39 lessons posted beginning with the first one August 28, 2002. The course final deadline is Friday, December 20 at 12 midnight central time zone. Click here to go to the campus Fall 2002 calendar.
To reiterate, you may log onto the course site as soon as the passwords are set up ( again, this will be done the first week) and the course will timeout at 12 midnight (Central Time) Friday, December 20, 2002. ("Timeout" means- no more submissions are possible after that time!!!)
Q. How can I sign up?
A. Click here to go to the online registration page. You can still sign up at any of the SLCC campus registrar's offices after the online registration deadline.
Q. What are the prerequisites?
A. Students must have access to an Internet connection including an e-mail account, webspace, and access to a computer capable of running a CD Rom. Students must alert the instructor immediately if their e-mail address changes. Failure to do so constitutes non attendance. You must know the basics of your computer and operating system, as well as how to install software and use a web browser and send and receive e-mail. This is not a computer literacy course. If you have never used e-mail I would not recommend registering for the course. If you do not understand how to install multimedia software- you will need to have someone to help you (not the instructor). In addition, you must secure an account with an Internet Services Provider where you can have a space to publish a webpage. Alternately, you may choose to have a site on a free webspace provider- however you must learn to use the publishing capabilities of that space on your own. Web publishing problems are in the purview of your ISP (Internet Service Provider).
Q. What is required to get started?
A. The textbook that will be used in this course is available from the campus bookstore. The textbook is (isbn 0-07-239821-3) Internet Literacy by Dr. Fred T. Hofstetter. The publisher is McGraw-Hill. This is the second edition and includes a CD. Note that there is also a CD (published by PBS) that is required in addition to the one in the book. So don't think that since the book has a CD that is all you need- it only has demo software on it. If you cannot come to campus, the bookspore they will UPS it for a nominal fee if you have a credit card.
I will be sending out the info on logging on to the course so of course you will need an email address and web account through an Internet Service Provider. When registered you MUST e-mail the instructor with a functioning e-mail address- before the course start date unless you register late. Instructions for Logging on provided only if student submits e-mail address. You must provide your email address and contact the instructor by Midnight, September 6 or you will be purged from the course! (It is board policy that purging occur if a student has not attended a course in its first two weeks or one week during the summer). You can click here to email the instructor your contact info if your browser is configured for e-mail. Otherwise call me at (314) 595-2060 and leave a clear message including your name and e-mail address along with a current phone number- don't take for granted that the registrar has an up to date phone number for you!
Q. Is online for me?
A. The toughest part of the course is pacing yourself- there is just as much work associated with the class as with traditional forms of delivery. There are 39 lessons in all. Click here for a link that can help you evaluate whether you might succeed in this environment.
Q. Is the course self paced?
A. The class is self paced in that you may work ahead or take time off and catch up- up to a point. Class assignments are given about three times a week and then you have up to about two weeks to complete them. Milestone deadlines for specific assignments (like joining the listserv) will be clearly posted on the course website subsequently on the course listserv. There is, of course, a final deadline. All work must be turned in by that date. The date for the Summerfall is by 12 Midnight Central Time on Friday, December 20, 2002.(I am repeating myself, I know, but this is critical! )To reiterate: You must complete a few requirements early on in the course such as subscribing to the class listserv.This must be subscribed to by midterm to receive credit for the assignment. The assignments are dated so that you can have an idea on where you should be. I post all the assignments at the first of the semester on the course website so you can work ahead, and you can even skip around, but some lessons depend on what you have already done.
Learning online carries advantages as far as timing- but for some students that can cause problems if you are not used to this type of format. Your success in this course partially depends on your ability to discipline yourself. Don't procrastinate! In fact, you will enjoy the course and learn much more if you get ahead of the schedule! The DEADLINES are just that- and not just the date of the final. Unlike some online courses, you cannot wait until the last month to turn everything in. Get to know the schedule so you can anticipate the time you need to spend in relation to the weight of the assignment- for instance- you can expect to spend considerable time on the term paper or web page. On the other hand, from time to time (not very often) I will ask you to respond to my emails, complete an exercise or interact some other way- while some of these do not carry weight on the grading scale, participation and completion of them will actually impact how well you are able to complete your assignments- So the answer is, the course is very flexible, but you need to shoot for getting things done in a timely fashion based on the assignment dates. If I see you are getting behind I will advise you to get it in gear ;-)
Q. How do I submit assignments?
A. The site has an assignments area where you type responses into a web form and click a submit button for most of the assignments. We use e-mail as well to communicate. The big assignments like a webpage/resume and term paper are posted to a server of your choice (where you must secure an acount) where I can access them via the web. That requires that you have an Internet Service Provider or that you can secure some space on one of the free webpage hosts like Yahoo Geocities.com, freeservers.com or the like. You must be sure to accomplish this early on as well. No excuses for ISP problems the last two weeks of class, please!
Q. How else do we communicate?
A. There is a listserv that you must subscribe to. We also have Discussion Board capability and I haven't been using chat simply for the reason that students tend to be working at very different paces and time schedules- it has been almost impossible to get everyone online synchronously. You will be responsible for your own assignments- no group or collaborative assignments, though you are free, rather, ENCOURAGED to use the listserv to discuss issues with other students.
I typically get back to queries within 48 hours, usually much faster during the week. You are expected to communicate to me responsibly- since we are online, I expect the listserv to be the main source of communications.
Q. Do I have to come to campus?
A. The class is completely over the net. Access begins Monday, August 26, 2002. The only reason you may need to come on campus is if you want to pick up the book and cd for the course from the Flo Valley bookstore (314-513-4304). They can, however send it UPS for a nominal fee. You may also access the Internet on campus if you develop hardware or ISP problems.
Q. Where do I go for support?
A. For class related questions and help, the instructor will help you. For problems related to online access and software, you must depend on your Internet Service Provider. For hardware issues, you are on your own, though I will help where I can. Remember this is not a computer literacy course- you are expected to have skills in dealing with your OS and hardware. Remember this when communicating with me so I don't have to reject you.
Q. Can this class be applied toward the 18 credit hour Microcomputer Applications certificate?
A. For any substitution for the prescribed courses in the Microcomputer Applications option of the AS degree, you must consult with the IS Department Chairperson- in this case, Fred Wilke at 314-595-2330 or at fwilke@stlcc.edu
Q. What kind of content is covered?
A. For your info, you can go here to see a detailed index of the content covered...
Q. How am I graded?
A. The submissions are posted to the course website via submission forms you must type into. The Webpage/Resume and term papers are online webpages (not Word documents) and must be posted to your webspace that you acquire. I count off one point each for typos, punctuation and spelling errors on the term paper.Specifics of requirements are posted with the assignments. I will archive the submissions at the deadline so no changes are accepted after that point. See the course syllabus below for more specifics!
Additional info on online courses at http://www.stlcc.edu/internetedu/index.html#index
last updated July 28, 2002