Welcome to Introduction to Sociology Online Fall 2008 with Michelle Fowles (sections 7042 and 7043). There are no on-campus meetings, this class meets entirely online.
The course will officially launch on the first day of the semester. (September, 2) Course materials and your first tasks will launch shortly thereafter, until then, explore the site and become comfortable with the platform!
Enter the course here: https://etudes-ng.fhda.edu/portal
Login instructions here: http://www.lavc.edu/Distance/etudes_login_tips.htm
I have provided some detailed information below to help you get started. You should dedicate some time to getting properly set up in the course.
The course covers a range of topics in sociology The course introduces students to the sociological perspective including the major theoretical tenets and methodology of the field. This class surveys processes and structure of social life such as: culture, socialization, social institutions, interaction and social inequality and social change. The course examines the role of individuals and groups in a social context.
The Text:
Essentials Of Sociology: A Down to Earth Approach, Bndl W/Txt,Alc W/MySocLab & CourseCompass, & Dictionary Of Sociology, HenslinPh Prof..Binding Kit Copyright 08 ISBN 0-205-62055-8
You are required to have the text for this course. However, you have options. Please read and select carefully.
· The bundle is available at the LAVC Bookstore or from the publisher. Purchasing these items separately is more expensive. The version of the text in the Bookstore is a more affordable a la carte (3 hole punched) version accompanied by the CourseCompass access key and an optional dictionary. It includes access to the eBook.
o Please visit LAVC Bookstore for availability and pricing: http://www.lavcbookstore.com/
§ Make sure to select SOC 001 OL as the course
o You can also purchase the bundle with or without the dictionary directly from the publisher:
§ http://www.mypearsonstore.com/bookstore/product.asp?isbn=0205620558 ($73 with dictionary)
§ http://www.mypearsonstore.com/bookstore/product.asp?isbn=0205542034 ($60 without dictionary)
· You may use an alternate version of the text or choose only the eBook option.
· You must have access to MySocLab/CourseCompass.
o This will be your access to resources such as videos, practice tests, exams etc.)
o You can purchase this option a la carte directly from the publisher. You will need the Course ID to set up this account. (See the announcement on setting up CourseCompass..
Students must have their text within the first week of class.
MySocLab/CourseCompass:
ETUDES is the main platform for the course discussions & materials. However, there are supplements only available through MySocLab/Course Compass. This will also be the place for exams.The eBook has supplemental videos and audio that will be referenced throughout the semester. Each chapter includes pre and post tests and other tools useful to you as you progress through the course. When the site is launched, you will receive information regarding the CourseCompass Course ID. When you receive the Course ID, you will also receive some instructions for getting started and taking exams. You will need to download TestGen from within the site.
Make sure to use the Software installation Wizard when you login to Course Compass. This will ensure that you have downloaded the correct software and that you have the correct settings to take the practice and regular exams etc. Please follow the set-up instructions carefully.
Students must have CourseCompass access within the first week to complete initial tasks.
Contact Information & Settings:
Please make sure that you have a current email linked to your main student information with the campus as well as your ETUDES profile. This is the main source for communication. You can receive automatic notifications from the site unless you change your notification settings in your ETUDES profile under Preferences.
Please check your email and Announcements (especially if you have turned the notifications off) regularly. The course will progress quickly and it is important to stay informed and on task. Updates will be posted in this area.
Review the Syllabus, Announcement, Schedule, Modules, Resources and other areas of the course.
Computer Requirements:
Make sure that you have easy and reliable internet access. Technical difficulties will not be an acceptable excuse for late or missed work. Make sure to save and back up your files.
Explore the Virtual Valley website for ETUDES system requirements.
· http://www.lavc.edu/virtualvalley/whatyouneed.htm
· ETUDES HelpDesk: http://www.lavc.edu/virtualvalley/helpdesk.htm
· You must have the correct cache settings
You will need access to the following:
· Word processing program such as Word, Works, etc.
· Web browser such as Internet Explorer, Firefox etc.
· PDF reader such as Adobe Acrobat available free at: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
Recommended:
· PowerPoint Viewer (if you don’t have access to Microsoft PowerPoint): http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=048dc840-14e1-467d-8dca-19d2a8fd7485&displaylang=en
· Video viewer such as QuickTime, RealPlayer, Windows Media Player etc.
o Spell Checker such as Iespell (for Internet Explorer): http://www.iespell.com/download.php
o SpellBound (for Mozilla Firefox): http://spellbound.sourceforge.net/download
Expectations for an online course:
Don’t believe any misconceptions about online classes! Internet classes are not automatically easier than other classes. There is no arguing that the course should be more convenient for you since there is some flexibility in your participation and pace. However, students should expect to spend as much time (possibly more) getting set up, interacting, preparing and completing tasks for this course as they would in a traditional course.
· For a 3 unit course usually requires 3 hours of “in-class” lectures and activities per week. Most college research suggests that 2 times that amount of time is required to adequately prepare for class (i.e. 6 hours). Students should plan on dedicating that amount of time to the course.
· Please note that more reading is required in this online class than a traditional class since you must read the Module content in addition to the text. A sample of the text is available within the course site (See Resources).
· Participation here is required. You cannot hide in the back of the classroom online.
Also note, this course is asynchronous (you do not have to log on at a set time with the instructor), however it is NOT self-paced. Students must adhere to the deadlines for tasks, assignments and test.
You will progress through each of the Modules according to the schedule. The Modules follow the chapters in the text and build upon the previous course material.
Stay in communication. Ask questions. Explore and learn. Think outside the box, but obey the rules.
Finally, regarding the workload: Students should expect approximately 4 unit exams covering multiple chapters, a discussion and brief chapter quiz for each chapter, 3-4 writing assignments or presentation projects.
I am looking forward to meeting you in the first week and having an excellent semester! Please contact me if you need additional information. Once the semester begins I prefer you contact me via the Private Message function (in Discussions area) within the course site.
Michelle Fowles
818.710.4493