Orientation/Introduction Policy


Home Policies/Guidelines/Tools Orientation/Introduction Communication Management Direct Instruction Discussion/Collaboration Assessment/Feedback Additional Resources Student Success Strategies Glossary and Resources Tips/Strategies/Techniques Self Evaluation	Orientation/Introduction Policy Course Overview and Introduction Standards Instructions make clear how to get started and where to find various course components A statement introduces the student to the purpose of the course and to its components; in the case of a hybrid course, the statement clarifies the relationship between the face‐to‐face and online components Etiquette expectations (sometimes called "netiquette") for online discussions, email, and other forms of communication are clearly stated The self‐introduction by the instructor is appropriate and available online Students are asked to introduce themselves to the class Minimum student preparation, and, if applicable, prerequisite knowledge in the discipline are clearly stated Minimum technical skills expected of the student are clearly stated Strategies and Ideas I would send an initial introduction email to all students enrolled in my online course. For example, if I were teaching an online class pertaining to HTML5 and CSS3, my introductory email might look like that which follows: Dear Student, You are receiving this email because you are enrolled in WEB-50505, Introduction to HTML5 and CSS3. My name is Amy Hissom and I will be your instructor for this course. You can read more about me on the class website which is located at the following url: http://amyhissom.com/HTML5-CSS3/index.html This is a basic Web Design course, designed to introduce you to designing and publishing for the Web. The creative goals of this course will prepare you with the understanding of user driven design that is appropriate for Web-based content. This course will also provide you with the technical skills needed to create and upload content on the World Wide Web. No previous knowledge of Web publishing is necessary. Topics are introduced in two page sections that focus on key points and often include a hands on practice exercise. The text covers the basics that web designers need to develop their skills. You will need to be familiar with the basics of computer usage and feel comfortable using the Internet. The course syllabus and weekly schedule can be found on the class website and are both available as pdf downloads. All assignments will be listed on the class website and completed assignments should be submitted by logging into the class portal using your college assigned username and password. To access the class portal, please use the "Go to Class" link, located in the main navigation of the class website. The required textbook for this class is "Basics of Web Design HTML5 & CSS3" by Terry Ann Felke Morrison, published by Pearson. The ISBN is 13-978-0-13-700338-9. You may purchase the hard copy, however, the book is also available at a greatly reduced rate as an eBook. Visit the following link for details. http://www.coursesmart.com/basics-of-web-design-html5-and-css3/terry-ann-felke-morris/dp/9780132176613 You will also be required to obtain a Free Hosting Cloud account. Hosting cloud is a free service that gives you plenty of space to host your web page assignments on the Internet. More information about Hosting Cloud can be found in the syllabus. Please visit the following link to visit the Hosting Cloud website: http://www.freehostingcloud.com. In order to upload your completed web pages to the Internet, you will need to obtain a file transfer protocol (ftp) program that can be installed on your computer. I suggest using FileZilla, which can be downloaded for free by visiting the link below. Additional information pertaining to Filezilla can also be found in the syllabus. http://filezilla-project.org During the semester, we will be utilizing the discussion board within the class portal. All students will be required to participate in each weekly discussion. There may also be times when you will need to contact me or other students in the class. I can be reached in various ways. All my contact information, as well as office and email hours, can be found on my contact page on the class website. You can also email me and other students in the class by using the email system in our class portal. The first week of class will be used to help you get to know the class system by practicing functions that will be used throughout the course. You are also required to utilize the discussion board this first week by introducing yourself to the class. Please see the schedule located on the class website for a list of the required tasks for this first week, as well as all upcoming weeks. In an effort to provide positive, constructive discourse and to ensure civility in all communication, I ask that you do not post threatening, abusive, defamatory or indecent information of any kind. Please treat other class members and the instructor with respect. While it is certainly permissible to disagree, please do so politely. Written communication can be tricky. Thoughts and emotions are sometimes difficult to convey. The normal visual cues we use to interpret comments in a face to face class are not available in an online class. Therefore, please keep the tone of your comments in mind and try not to be overly sensitive to the remarks of others. Do not type in all capital letters, it means you are shouting. Do not use the “texting” style of writing when posting to a discussion board, sending email or submitting written assignments. This is a college class so write like a college student (use correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation to the best of your ability). In closing, I ask that you reply to this email so that I know you received it. Also, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions you might have. I am here to help make your semester with me a successful one in any way that I can. In the meantime, enjoy your last week of vacation and I look forward to having you in my class. Sincerely, Amy Hissom
Copyright © 2012 Amy E. Hissom - ITEC-67444 - Teaching Online Courses - Personal Online Teaching Toolkit - Fall 2012

Instructions make clear how to get started and where to find various course components
A statement introduces the student to the purpose of the course and to its components; in the case of a hybrid course, the statement clarifies the relationship between the face‐to‐face and online components
Etiquette expectations (sometimes called "netiquette") for online discussions, email, and other forms of communication are clearly stated
The self‐introduction by the instructor is appropriate and available online
Students are asked to introduce themselves to the class
Minimum student preparation, and, if applicable, prerequisite knowledge in the discipline are clearly stated
Minimum technical skills expected of the student are clearly stated

Strategies and Ideas

I would send an initial introduction email to all students enrolled in my online course. For example, if I were teaching an online class pertaining to HTML5 and CSS3, my introductory email might look like that which follows:

You are receiving this email because you are enrolled in WEB-50505, Introduction to HTML5 and CSS3. My name is Amy Hissom and I will be your instructor for this course. You can read more about me on the class website which is located at the following url:

This is a basic Web Design course, designed to introduce you to designing and publishing for the Web. The creative goals of this course will prepare you with the understanding of user driven design that is appropriate for Web-based content. This course will also provide you with the technical skills needed to create and upload content on the World Wide Web. No previous knowledge of Web publishing is necessary. Topics are introduced in two page sections that focus on key points and often include a hands on practice exercise. The text covers the basics that web designers need to develop their skills. You will need to be familiar with the basics of computer usage and feel comfortable using the Internet.

The course syllabus and weekly schedule can be found on the class website and are both available as pdf downloads. All assignments will be listed on the class website and completed assignments should be submitted by logging into the class portal using your college assigned username and password. To access the class portal, please use the "Go to Class" link, located in the main navigation of the class website.

The required textbook for this class is "Basics of Web Design HTML5 & CSS3" by Terry Ann Felke Morrison, published by Pearson. The ISBN is 13-978-0-13-700338-9. You may purchase the hard copy, however, the book is also available at a greatly reduced rate as an eBook. Visit the following link for details.

http://www.coursesmart.com/basics-of-web-design-html5-and-css3/terry-ann-felke-morris/dp/9780132176613

You will also be required to obtain a Free Hosting Cloud account. Hosting cloud is a free service that gives you plenty of space to host your web page assignments on the Internet. More information about Hosting Cloud can be found in the syllabus. Please visit the following link to visit the Hosting Cloud website:

In order to upload your completed web pages to the Internet, you will need to obtain a file transfer protocol (ftp) program that can be installed on your computer. I suggest using FileZilla, which can be downloaded for free by visiting the link below. Additional information pertaining to Filezilla can also be found in the syllabus.

During the semester, we will be utilizing the discussion board within the class portal. All students will be required to participate in each weekly discussion. There may also be times when you will need to contact me or other students in the class. I can be reached in various ways. All my contact information, as well as office and email hours, can be found on my contact page on the class website. You can also email me and other students in the class by using the email system in our class portal.

The first week of class will be used to help you get to know the class system by practicing functions that will be used throughout the course. You are also required to utilize the discussion board this first week by introducing yourself to the class. Please see the schedule located on the class website for a list of the required tasks for this first week, as well as all upcoming weeks.

In an effort to provide positive, constructive discourse and to ensure civility in all communication, I ask that you do not post threatening, abusive, defamatory or indecent information of any kind. Please treat other class members and the instructor with respect. While it is certainly permissible to disagree, please do so politely. Written communication can be tricky. Thoughts and emotions are sometimes difficult to convey. The normal visual cues we use to interpret comments in a face to face class are not available in an online class. Therefore, please keep the tone of your comments in mind and try not to be overly sensitive to the remarks of others. Do not type in all capital letters, it means you are shouting. Do not use the “texting” style of writing when posting to a discussion board, sending email or submitting written assignments. This is a college class so write like a college student (use correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation to the best of your ability).

In closing, I ask that you reply to this email so that I know you received it. Also, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions you might have. I am here to help make your semester with me a successful one in any way that I can. In the meantime, enjoy your last week of vacation and I look forward to having you in my class.

Orientation/Introduction Policy

Course Overview and Introduction Standards

Strategies and Ideas