Return to the course main page.

Quick Guide
to Starting the Course --
after you have begun to use the software.

In Part 3 of the Orientation, you'll be asked to answer questions about these.
You won't need to look up things at the links for all of them, but you might for some of them.
I recommend that you print this and write your answers.
That will make it easy to answer the questions on the Orientation Form 3.
Then keep this, with your notes, in your notebook to remind you of all the things you found.

Are you receiving email at your ACC email address? Please use it when you send in Orientation Form 3, which is the form you are preparing for now. The form doesn't force you to use it, but if you don't, I'll be "nagging" you about getting started with it.

 

1. Have you bookmarked the course main page? Have you printed the calendar, and put it in a notebook? (You found that from the General Course Information page, from the top.)

2. Are you using temporary access to the software now?  

3. After you purchase your materials, will you use a paper text or the e-book that comes in the software?

 

4. Did you find the Orientation activities and video inside the software useful?
If you haven't found those yet, please do that now. Find instructions on the Software page, under "Starting the software." There's a picture to help you see how to find them within the software. I really want to know your opinion about these activities.

 

5. Approximately how much time did you spend on the online homework in Section 1.1?
Don't look up anything. Just estimate this based on your memory.

 

6. Right now, which of the four methods do you think you will mostly use to learn the material?
Read about the four methods from the software page, under "Learning the Material." If you will use the e-book or the videos in the software, be sure to read about how to find them. It would be very easy to get distracted by all the different resources in the software and lose time. Most of us don't have an extra time to lose being distracted or confused! Write down here which method you think you will use.

 
7. .Are you allowed to use a calculator on the first four tests? Answer: No.
Be sure to do homework without a calculator, so you are preparing correctly. While our department supports students learning to use calculators, in this course students should be developing and reinforcing their understanding of arithmetic and using calculators is often not supportive of that.
Find instructions for the tests from the link Other Required Activities. Be sure to read that carefully before it is time to take a test.

 

8. Have you found the description of how to use the software? (Software, under "Amount" and "Grading") Which part of the software will actually count in your grade? Make a note of this.

 

9. Have you found the description and example of how to do the paper assignments (follow the second link on that page)?
Do you see how much work you are typically expected to show? This is true for tests as well.

 

10. When and how many of the paper assignments do you turn in for the first time?
Here are the instuctions with a link to the actual assignments. Each set is to be mailed in on the day you take the test. Look down the left side of the assignment page at all the parts marked HW1. Notice that this includes sections 1.1-2.3 and the Test Review assignment. On the Orientation Form 3, be prepared to list all of those when you are asked what is included in HW1.

 

11. How do you turn in the paper assignments? (See the instructions for the homework..) Answer: By campus mail or US mail, on the day you take the test. That's when to SEND it, not for me to receive it.

 

12. Where will you go if you need free tutoring? (In Course Rules and Resources, look under Tutoring.)
Make a note of the room number and hours at the campus you will go to for free tutoring.

 

13. What is the last day each week for you to submit the weekly participation email message for credit?
Saturday, by midnight for the email message answering the questions. If you finished the online work for the course by Friday at 5 p.m. you don't even have to send an email message that week at all to earn credit for participation that week.

 

14.What's the penalty for taking tests late without permission? (See the discussion about late tests from this page.)
It's a very severe penalty. But I am very lenient with permission to take tests late for students who are able to give me a reasonable plan for how they're going to prepare for the test. And I'll help you develop a plan if you need me to. So there is never a need to take a test late without permission.

 

Last updated September 19, 2009 . Mary Parker