ACCT 2301 Spring 2010

16 week course – 1/19/10 - 5/15/10

Read through this information and send the required e-mail (discussed at the end of this document). If you have any questions contact Sheila Ammons sammons@austincc.edu or 512 223-9216.

This course fills quickly. When you register, BE SURE to pay by the required deadline. You could be dropped for not paying by the required deadline and another student could take your space.

The purpose of this registration procedure is to make students aware of the difficulities and requirements of this course. Students who do not realize that this course is not right for them may tie up spaces that other students need. Also, waiting until the first day of class to learn about this course takes away from time needed to start working on the chapters. You do not need formal permission to enroll, but you do need to determine if this is the right course for you.

Complete these three steps before enrolling in this course.

Step 1: Determine if the online format is right for you.

This course works best for students who:

Are responsible and are able to take initiative to see that established deadlines are met.
Are comfortable with the use of the Internet, e-mail, and computer applications (Word, Excel, and other simple programs) and are not beginners with the use of any of these computer applications. You should have a reliable computer that you can use on a regular basis.
You must not be a procrastinator. You can work ahead, but you cannot complete the course in a short period of time at the end of the semester. As in a traditional classroom setting, there are established deadlines for completing your work, including exams. If you do not take Exams 1 or 2 and complete the required homework for Exams 1 or 2 by the deadline, you will be withdrawn from the course. There are no exceptions to this policy. There are no extensions to the mandatory due dates.
Are able to learn from the text. If your learning style requires visual hands-on learning in a classroom setting, this is not the class for you. Although we have tutors on campuses and some great learning tools built into the course, you must try to gather the majority of your knowledge working on your own, interacting with classmates and the instructor on a regular basis.
Do not think that this course is easier than going to class.
Do not think this is an easy A.
Do not think that the instructor means that deadlines must be met (you will be dropped from the course for missing exam deadlines).
Need the flexibility that an online course offers.
Have taken at least one business course or have worked in accounting.
Have planned to take an online course. Students who decide on this format at the last minute usually do not do well in this course. Students who plan the work in this course, register for it early, and start it on time are the ones that generally do well.

Is distance learning right for you?

Visit the Open Campus web site at http://dl.austincc.edu/students/DL101.html.Take the 10-question survey. (Located in Learning Styles Self-Assessment)

Spend some time at the ACC Distance Learning site. There are some excellent tools to help you be successful in an on-line course. http://dl.austincc.edu/

Step 2: Learn about the course.

Read the syllabus. Pay close attention to the text information, grading information, course calendar and deadlines, and the withdrawal policy. This is NOT a self pace course. There are specific deadlines. These deadlines WILL NOT be extended.

Are you able to meet these deadlines? You can work ahead but you cannot get behind.

This distance learning course is just as difficult as the on campus course. Many students drop the course because they say they need the classroom interactions. Many drop because they fail to keep up with the rapid pace (same as the on campus course). Before you ask to enroll, make sure that you will be successful in the course. This course will be time consuming and you cannot get behind with the requirements.

This semester is 16 weeks long. We cover 12 chapters, an annual report project, labs, and 3 exams. Thus, the pace is about 1.5 chapters per week and some lab/annual report activities every week.

Students are required (1) to complete homework using Homework Manager; (2) to use Blackboard throughout the semester to submit lab assignments, view course information, submit and view questions via the Discussion Board, view grade, and access supporting information (Students must be able to access Blackboard at least two times per week); (3) to use Word and Excel to complete lab assignments and the Annual Report project; and (4) to use the Internet to access Homework Manager and other links to important course information.

Please note that Homework Manager is not a software package. Students purchase a registration code (pass code) and use the code to gain online access to the product. Homework is completed from any Internet connection. The homework is immediately graded and students receive immediate feedback.

Step 3: Acquire the correct course material PRIOR to 1/15/2010.

This online course has a different textbook than the ACC on campus course. BE SURE to purchase the correct materials.

0078191912 Financial Accounting Fundamentals (2009) TX McGraw Hill Wild -- This is a new text and the required Homework Manager access key. You can purchase this shrink-wrapped package at the ACC Bookstore, Bevos, or the ACC Coop.

If you want to buy a used text, it will be necessary to also purchase the Homework Manager access key.

Both products – The text and the Homework Manager access key are required or this course. You can buy the shrink-wrapped package or you can buy a used book and the Homework Manager access key separately.

You also have the option of buying Homework Manager Plus. This sells for about $66 and includes an online text. If you are comfortable with an online text, you do not have to buy the hard copy text.

It is very important that you have both products by the first day of the semester – 1/19/10

Online Orientation

This will be available at http://www.austincc.edu/sammons no later than 1/14/10. The completed orientation is due via Blackboard no later than 9PM on 1/26/10. This orientation counts as 40 of the 1,000 course points. 10 of these 40 points are earned by sending this e-mail prior to registering for the course.

If, after reading this information and taking the 10-question survey, you are sure that ACCT 2301 PCM is for you, please e-mail me at sammons@austincc.edu with the following information:

Name
Address
Phone
ACC g-mail address (If you do not know this, go to http://www.austincc.edu/accmail/

Type this statement "I am aware of the deadlines and difficulties of this PCM course. I am ready to take this on-line format. I am also aware of the correct material to purchase for this course. I am aware that all course related e-mails must be submitted via my ACC g-mail account. "

Last revised: 10/12/09