Thursday, May 31, 2007

"POWA" reading

There is a bad linking in the reading list...switch from

http://www.powa.org/discover/index.html
TO

http://powa.org/my/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=2

Class member's blogs

I will eventually share a document with you all with the blog listings (especially for "grouping" purposes when it comes to peer reviews); however, you can quickly find out where your classmates are at by going to my delicious page (notice, this is the power of tagging): http://del.icio.us/rrodrigo/student_blog

I'll be sharing chapters 1 and 3 with you all ASAP...I'm still processing information submitted last night. Don't worry, you won't get dinked! I expect thinks to trickle in late these first few deadlines. You trying to figure out both me and the technologies.

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Open Lab

I just reserved LA2N (a computer classroom in the North West corner of MCC's Southern and Dobson campus) from 6-9:30 am and 1:30-5pm for tomorrow, Thursday, 5/31. If anyone wants to come by and ask questions, set up technologies, etc. I'll be there!

emailing vs. sharing the contracts

Many of you are trying to email the contracts to me. Instead, I want you to "share" them with me through Google Docs, not as an attachment in email. When you are logged on to Gmail, in the upper left hand corner is a "Documents" link. Go there, upload the file, and then "share" it with me. Hopefully this will help get you started. Hang in there! And don't forget...try tagging the document with three separate labels "sum07" "eng102-1" and "contract."

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Tagging your shared google docs

Folks, to help organize your document in Google Docs you'll want to tag them. So, I would greatly appreciate if you do one of the following before/as you send the handbook/syllabus contract to me:
  • tag it with the following tags: sum07 eng102-1 contract, and/or
  • share it with me so that I can make comments, add tags, etc.
You'll need to share it this "open" way the most of the time during the class.

Welcome!

Dear MCC ENG102 Sections,

Welcome to ENG102 Online! I look forward to getting to know you over the next five weeks. This is a writing intensive course with specific deadlines you will have to meet. I suggest you get started as soon as possible.

The course website/blog is where all the announcements will be made. To get started, I'd print and carefully read the course handbook/syllabus...but of course, finish reading this email first!

You will be responsible for obtain the following materials (there are more listed in the syllabus):

  • Kirszner, Laurie G., & Mandell, Stephen R. (2005). The concise Wadsworth handbook. Boston: MA: Thomson Higher Education. ISBN: 1-4130-1030-X
    • Please notice “concise,” not “brief.” There is a “Brief Wadsworth Handbook” as well, that is NOT our textbook!
  • Access to the American Psychological Association style guide:
    • Session 1: Course name: mcc-eng102-sm1-07 (Course ID: 1906377; Course password: eng102)
  • MS Word or other word processor that can export to RTF (rich text file):
For those of you with AOL accounts, sometimes AOL does not work well with these programs. If you do not already use Internet Explorer as your browser, you may want to download a copy of Firefox to use your web browser (http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/). Firefox is a relatively small, and fast download.

You will also need the following browser players/readers to get started:

If you have not used either delicious, Blogger, or Turnitin before, I suggest that you play around in all the environments. By play, I mean taking the time to hit every button to get a feel for what the programs can do. I also suggest you wander and hit every button in the course website. Do not wait until an hour before a deadline to figure out how everything works.

If you have any questions or concerns about the course, please feel free to email me shelley.rodrigo@gmail.com and/or call me on me cell (email me for the cell number). If you email me, please be sure to include the course and course line number you are enrolled in. I am teaching multiple sections of different courses. I do not keep copies of the rosters near my computer, so you need to clue me in who you are when you email me.

Again, I look forward to working with you all,

Shelley

Getting Started...

If you are in a hurry... start reading the syllabus/course handbook: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dhkdmmdx_117dmvtmn